A Novel Murder (14 page)

Michelle turned her gaze to the hand-printed door and wall to avoid watching him speak with food in his mouth.
God, he was disgusting in more ways than she could count.

Tony gave the man a little shove, pushing him back inside his apartment.
“Mind if we come in? We have a few more questions for you.”

Bernie held up his half-eaten sandwich.
“You’re interruptin’ my meal, ‘sides, didn’t I tell you I don’t know nothing about my tenants as long as they keep to themselves and pay the rent on time?”

Tony stepped inside. Michelle remained in the doorway while her partner took the lead. “I believe you did say something like that, but I want you to search that pea-brain of yours and make real sure you never saw anyone coming or going with Cara Austin.”

The super slowly shook his head and shrugged. “I...I don’t know...I mighta saw some guy with her a couple of times. I’m a busy man, you know.”

“A guy you say?
Are you sure?”

“Yeah...a guy.
I can certainly tell the difference between a guy and a dame. You think I’m stupid or something?”

Tony chuckled.
“I don’t have time to discuss your IQ, Bernie, just describe him to me.” Tony retrieved a notepad and pen from his breast pocket.

Bernie peered at the ceiling, the image of someone struggling for recollection.
“Hmmm, he was tall, had dark hair, and wore a business suit.”

“How tall?
What length was his hair?”

Locking gazes with Tony, the super scratched his chin.
“A little taller than you...hair cut about your length.”

“Great!
That could be almost anyone. Can’t you remember anything distinctive about him?”

Bernie gave another shrug.
“Wait...he carried a briefcase and had on some sort of name tag. You know, the kind you get at meetings or conventions.”

“I don’t suppose you saw his name,” Tony pressed.

“Nah, wasn’t my business. He didn’t offer and I didn’t ask.”

Tony turned and smiled at Michelle.
“Looks like Mr. Goldman’s memory has improved since our last visit.” He turned back to the super. “So you say you might have seen him more than once?”

“Maybe twice, three times, tops, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t come here more often.
I can’t keep track of everyone’s comings and goings.”

Tony nodded.
“Understood, but next time someone asks you if you’ve seen someone in the vicinity, might I suggest you take the time and share what you know. If you dummy up, you might find yourself in trouble for withholding evidence.”

Bernie’s eyes widened.
“You ain’t gonna arrest me are ya?” He finally swiped the mayonnaise from his mouth, but disregarded the beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

“No,
I'm not going run you in this time, but let this be a lesson to you.” Tony backed out the door.

“Yes sir.
I’ll be more careful next time, sir. You and your friend have a nice day.” Bernie closed the door with a bang, and when the distinct sound of the lock clicked into place, Michelle collapsed into muffled laughter.

Tony put his note pad away and smiled.
“I think I scared him, what do you think?”

“You do a great bad ass imitation.”
Composed only long enough to choke out a response, Michelle continued laughing at how the super’s disposition had taken a sudden change.

Tony grasped her elbow. “Let’s get back to the office and see if we can put these awesome clues to work for us.
There have to be a few guys around who are a little taller than me with the same kind of haircut...but we might have a bigger problem. I doubt any of them are still wearing their name badge.

In the car on the way back to the station, Michelle replayed the crime in her head...the part she’d witnessed in her vision and the investigation up until today. The blur of passing pedestrians, stores and other cars disappeared with her revelation. “Tony...why would people think Kitten was a lesbian if she kept company with a man?”

He slowed to a crawl then stopped at a red light.
“Maybe she wasn’t keeping company with him. Maybe he was a salesman, or her insurance guy. Who knows?”

“But, maybe she just was discreet about her relationships. I never wanted my folks to meet my dates. My father had a bad habit of asking embarrassing questions, and my mother liked to share my baby pictures. The least they knew the better I liked it.

“Okay, so maybe Kitten...uh, Cara, was keeping her love life a secret.
Wouldn’t someone know her sexual preferences? You said even the women she worked with thought she was gay.”

“Just because she didn’t pay attention to groping and cat-calling customers?
I think she just wanted to do her job and get the hell out of there.”

“Baby pictures, huh?
And what kind of questions did your dad ask?” Tony looked at her and winked.

“None of your business
Keep your eyes on the road and your mind on the case. If you want to know anything about
my
sexual preferences, we have to solve these murders.” Michelle relaxed in her seat and tried not to concentrate on the visions she conjured with her ultimatum.

They’d ridden in silence for a while, Michelle still trying to figure out her best friend’s strange mood.

Her peripheral vision caught Tony’s questioning glance at her.
“Why so serious? What’s on your mind that’s got you so quiet?”

He didn’t really know Naomi, so the whole point of discussing a stranger with him seemed moot.
“Nothing really. I’m just thinking.”

“Oh yeah? I see those little furrows in your brow and know something’s bothering you.”

“Did anyone ever tell you you’re pushy?”

“Several people, but don’t change the subject.
What’s got you so distracted?”

“Okay, but don’t blame me if you get bored.”
She forced a chuckle. “You remember me talking about my friend Naomi, right?”

“Sure, she’s been your best buddy for years and the person you share a love of white zinfandel with.”

“That’s her. Well, anyhow, I stopped at her place last night and she wasn’t her usual, chipper self. In fact she acted depressed...no actually more disgusted than I’ve ever seen her. I’m worried about her.”

“What was she disgusted about?
Did she say?”

