When Darkness Ends (Moments in Boston #3) - Marni Mann Page 0,11

and called the forensic analyst who was assigned to this case.

“Harvey,” he answered.

“It’s Flynn. Any updates on the cell phone and laptop for the Mitchell case? I’m going to need access to her voice mails and e-mails as soon as possible.”

“Hey, Flynn. We should have that by this afternoon.”

“That’s just what I wanted to hear.” I held the clear bag on the palm of my hand, viewing each of the letters, the black ink that had been used to write it. “I’ll be by in about thirty minutes with a new piece of evidence. I’m going to need you to pull fingerprints and a handwriting analysis, and I need a rush on both.”

“I’ll do the best I can, buddy.”

I was shoving my phone back into my jacket just as it started to ring. I checked the screen to see who was calling and held it against my face. “Flynn.”

“Where are you?” my police sergeant asked.

I started making my way down the stairs to the first floor. “Mitchell’s house, collecting more evidence. Why? What’s up?”

“A woman was found dead in the elevator of a residential building on Commonwealth Avenue, just north of Allston Street.”

“Name?”

“Jane Doe. Around thirty years of age, auburn hair, lean build. No wallet was found, and neither were any identifying marks. We don’t know if she was working or visiting, but we know she wasn’t a resident. The team arrived about twenty minutes ago. I need you to head over now.”

“I’m on my way.”

I returned the phone to my pocket as I went out through Mitchell’s front door, getting into the driver’s seat of the department’s vehicle that I’d parked out front. I still needed to collect a sample of Keith Simpson’s handwriting and drop off the evidence bag to Harvey.

But first, I needed to put my eyes on Jane Doe.

Nine

Before

Ashe

When they’re fast on their feet, they want to be chased.

Dylan’s words hadn’t left my head. And even though Pearl had claimed she didn’t date, I believed she just hadn’t found someone worth being with.

I was determined to be that person.

But first, I had to spend more time with her. My initial plan had been to see her at the study group Dylan had set up, but they had decided to meet at the library instead. When Dylan and I had gone to the bar on Wednesday, the bartender had told me Pearl was off for the evening. It only took a few smiles to charm her into telling me that Pearl was in a play and it was opening night.

The internet had given me the rest of the information I needed.

Pearl was starring in BU’s rendition of Rent, and I was able to score a ticket to one of the shows. I even paid extra for a better view.

I knew nothing about the play or how large her role was, nor did I expect the auditorium to be packed, but there wasn’t an opening to be found. I located my seat at the end of a long row, only three back from the stage, and the lights dimmed immediately. Within the first scene, Pearl was standing almost in front of me, dressed in the sexiest outfit, similar to what she had worn to the bar—tights with large holes and a dress that hugged every one of her curves, barely covering her tits. She was wearing much more makeup than normal, her hair wild around her head.

The scene was a strip club, and she was pretending to inject heroin into her arm, showing the high from the drug before she climbed on the pole.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her; she was fucking breathtaking.

And she was so natural up there that I couldn’t tell that she was acting. She had become the character she was playing, and I was a fly on the wall, watching the chaos of her story unfold, a life she was fighting so hard for.

I never once glanced at my watch, nor did my hands ever release the armrests. Every time she went backstage, I found myself anticipating her return, counting the seconds until my eyes found her again. Within a few scenes, I learned she had the lead role, and not a single actor she shared the stage with could even compare to her talent.

Pearl had been born a star.

In the little time we’d spent together, I had known she had a beautiful voice, a quiet presence that absorbed all of my attention. But not during any of our encounters had I expected