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He stands abruptly and leaves without another word.

Opening the piece of paper, I read the name listed.

Julienne Napolitan.

The address is outside of town and will be at least an hour drive.

Is this going to even be worth the gas?

My stomach gurgles, but I know there is no way in hell I can afford to eat here.

I guess I’ll just leave.

Grabbing the paper, I do just that.

13

Following the Breadcrumbs

Kale

Holy fuck.

Creeping out the rear entrance of the restaurant and dropping the borrowed apron, I make my way back to my car, waiting for her to exit.

My glasses fog up with the change of temperature, and I quickly wipe them off.

I need to follow her. Get that piece of paper. Confirm my suspicions.

It was more than I thought I would get from this meeting. I expected better discretion. But she had been open, loud even.

She’s going to poison them with cinnamon. It has to be that… That must be why she gives that name as her pseudonym too.

It’s only a few minutes later that I spot her exiting the restaurant and walking across the street to a lone car parked on the curb, her ass bouncing in the summer dress she wears.

A prick of some unknown emotion stirs in my gut, but I shove it down.

She’s nothing like I expected.

Part of me is surprised when she gets into the beat up car… Part of me finds it familiar.

I suppose she’s trying to keep a low profile.

Beside me, my phone rings.

Detective Sumac.

I know he is most likely following up on the other leads I sent him, but this one is just for me.

One I don’t plan on sharing with the department, at least not yet.

After years of walking the straight and narrow, I feel myself faltering, following a new path.

I shift gears and follow the woman.

***

After watching her barely avoid four accidents, whip a U-Turn in oncoming traffic to get to a burger joint, and then almost back into my car as she pulled out of a parking space, I am more than ready to give up.