“We’ve been dating for about a year and a half. He’s a good guy, and I’m in shock that he’d do something like this. If I hadn’t gone to the morgue to see him myself, I’d never believe it.” She clamped her lips together, holding back her tears.
“What made you think that it could be AJ?” Ray asked. “You said you started thinking about the news broadcasts. It was enough to make you reach out to the medical examiner’s office, right?”
“AJ’s very reliable. Always. I knew something major must have happened to make him vanish and not return texts or calls. Especially with his mother so ill. He’s not like that.”
Mason tilted his head. “But to think he could have shot several people? That’s pretty extreme.”
“I didn’t look at it that way,” she said earnestly. “What I couldn’t get out of my head was that an unidentified young man was also dead. The initial description fit. My mind wasn’t going to rest until I asked.” She looked from Mason to Ray, sincerity on her face.
“Okay,” said Mason. “Then why do you think he did it?”
She slumped in her chair, her gaze going to the floor. “I have no idea. He’d been looking for a job for a while, but things weren’t that bad. He gets free rent and didn’t have any debt.”
That you know of. Mason made a mental note to double-check the Weiss financial situation.
“His parents and I have been asking each other why since we found out. None of us has an answer.”
“What kind of job was he looking for?” asked Ray.
“Marketing. It’s competitive right now.”
“He couldn’t find anything?” Ray asked. “Was he holding out for something in his field or would he be willing to make coffee for a while?”
“We’ve both stood behind a coffee bar,” Kari answered. “We don’t mind doing whatever it takes when bills need to be paid. He also studied drama in college and falls back on that when he needs to. Last week he went shopping for the outfit he needed for an acting gig.”
“He had to buy his own costume?” Mason asked. Sounds like a scam.
“No, he was given an allowance. It paid well. Some years he made more money through small acting gigs than real jobs.” She made air quotes with her fingers. “My point is that he’s not the type to sit around and wait for a job to land in his lap. He was looking.” Her voice rose. “He was responsible. This wasn’t something he would do!” She buried her face in her hands. “I don’t understand why he did this. Nothing makes sense!”
Mason sat silently as Ray moved next to the girl and patted her on the back. “We’ll figure out what happened. There’s some sort of explanation.”
Kari raised her head and sniffed as she wiped at her wet nose with the back of her hand. “It’s not like him. He was so sweet and funny and knew how to make everyone laugh. He’s not a killer.”
“Not upset with anyone or angry about anything?” Ray asked.
Kari shook her head. “He was too easygoing. He liked to please people and never got upset with anyone.”
“No guns?”
“I don’t think he’s ever touched one in his life.”
Mason stood. “Mind if we take a look around now?”
She waved a hand toward the back of the apartment, resentment shadowing her eyes. Beside Ray, Mason poked through AJ’s drawers and closet, but Kari’s bitter eyes kept flashing through his brain. Their search yielded nothing of interest. No weapons, no drugs, no suicide notes.
One more mystery shooter.
20
A shudder shot through Ava as she stared at the pavement where Misty had been shot.
No trace of blood. Someone had scrubbed away every speck.
She squatted down next to the sunglasses kiosk to get a closer look at a dark spot. Is that blood? She blinked and the spot faded. She stood, shaking her head. What would be the point of finding some blood? She knew what’d happened here; she didn’t need to find proof.
“Ava!”
She turned at Zander’s voice. The agent had agreed to meet her at the mall for another look. Yesterday had been the first day it’d opened for business, and she wondered how the sales had been. Would people avoid shopping here now?
She hoped not.
Zander approached her and glanced at the ground. “What are you doing?” Worry crossed his face.
“Just looking. Not sure why.”
“Uh-huh.” He studied her face.
“Don’t worry, I’m good.” She looked away at the entrance to the men’s restroom. It seemed much farther away than it had the day of the shooting. “Feels like this happened weeks ago.”
“Three days. When’s your first appointment with the therapist?”
She gave him a wry look. “Did Mason sic you on me? It’s this afternoon. I won’t forget.”
“He may have mentioned it.” Zander looked away, and Ava wondered how much Mason had told him. Did Zander know about the nightmares?
“I just want to sleep better,” she admitted.
His raised eyebrow told her he knew she was downplaying the situation.
“A lot better.” She started toward the men’s room. The mall didn’t officially open for another two hours and it felt eerily similar to the morning of the shooting—mostly deserted. A few walkers strolled by, but Ava noticed they looked carefully at her and Zander, studying them for any threat; the opposite of the usual casual mood of the exercisers. She passed the area where the police contact team had made its stand. “I hated seeing Walter have to get down on his knees for the team. I knew how much it was hurting his joints,” she commented. “And the fear on the face of the father who was carrying his son—what was his name?”