The Next Accident - Lisa Gardner [154]
HOLDER
Is that why you running away, Linden? Cuz you don’t know no more?
She doesn’t even look at him. Off which–
EXT. SEATTLE - AERIAL SHOT FROM A DISTANCE - DAY
Transition.
EXT. DISCOVERY PARK - FIELD - DAY
Sarah drives down the fire road, pulling up to the scene. A scattering of UNIFORMS in a desolate field, woods in the near distance, lonely fire road. Rain abated for now.
Exiting their car, Sarah and Holder make there way to the scene and are approached by a young, UNIFORM in charge–
UNIFORM
Detective Linden…
SARAH
Where’s the body?
UNIFORM
Still lookin’. School kids on a field trip this mornin’ found this.
He hands a clear Evidence BAG to Sarah – inside a shimmery pink SWEATER. Torn, blood-smeared.
HOLDER
This park’s like Tweaker Central at nights. Ho-bags bringin’ their tricks down. Could be some basehead–
SARAH
(hands the evidence bag back to the Uni)
The owner’s not an addict. At least not the kind who hangs around here.
(off Holder’s look)
It’s a wool sweater. Looks recently cleaned.
HOLDER
Brought it to the coin wash, so what.
SARAH
You dry clean wool? Do you know any tweakers who drop their wardrobe off at the cleaners?
(to uniform) Anything else?
UNIFORM
This. ATM card.
He holds out a baggie: inside, a bank CARD. Imprinted on the front: “STANLEY LARSEN”. Holder takes it–
HOLDER
‘Stanley Larsen’. Guy loses his wallet while he’s gettin’ his knob polished?
ON Sarah as she steps away from Holder and the Uni, surveys the field – taking it in.
HOLDER (O.S.) (CONT’D)
(to Uni)
Anyway, keep lookin’. Search the field…
SARAH
(to Uni)
You find anything else, mark it, don’t move it. And call in Sex Crimes. This is theirs for now.
She heads to the car. Holder, surprised, follows–
HOLDER
Yo. We got here first.
SARAH
Yeah and we don’t got a body.
HOLDER
Not yet.
Sarah, impatient, checks her watch.
SARAH
You wanna follow it up, go for it.
HOLDER
You’re my ride, Linden.
SARAH
So, I’ll drop you off at the station, I need to finish packing up–
HOLDER
I thought you were done.
(off her look)
Flight’s not til nine, right? I won’t let you miss it. Promise.
Holder grins, walks ahead.
HOLDER (CONT’D)
Let’s have a talk with this Stanley Larsen.
Sarah clocks something on the back of his neck, peeking above his collar: a TATTOO. The top of an ornate CRUCIFIX. Sarah, curious, follows.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LISA GARDNER is the author of The Third Victim, The Next Accident, and The Survivors Club, all New York Times bestsellers, as well as The Perfect Husband and The Killing Hour. She lives with her husband and daughter in the New England area, where she is at work on her next novel of suspense, Alone.
Visit her website at www.lisagardner.com
By Lisa Gardner
THE PERFECT HUSBAND
THE OTHER DAUGHTER
THE THIRD VICTIM
THE NEXT ACCIDENT
THE SURVIVORS CLUB
THE KILLING HOUR
And coming soon in hardcover
from Bantam Books
ALONE
PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF
LISA GARDNER
THE NEXT ACCIDENT
“A cool and accomplished psycho-killer tale.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Harrowing. A fiendishly well choreographed dance of death.” —Booklist
“A suspense-laden, twist-filled tale.”
—Providence Journal-Bulletin
“The suspense is constant. . . . A satisfying novel.”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“Suspense-filled and well-plotted . . . Gardner has another winner.” —Arlington (TX) News
THE KILLING HOUR
“[A] high-octane page-turner . . . With tight plotting, an ear for forensic detail and a dash of romance, this is a truly satisfying sizzler in the tradition of Tess Gerritsen and Tami Hoag.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Gardner keeps us guessing to the finale. She also keeps us on edge.” —Los Angeles Times
“Gardner’s latest has all the staples of a great suspense novel—plus love. The perfect book to read on a July night when it’s too hot to sleep.” —Deseret (UT) News
“The return of characters from earlier books makes this creepy and terrifying story all the more compelling.