‘What?’ she growled. To Ruby’s credit, she didn’t even bother to wince at Alyssa’s tone. ‘Sorry. What?’

The other woman waved off the apology as if it were nothing more than a mosquito buzzing around her head. ‘You have another visitor demanding to speak to you and you alone.’ She stepped further into the room, peeking over her shoulder as she did. ‘You might want to hurry because it looks like she might bolt any second.’

Alyssa glanced over to Cord but addressed her question to Hal. ‘We need to bring Beau in now. Where are Tony and Joe?’ If nothing else, one of them could accompany her partner to the Cambridge residence.

‘The owner of That Tattoo Place called right after you left, said he might have something on his security footage regarding the mystery car Naomi Kenney saw just before Meghan’s body was found. They’re checking it out.’

A buzzing filled Alyssa’s mind. They might finally be getting somewhere. ‘Let me know when they get back, especially if they have something.’ Then she turned and followed Ruby to the front. Even though there were half a dozen people inside the small space waiting to speak to someone, she knew instantly who had requested to see her specifically.

A young woman, anywhere from eighteen to twenty, sat on the very edge of one of the cold, uncomfortable chairs intended for visitors. Her legs were bouncing so hard, the seat was actually inching away from the wall, emitting a horrible squealing sound that had numerous stares and glares shooting her way, all of which she ignored as she gnawed furiously at the fingernails of one hand as the other picked steadily at the frayed edges of the hole in the knee of her pants. Her eyes darted nervously toward the outer door as if she expected someone to walk through it and bust her there.

The second she spotted Alyssa, the woman dropped her hand from her mouth and wiped it on her jeans, leaping up to meet her part-way, checking behind her several times as she did.

Partly to calm her and partly to distract her, Alyssa reached out a hand and introduced herself, trying not to be squeamish that the same hand which had been gnawing at her fingers would be the same hand the woman shook with. ‘I’m Detective Wyatt.’ She was careful to speak gently yet firmly so the girl would know she was safe. ‘How can I—?’

‘Is there somewhere we can speak in private?’ the woman interrupted, speaking to Alyssa even as she stared over her shoulder. Her voice trembled as if she might burst into tears at the slightest provocation. ‘I can’t… I need…’ Finally, she turned around and faced her, eyes wide enough to show white all around the irises.

‘Come with me.’ Alyssa led the woman to one of the smaller interview rooms, ushering her in and closing the door behind her, leaning against it in a silent effort to show the still unnamed woman she was safe. ‘Now, how can I help you?’