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herself.
    After completing her morning routine, Lee emerged from the bathroom fully dressed. Then, with a wave to the nearest camera, she left the apartment. Lee felt the first drops of rain on her skin as she made her way down to the street. LA had been suffering through a minidrought, and the moisture was welcome.
    So Lee was in a relatively good mood as she performed a 360 on the sedan and slipped behind the wheel. That car was equipped with
two
trackers. A primary and a backup that was extremely difficult to access. The hope being that even if the Bonebreaker located the first one, he’d miss the second. Lee pulled away from the curb and was on her way to Maria’s, when her phone rang. Lee eyed the number, saw that the call was from Jenkins, and thumbed it on. “Hey, boss . . . What’s up?”
    â€œNice jammies,” Jenkins replied. “I have some that are nearly identical to yours.”
    Lee groaned. “Pervert.”
    Jenkins chuckled. “Where are you headed?”
    â€œTo reinterview Cheyenne Darling.”
    â€œOkay . . . But take it easy on her. Cheyenne is a nice lady, and she’s been through hell.”
    â€œRoger that.”
    â€œCan you make it into the office by one?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œGood. They filled my previous slot, so the new guy will be running the operation, and the sooner you meet him, the better. Lieutenant Wolfe will attend the meeting as well.”
    Lee wanted to say, “Oh, goody,” but managed to restrain herself. “So, who is he?”
    â€œHis name is Purdy Ayeman.”
    â€œNever heard of him.”
    â€œThat isn’t surprising. We hired him away from San Diego. He was head of HR there.”
    â€œHe was head of
what
?”
    â€œDon’t go there,” Jenkins said sternly. “Ayeman was a detective prior to that. Corso wants to bring well-rounded people onto the force.”
    â€œI’ll bet he’s well rounded. People who ride a chair all day usually are.”
    â€œJust do your job,” Jenkins growled. “And keep your lips zipped. I’ll see you at one.” The call ended.
    It was raining harder by then, and the wipers slapped back and forth as Lee took the exit to Laurel Canyon Boulevard and turned north. Upscale homes lined both sides of the road. The car’s nav system told her when to turn off.
    Once Lee spotted the correct address, she turned onto the two-car-wide concrete platform that jutted out from the side of a steep hill and parked next to an expensive-looking sports car. That was when she remembered the lunch with McGinty months earlier and the vehicle he’d been driving then. The
same
vehicle, judging from appearances.
    Lee locked the sedan and followed a flight of concrete stairs down to a modernistic house that was partially cantilevered out over the hillside and surrounded by well-kept vegetation. Water gurgled as it passed through the downspout located a couple of feet away from a red door. Raindrops pattered all around as she pushed the button and heard a distant chime. That was followed by the sound of footsteps and a metallic click.
    As the door opened, Lee saw that Darling’s bangs were just so, there was a slightly sleepy look in her eyes, and she was holding a blue mug. The smile came quickly. “Detective Lee! I know we haven’t met, but it
feels
as though we have. Ross spoke about you frequently—plus I’ve seen you on TV. Please . . . come in.”
    Lee wondered what McGinty had said. Odds were thatit was negative since the two of them hadn’t been on friendly terms until two months before his death. “Thank you . . . My! What a beautiful home!”
    â€œIt’s an endless project,” Darling said, as she led the way into the living room. “I’m an inveterate tweaker. The unending changes drove Ross crazy. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee perhaps?”
    â€œNo,