You’re joking, right?
Not a joke. Grab your sneakers and meet me at the Santa Monica Pier ASAP.
It wasn’t her favorite route, but it was easily accessible, and it would have to suffice.
While Trena hadn’t expected her to show—Layla struck her as the type who’d spent her high school years thinking deeply cynical thoughts and smoking menthol cigarettes—she definitely hadn’t expected her to wear a pair of old ratty gym shorts, a gray tank top cut at the midriff, and a pair of spanking-new trainers.
“You just run out and buy those?” Trena nodded toward Layla’s neon clad feet.
“A gift from my dad last summer when he envisioned us waking up early to share a daily father-daughter jog.”
“How’d that go?”
“First morning we jogged all the way to Intelligentsia on Abbot Kinney. The second morning we slept in. Haven’t worn ’em since.”
“Well, try to keep up. Run time is holy. I normally don’t allow anyone to join me. And I definitely don’t allow anyone to slow me down.”
“Then I’ll try to finish the story before I pass out,” Layla said, joining Trena on the paved jogging path.
“Just so you know, this is my starting pace.” Trena spared a look to the side. They’d only begun, and the girl looked like she was about to keel over. “Take it from someone who used to be an exercise avoider like you. All of this—” She jabbed a thumb toward Layla’s slim legs and flat abs. “It’s a gift. Enjoy it while you can, but know that from age twenty-five on, you gotta work to maintain it.”
Layla nodded. “Is that it for the lecture?”
“Oh, there’s more.” Trena laughed. “But I’ll spare you the ugly truth about the ravages of gravity, mostly because I’m eager to learn whatever it is you’re willing to share before you conk out.”
Layla narrowed her eyes and looked all around. “I’ve got a serious lead regarding Madison’s disappearance.”
Even though it went against the rules she’d already stated, Trena slowed her pace. “I’m listening. . . .”
“Okay, two things. One—” Layla paused. “I’m an anonymous source. You have to promise never to reveal where you got this.”
“Scout’s honor.” Trena’s voice betrayed a hint of sarcasm she instantly regretted. She was eager to get to the juice of the story but knew better than to show it. Especially now that she was about to hit pay dirt.
Layla nodd
ed, seemingly okay with it, she said, “I’ve recently become privy to some surprising information the LAPD doesn’t know. Or at least not in the way I’m about to relay. . . .”
“Layla, seriously. Trust me, okay?” Trena shook her head, watching as Layla struggled to fill her lungs with air before she continued.
“There’s a very good chance Ryan Hawthorne knows more about Madison’s disappearance than he lets on. He might even be responsible.”
Trena nodded, fought to keep her face from appearing overly interested. “I’m listening. . . .”
“Apparently he has some unaccounted-for time during the early morning hours, probably around the same time Madison was last seen.”
“Last seen by Tommy.”
Layla was winded but had so far managed to keep pace. “From the time she left the Vesper to the time she was reported missing, no one’s come forward admitting they’ve seen her. But my source tells me Ryan wasn’t exactly where he said he was.”
“Ryan claims he was at home. His doorman confirms it.”
Layla frowned and stared straight ahead. “Doormen can be bought. Someone needs to check the security tapes, if there are any.”
Layla shook her head, was clearly losing steam. Was it the run that was getting to her, or was she shutting down, beginning to regret everything she’d confided thus far? It wasn’t the first time Trena had seen someone second-guess their decision to share. She’d have to take a step back, be careful not to push, maybe even slow down her speed, if only a little. She focused on the run, switching her gaze between the colorful box-shaped houses on the right and the wide swath of golden sand and navy-blue ocean on the left. Allowing Layla all the space she needed before she decided it was safe to continue.
“Let’s just say he’s proved himself to be the asshole I’ve always suspected him of being,” she finally admitted.
Bingo. Trena exhaled in relief.