Black Orchid Girls (Detective Amanda Steele)

“Well, you might want to look into it,” Trent seethed.

“Also, why wasn’t your sign on?” It might not sound like a big deal, but a light told customers that the car was accepting fares. Without it on, one could assume the driver was off the clock.

“What do you mean?”

She sat next to Trent. “We have your car on video dropping someone off at Leesylvania State Park, and it was your headlights and a partial of your plate that led us to you.”

Ashton flailed a hand. “Then why ask where I was if you already knew?”

Amanda shrugged. “I wanted to hear it from you. Now, why didn’t you have the dash sign turned on? Surely the car service provides you with one of those.”

“I often forget to turn it on.”

“Huh. Convenient.”

“I swear. I’m telling you the truth.”

“You’re going to have to do a lot better than that. We need the name of your fare, an origin point where you picked them up. For starters.” Amanda’s entire body was quaking with excitement like the case was finally getting somewhere. Up, down, up, down. Just like the elevator business.

“I can tell you all of that.” Ashton held up a hand. “Just going to get my phone.” He pulled it from a pocket. “No real name but the account’s profile nickname is right here.” He showed them the screen.

High_ryder21.

Amanda looked at Trent. That was Josh Ryder’s handle on Snap VidPic. Was that telling or just a coincidence?