The truth will set you free
Clare’s cheeks turned pink partially out of anger, and partially out of embarrassment. She didn’t appreciate it when Jake pointed out her tendency to get swept away by dramatic scenarios, real or imagined. However, if she kept going Maddie’s killer would probably start to resemble Ted Bundy so Clare just glared at him briefly. She nodded at Jake’s description of the neighborhood. Okay so Maddie hadn’t been going to some creepy old house and no one had chased after her with an ax. Clare should’ve known Jake wouldn’t leave a girl some place like that. “I was only asking because the neighbors could’ve heard something.” Clare insisted. “One of them might even be able to collaborate your story. That Maddie was going over there on a semi-regular basis for some reason. If nothing else we should be able to find out from the neighbors who it was she was visiting and who all lives in the house. Or…there might be an easier, quicker way. Do you know the address, we can google it.” Clare wanted some answers asap. “I know.” She murmured. They were trying to redirect the police’s attention to someone else not get caught ‘revisiting the scene of the crime’. “That would be the way to do it if he didn’t want there to be any footage of him. Even if he wasn’t planning to kill her initially, maybe their relationship was supposed to stay hidden. Do you think that could’ve been his motive? Maddie didn’t want to keep quiet anymore?” Clare bit her tongue when she realized she was barreling ahead at full speed again. She still thought finding out whether or not Maddie had been seen leaving with a guy, and if one of the employees knew who it was was worth a shot though. “I can call Fitz.” Clare offered pulling out her phone. He would probably be the least suspicious. Although he might be scared if the police had questioned him.
Jake couldn’t get in a word as Clare was overflowing with ideas which maybe one day he thought might end up in a true crime novel. Finally she paused and Jake jumped in, “Woah let’s not call Fitz too hastily.” He told her trying to be rational about this. “He’s going to ask why you want to know about this girl who recently cropped up dead, and I really don’t think we should involve him, or at least not yet.” Jake turned the key in the ignition starting up the truck. “I have a better idea, let’s go drive by this place I was dropping her off at. To avoid suspicion we’ll say we were going to the 7-11 which just so happens to be in that area.” Jake pulled his seat belt across his lap and buckled it into the little holder. The truck was ready to go, and he backed out of their drive way and started down the road. “Besides we’ve been sitting in the drive way a while and who knows, maybe someone saw and thought we looked suspicious so it’s a good idea to move around a bit.” Jake wasn’t too worried about that last bit, but he didn’t know if the cops were actually keeping tabs on them, or if their crazy neighbor’s might get concerned. “Okay, so how much do you trust Fitz if we decide to give him a call? Because I don’t want us getting into any more hot water,” Jake said finally, because he knew they wouldn’t get the answers they wanted without someone’s help and their connections to staff or regulars at The Dot were pretty limited.