“She’s been living with a creep named Paul Hance for a couple of years now and I gather things aren’t going well.
Personally, I’ve never liked the man, but I never told her that. About a year ago, he promised her an engagement ring which has yet to materialize, and he’s gone all the time so he’s not much company.”

“Gone all the time where?”
Tony made a quick right turn, gravity pushing Michelle against the car door.

She righted herself and bit her tongue.
She wasn’t always the smoothest driver either, but she hoped she didn’t give her passengers whiplash. Planting her feet firmly on the floor, she prepared for his next unexpected maneuver. “Paul’s some kind of medical or pharmaceutical rep and his job requires lots of travel. I think Nay might be starting to question how often he’s gone to the conferences and meetings he claims to attend.”

“Hmm, the kind where you get name tags?
I know this is a far stretch, but is there any chance your friend’s fiancé might have known Cara Austin? What does he look like?”

“He’s not bad.
Maybe your height or a little taller, dark hair and eyes.”

“Sound a little familiar? Does Naomi have a picture of him?”

“I suppose so, but where are you going with this?” She cocked her head, quizzically.

“What say we borrow a snapshot and show it to good ol’ Bernie?”

Michelle clicked her tongue against her teeth. “Oh sure, I’ll just waltz in and tell Nay we need Paul’s picture because we think he murdered a stripper. That should cheer her right up.”

“Maybe you’ll like him better once we prove is isn’t our guy.”

She thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. No, I don’t think so. He’s just to creepy.”

“Maybe you could stop by and check on her and...sort of borrow one?”

“You mean steal one? Paul may be a shitty boyfriend, but I think you’re pegging the wrong guy.”

Tony pulled into the station parking lot, killed the engine and shot her a glance.
“You got any better ideas?”

She sighed.
“No. I’m fresh out.”

“Then go with me on this.
We’ve got nothing to lose.”

“
You’ve
got nothing to lose. Me...only a friend I’ve had most of my life, but don’t give that a thought. I’ll just meander in, ask her for a picture, tell her we think her boyfriend might be the killer, and I’m sure she’ll happily hand over what I need. No problem at all.” Her jaw tightened.

“Are we having our first argument?”
Tony’s innocent look and smile soothed her.

“No, we’re just having a discussion.
Trust me, you’ll know when we’re arguing.”

* * *

Michelle left work and headed for Naomi’s place. She wasn’t specifically planning to stage a heist, rather to put her mind at rest about her friend’s feelings. She parked in the lot, grabbed her purse and keys and waited for the elevator to the third floor. Oh, she hated when the steel doors came together. Their meeting sucked the air from the small compartment, and as usual, she held her breath until she reached her destination. She’d tried the stairs a few times, but the moldy smell and lack of cleanliness in the stairwell convinced her a few seconds of torture was better than risking a petri dish of germs.

Mother told her she always screamed in any type of confining area when she was a child.
The plane ride from Arizona had confirmed her suspicious. Once they sealed the cabin, she became well aware of the symptoms of claustrophobia.

She released her pent-up breath as she stepped out into the familiar corridor. Nay’s apartment was at the end, so she ambled down the hallway and knocked on her door.
She checked her wristwatch, assuming Naomi should be home by now. The library always closed promptly at 5:00 p.m.

Nay answered, her eyes wide at seeing Michelle.
“Well, I sure didn’t expect you this early. In fact, I didn’t expect you at all. C’mon on in.” She opened the door wider.

“I stopped by to check on you.
You seemed so upset the other night, I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine.
Dandy in fact. Paul called and he’s on his way home.”

“Home from where?”

“Albuquerque, or so he says. I have to pick him up at the airport, so I need to slip into something more comfortable. Library codes say we have to wear a dress, but I much prefer jeans. Would you excuse me, while I change?”

“Sure.
Take your time. I won’t hold you up. In fact, I need to get home and work on my manuscript.”

“Oh, how are you and Tony?”
Nay called from the bedroom.

“We’re just fine...and don’t be a wise guy.
You know my book is about much more than romance.”

Michelle roamed through the living room, pausing at a 4x6 picture of Naomi and Paul atop a short bookcase.
Despite knowing the situation, Michelle saw a much happier Naomi in the snapshot. The perfect opportunity presented itself. Why not take it?

Checking over her shoulder, Shell stuffed the photo, frame and all, into her purse, and tried to ignore the niggling feelings of guilt.
Doing something sleazy behind her friend’s back was wrong no matter how many ways Michelle spun her actions.

Nay came out of the bedroom, buttoning her jeans and breathing hard.
“I swear, if I don’t lose weight...” She eyed Michelle beneath a raised brow. “Was there something else you wanted? I’d love to stay and chat, but I have to get going. Maybe we can get together and talk in a day or so. I’m sure Paul will be off on his next trip by then.” She rolled her eyes and made a face.

“Sure...sure, no problem.
Tell him I send my regards.”

“I will.
Let me get my shoes on and I walk out with you.”

During the trek to the elevator, guilt continued gnawing at Michelle.
How had she let Tony convince her to take something that didn’t belong to her...and more importantly, how was she going to return it before Naomi noticed it missing?

* * *

Tony was already at his desk when Michelle came into work.
“Well, someone had a spurt of energy this morning.”

“Not really.”
Dark circles showed beneath his eyes. “I couldn’t sleep so I thought I might as well get dressed and make an early appearance.”

“Why couldn’t you sleep?
Too much caffeine?” She eyed the big-gulp sized coffee on his desk.