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Conklin said, “It would help if we knew ht she was killed First thing we’ve got to know is if soainst her or if she witnessed a crime”

“You knoant to help But if I start asking too many questions …”

She didn’t have to finish the sentence

“Got it,” said Conklin “We don’t want you to put yourself in danger”

I was thinking that if this were our case, ould take Lou’s picture to homeless shelters, ask around, do the job of detective work

I bit down on a sigh, then said, “Millie, I took pictures of the crowd of onlookers on Geary last night They’re pretty grainy, and the light was terrible But will you take a look at the printouts and see if anyone seems familiar?”

I put the envelope on the table Millie dug into her bag and pulled out her reading glasses Then she an a close examination of the crowd While she was absorbed, I scrutinized my informant

I had searched her na on her, not a driver’s license or an address or a warrant for her arrest I supposed that without a computer or a car or a house or a criminal history, there was little record of a life She’d told Richie that she had grown kids, but not where they lived Cushing wasn’t a common name, but it wasn’t one of a kind, either

It was possible that Millie Cushing wasn’t even her name

“I don’t recognize anyone in this photo,” she said, shuffling it to the bottom of the stack I watched her look over the second photo, and it seeed on one of the faces in the crowd

“You know someone in that picture?” I asked

“No I thought I did for a second, but no”

“You’re sure?”

“Yep Sure as can be”

Millie looked through the re, “I don’t seenice clothes, umbrellas, hats They look like solid citizens Every one of them”