page12 (1/2)

Red rolled his eyes “It’s on YouTube You can do whatever you ith it”

Lance copied the URL and handed over the cash

“Thanks” Red took the fifty and his phone

As the kid got into his Toyota, Lance memorized his license plate information It would take hibusiness

Lance drove to the office Sharp was at his desk, working on his computer Lance headed for the e chair

“Aren’t you uncomfortable in that tiny chair?” Sharp called across the hall

“I’lowed, and Lance opened the browser and went to YouTube He found the video in twenty seconds “Come watch this”

Sharp crossed the hall and watched over Lance’s shoulder Lance stopped the video at the same point Red had “Jamie Lewis?”

“I’ll be damned”

“So much for the assumption that she left town”

“When was that video taken?” Sharp asked

“Thursday night” Lance played the video froain He didn’t see Red, nor did he spot Tony’s Mohawk in the crowd, but then even enlarged, the background irainy

Sharp leaned closer “Is that the party Tessa Palmer was last seen at?”

“It is” Lance froze the video again “There’s Tessa”

“Do the police have this video?” Sharp eased back, scratching his chin

“I don’t know I’ll call Brody”

“You should It’s good to stay in the good graces of local law enforcement Horner’s a necessary evil and makes a really bad enemy”

“You forgot ‘asshole’ I hope the et canned” Having worked for the man for ten years, Lance had tired of his politics over policing

“It can always be worse Better the devil you know, and all that”

“This is true,” Lance admitted

“Do you recognize the two boys fighting?” Sharp asked

“The dark-haired kid lives across the street froan His name is Nick He was Tessa’s boyfriend I don’t know the other boy” Lance pointed to the screen “It looks like the video was just uploaded to YouTube today”

Lance ran the clip one more time He turned the sound up, but all he could hear was the crowd of kids chanting, “Fight, fight, fight”

Nick was the aggressor, his face red with rage as he went at the other boy with a two-handed shove

“I’d like to knohat led to the fight,” Sharp said “I wish the video started earlier”

Tessaherself between the two boys Nick backed off, but the second kid went around her, knocking her to the ground in his haste to get at Nick Tessa ran out of view A few ht and the video ended with a long shot of the ground

“At least we know Jaht” Sharp turned toward the doorway On his way out, he called over his shoulder, “I’ll call her parents Give me a few minutes to download a copy of that video in case the cops have it taken down from YouTube”

“I’m sure Jamie’s parents will be relieved to see her alive,” Lance said

After Sharp went back to his own office, Lance called Brody, but he didn’t answer and his mailbox was full He went out into the hall and leaned into Sharp’s office “I can’t get Brody on the phone I’et that video downloaded?”

Sharp looked up from his keyboard “Got it”