In the morning at the Los Angeles police station, Adrianna studied Leandra’s biography comparing it to the biography of Mireya; it seemed to her these two girls were like two opposite shores of different oceans, but still they were really friends. Good friends.

“Hale?” Captain Locke walked past her. “Go to my office right now.”

When Adrianna entered Locke’s office, he went down into his seat and looked at her as if expecting some explanation. Adrianna was silent, waiting for questions or answers.

“I have to get you away from Leandra Ray’s case.” The Captain said.

“What…?” Adrianna stepped toward him. “Why? What did I do wrong?”

“People above me talked about it. They learned about your friendship with Mireya Rothe who is currently on the wanted list.”

“Do they consider me an unreliable worker?”

“They gave me to understand that. They suspect you may have an unofficial connection with her and you can deliberately hide her current location and moreover, they assume that you could help her escape. After all, you violated the protocol, leaving the suspect alone with herself.”

Adrianna nodded. “Yes, I admit my mistake. But Sir, I want to prove her innocence, but I would never insist on her being released from responsibility.”

“That’s much the better for you.” The Captain got up. “They don’t insist on your removal yet, but trust me it’s only a matter of time.”

“I understand. But can I continue for now? Do we have something new?”

“Yes, and you will not like it.” The Captain took the document from his desk and handed it to the detective. “Look at it. This is an extract of Leandra’s e-mail. She corresponded with someone with a non-tracked email, and it was a person with MJR initials – Mireya Jalinda Rothe.”

Adrianna grinned. “This is only speculation! Even the judge would not accept it! And you know, I had a friend named Michael Jerry Rogers. Maybe it’s his fault, eh?” Adrianna felt her blood getting hot.

“Adrianna, calm down.” The Captain raised his hand. “I want to clarify – it’s all really conjectures, but if it was Rothe, we will prove it.”

“How?”

“According to information from the messages – read this dialogue that you see before you.”

Adrianna looked down at the document in her hands,

Leandra: “You know, I like living in that house on wheels. Sorry you’ve been there only a few times.”

M: Well, my room in the hostel was not bad either.”

Leandra: “By the way, how is our mutual friend?”

M: “We will not talk about it. I’m going to attend a lecture about psychology in Seattle. August 26th. Will you make me a company?”

Leandra: “Only if I’m not the third extra.”

M: “Of course you are not! (smiley) You are the only one!”

Leandra: “You’re cute! Okay, I have to go. I’ll see you at the party tonight. Do not forget about the bikini! (winking smiley)”

Adrianna looked at the Captain. “Have you checked everything?”

The Captain crossed his arms. “Yes, Adrianna, we checked it out, comparing the time of correspondence between events in the life of the victim. It was a couple of days before Leandra Ray moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. There are general photos in her social network. She and Mireya Rothe were at the party of their common friend Tim Murray. A party with a bikini. The house on wheels, owned by Ray and Mireya Rothe, of course, visited it. And by the way, judging by another correspondence from Facebook, Mireya flew to Seattle on August 26 for a lecture on psychology and returned the next day, there’s even a picture of how Leandra meets her at the airport. Then… a few months later all the messages became hostile.”

“What exactly was said in them?”

“That Leandra made a serious mistake, decided to return once again. And that she would pay for what she did if she really did it. Leandra returned. And now she's dead. What kind of a serious mistake did she commit?”

***

“We are leaving Las Vegas.” Tom told Mireya, driving his car along the highway

Mireya was sitting next to him, studying Leandra’s music box. “Yes, that’s a good idea.”

“What are you trying to find in it?”

“Well, Leandra was talking about some kind of secret in this a damn piece of a wood. I think there is a double bottom or something like that.”

Tom chuckled. “And are you really going to look for that secret? Gosh, she could mean anything like storing a picture of a guy that she was crazy about. You understand everything too literally.”

“No, you see everything superficially.” Mireya teased.

“Sometimes I do.” Tom smiled. “But I don’t live with illusions.”

“Hey!” Mireya slapped Tom on the shoulder. “Do you think I live with illusions?”