“Yeah, I remember when Sydney came home,” he said.
Lawrence was in his mid-40s with a round face and puffy blue eyes. Dressed in a uniform, he looked official.
“What time was that?”
“Maybe 11 or 11:30 PM.”
“Was she with anyone?”
“Not that I recall.”
“Did anyone come to visit after she returned?”
“I don’t think so,” Lawrence said. “But I left at midnight.”
“Did any other non-residents enter the building between 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM?”
“I think a few people came and went, but I don’t recall anything unusual. Mostly residents.”
“Are you pretty familiar with the tenants?”
“For the most part. I try to get to know everyone. Some people are friendly and want the interaction, while others ignore me completely. I’m fine either way.” He smiled. “But I do like the tippers.”
I gave him a card and told him to get in touch if he remembered anything helpful.
We hopped into the van, and I drove to the exclusive estate in Palm Haven. I parked out front of the luxurious modern home on Diamond Crest Lane. JD and I climbed out and strolled up the walkway, past a Ferrari Spider and a Lamborghini Urus in the circular drive.
The home had a midcentury modern vibe with clean lines, large windows, exquisite woodwork, and expensive stone.
I rang the buzzer at the courtyard gate.
A woman's voice crackled through a moment later. "Can I help you?"
I flashed my badge at the camera lens. "I'm Deputy Wild, this is Deputy Donovan, with Coconut County.”
The woman gasped. I assumed it was Judy. "Please tell me you've got good news.”
"I think it's best if we speak face-to-face," I said.
She hesitated a moment, then in a shaky voice said, "Okay. I'll be right there."
She buzzed us in, and we stepped through the gate.
The courtyard was a lush oasis with a trickling water wall.
We stepped to the front porch and waited.
Judy pulled open the door a moment later. She was an elegant woman in her mid-40s with stylish brunette hair that hung just above her shoulders. She had sculpted cheekbones, smooth skin, and full lips. Smoky shadow accentuated her tawny eyes.A striking woman, she had a svelte figure and looked like she kept herself in good shape. The resemblance to her daughter was obvious, apart from the hair color.
Judy braced herself for the worst.
I delivered it in as gentle a fashion as possible.
Judy went pale and wobbled.
JD and I steadied her and escorted her into the house. We moved into the living room, where she took a seat on the sofa. I grabbed a box of tissues from the glass coffee table and offered it to her. She took a few and blotted her eyes that were starting to overflow.
Judy had plenty of questions, and we tried to answer them as best we could.
