"I was at the movies last night with several friends, so I'm afraid I can't help you."
Won't, not can't, Savannah suspected. And for someone who had just been presented with a mirror image of herself, she was acting a little too calmly.
"Can I ask the names of those friends?"
Amusement briefly touched Candy's pink painted lips. “You don't trust me, Ranger?"
Not as far as I can throw you. She forced an apologetic smile. “A double check is just routine. After all, this woman does look like you."
"Ah.” Candy paused. “Arianne Marshall and Lisette Gordan."
Another chill ran down Savannah's spine. Candy had made friends with Ari, and Ari was the one person in town, besides Ronan, who knew just about all there was to know about her family.
"Weren't you supposed to work last night?"
"Yeah, but the job sucks. I'm not going back. The old cow and her touchy-feely hubby can go to hell.” She hesitated. “Did she give you my address?
"No. Apparently your employment details have gone missing from her files."
"More likely the old bat's misplaced them. Couldn't organize herself out of a snowstorm, that one."
Candy didn't look as if she could, either, but Savannah suspected that this was one case where looks where very deceiving. “Thanks for your help."
Candy nodded and closed the door. Savannah shoved the photo back into the plastic cover and retreated down the stairs. As she passed the truck, she ran her hand over the hood. It was still warm. And the fender was dented.
But the windshield wasn't smashed.
It wasn't the same car, even if she was sure it was the same driver. So, where had Candy dumped the other truck, and how had she gotten this truck?
Savannah took note of the plate number, and then headed across the road to interview a few more neighbors. Again, more for effect than anything else. Then she headed back to her truck. Cade was already inside, waiting. His face looked a little pinched, like that of a man who was in pain but refusing to admit it.
She resisted the urge to lecture him, knowing he'd only bite back, and slammed the door shut. “Anything?"
"Several interesting possibilities.” He shifted slightly and absently rubbed his leg. “The garage is a drive-through, and there's a small alley at the back of the property that's been well used."
She started the engine and did a U-turn. “Nothing unusual in that."
"It is when the inside of the front garage door has been chained shut."
She frowned. “Why have a drive-through garage if you're going to chain it shut at one end?"
"Exactly. Thing is, while that lock is rusted, the garage itself is still being used. There was a huge puddle of fresh motor oil on the floor."
"There was a puddle left at the parking lot last night, too.” She paused. “But none on the concrete at the front of the house."
"Meaning she either uses the alley to get in and out most days, or there are two cars."
"Two blondes, two cars. Makes sense."
"And both living in that house."
She glanced at him. “That's a bit of a leap, isn't it? I mean, surely the neighbors would have noticed."
Though given the people she'd just interviewed, maybe not. Rex seemed to be the only one interested in neighborly goings-on.
"There were cigarette butts on the back porch—two different brands.” He reached into his pocket and drew out several plastic bags containing cigarette butts. “What do you want to bet we find different DNA on the butts?"
"Sucker bet, but that doesn't mean there's a second person sharing the house."