Deadly Image by Tamelia Tumlin Read Free Book Online Page A

shot Ace a helpless look.
    Ace nodded. “It’s okay. You can speak freely in front of Lexi. What did you find?”
    Zach’s gaze zoned in on Lexi. “We have a credible eye witness who can place Lexi with Anna around three-thirty the day the child disappeared. An hour and a half after Anna was allegedly taken from the daycare.”

CHAPTER FOUR
     

     
    That’s not possible. I was here. Wallpapering Anna’s room .
    Ace pulled a hand through his hair as Lexi’s denial tumbled through his mind. She’d sounded so sincere he had almost believed her.
    Yet here was the proof.
    In black and white.
    “Stop. Pause it right there.” Ace leaned over Sam’s shoulder and studied the security tape. “There.” He pointed to the grainy picture on the monitor in the Gator Bayou Police Department. “Is that a scar on her left shoulder? Or maybe a tattoo?” It was hard to tell what was on her shoulder beneath the tank top.
    “I don’t see anything.” Sheriff Dawson adjusted his glasses and peered closer. “I think it’s just poor quality video. I’m sure Bill’s Best Burgers doesn’t use top-notch surveillance to monitor fast food theft. Do you see anything, Deputy Owens?”
    “No. Just looks like the Yates woman to me.” Rob Owens leaned over Ace’s shoulder to get a better look. “I say it’s her.”
    “Could be, but you’re right. The image quality isn’t very good, so I can’t be a hundred percent positive.” Ace was just thankful the teenage girl working behind the counter four days ago had remembered seeing Anna. She’d recognized her from the news report and had called the station. The sheriff had secured the security tape from the manager of the hamburger joint located a few miles south of Gator Bayou. Luckily, the manager, Bill Walker, had been more than happy to give it to him. Another plus of small towns. Most of the townsfolk were usually willing to help each other any way they could.
    “Doesn’t matter.” Sheriff Dawson looked over his shoulder at Ace. “That’s definitely Lexi and Anna at the counter. The time stamp on the tape is 3:32. We have enough now to bring her to the station for formal questioning.”
    Ace studied the picture on the screen. Sheriff Dawson was right. The grainy image of the woman on the tape did look like Lexi. Same light-colored, shoulder-length hair. Same build. Same upturned nose. And even though the image wasn’t perfectly clear, the woman’s resemblance to Lexi was remarkable. He couldn’t see the color of her eyes since the video was in black and white, but if he were a betting man, he’d stake his career on the fact they were china blue. Nor was there any question that the young child with her was Anna.
    But something wasn’t right. Anna appeared frightened and she kept pulling her hand from Lexi’s.
    Ace frowned. The child seemed to be crying. “Hit play. I want to see the rest of it.”
    Sheriff Dawson pressed the play button. The rest of the footage lasted only a few minutes. Lexi tapped her foot impatiently while she waited on the order. She kept a tight grasp on Anna’s hand and every few seconds she looked around nervously as if worried someone was watching her. Then the African-American teenager behind the counter handed Lexi a bag. She took it without a backwards glance and pulled a reluctant Anna toward the door.
    Ace blinked. Was Lexi limping? He leaned closer to the monitor. Yep. Definitely favoring her right foot.
    Only Lexi didn’t have a limp.
    “You ready to bring her in?” Sheriff Dawson leaned back in the chair and rubbed his chin.
    “I want to talk with the teenager first.” Pressure squeezed at Ace’s temples, and he fished a caramel from his jacket pocket. He didn’t care for the smug tone in Sheriff Dawson’s voice. Something didn’t feel right about this and his gut instinct told him something didn’t add up.
    * * *
     
    The scent of grilled onions and burgers greeted Ace when he pushed open the glass door to Bill’s Best