Revealing Annie - Freya Barker Page 0,56
downstairs.
“I called Jasper Greene,” Keith says, when we walk into the kitchen. He explains for Annie’s purpose, “He’s local FBI’s techie. He’s got time this afternoon to pop in and look at some security options.”
“Good. I’d planned to look at that when I moved in, but never got around to it.”
I’m glad the guys don’t seem to pay special attention to Annie and simply continue where we left off.
“Also, I have a crime tech on the way to see if our guy left any prints behind.”
Annie slips her hand from mine and walks to the tap, filling a glass with water, and taking a deep drink. Then she turns around.
“How did he find me?”
Her question hangs in the air for a minute before Tony answers.
“It’s possible you were followed,” he suggests.
She shakes her head. “No, I mean here…to Durango in the first place. How did he find me here?”
“I know we went over this before,” Keith responds, “but are you sure there is no way word might have gotten out?”
“Yes, I’m sure. The only person who knew I was settling here was Erin. I didn’t discuss it with anyone else. In fact, I didn’t discuss leaving with anyone else. I took what I could in cash and not even my accountant would’ve found that out only after I was long gone.”
“Okay, let’s try this a different way,” Tony suggests. “What do you have here that you had as Annabel Fiore. What did you bring with you? Your phone? Your laptop?”
Annie shakes her head again.
“No. Just some clothes, most of which I’ve since dropped off at Goodwill because they didn’t fit with my life here. I uploaded my files to the cloud, cleared the memory on the laptop I had and trashed it, and I did the same with my phone. I bought this pay-as-you-go phone in Vegas, and the secondhand laptop here in Durango. I only use it to watch movies in bed. I don’t go online much.”
“Anything else? Jewelry someone gave you, any knickknacks?”
She’s thinking, her head slightly bowed, her eyes not focused on anything. Then suddenly she straightens and heads for the living room where her purse is sitting on the couch. She grabs it and returns to the kitchen, dumping it upside down on the island, and starts ruffling through the content.
“What are you thinking?” I ask her.
“I don’t know, but maybe there is something. I’ve had this purse for two years. My agent gave it to me for my birthday.”
“Leave it,” Keith says, putting a hand over hers. “Let’s put it back in the purse and have the tech go over it.”
I help her stuff her things back in the bag when I accidentally pick up the plastic baggie with the note, but before I can drop it, Annie grabs my wrist.
“What’s that?” she asks, looking closer at the bag I’m holding.
Tony takes it from my hand and flattens it on the counter surface with the message down. A few scribbles are visible on the paper.
“We noticed that. Maybe it’s part of a name or a logo, we’ll look into it.”
“It looks familiar,” Annie says. “See this?” She traces her finger over the curved shape. “It looks like the top of a stylized P.”
“It does,” Keith agrees. “Can you remember where you may have seen it?”
She’s quiet for a moment, focused on the piece of paper before she looks up at him.
“Yeah, it’s on the door panel of my neighbor’s truck. Parsons Construction.”
Annie
Both detectives and the crime scene tech have left, taking that note, the dead bird, and my purse with them. They’d found a small tracker in the lining.
I shiver, the idea I carried that thing everywhere with me, without knowing whoever is doing this may have known all along where I was, makes me sick. Tony and Keith didn’t say much except they’d see if they could trace it. All I can do is wait, which is making me antsy.
Kyle is outside with the FBI tech, who came by to install a few small cameras outside as part of a security system, and I’m standing here in the kitchen, working on a batch of cinnamon rolls. When I’m done with those, I think I’ll make some of those Portuguese tarts I introduced Kyle to. I may well be baking into the night, but if I don’t do something with my hands I will go nuts.
I snort at myself. I’m pretty sure I’m already well off my rocker; I really lost it earlier. Heck, I