Page 54 of One of Us Is Guilty

Bloch rolled her eyes.

‘Depends if it’s my morning or night routine,’ said the sergeant. ‘Mostly, I use L’Oreal for daily moisturizing. In the evening, I prefer something aloe based.’

Lake nodded. ‘Thank you.’

As they took a seat to wait for the captain, Bloch said, ‘Aloe?’

‘It’s good for you,’ said Lake. ‘You should try it.’

‘Sometimes I don’t understand you.’

‘What’s wrong with moisturizing?’

‘What’s wrong with buying food and putting it in your refrigerator? What’s wrong with ironing a shirt? Or shaving more than once a week?’

‘I’ve got my priorities straight,’ he said.

‘Miss Bloch?’ said a voice.

Standing in front of them was a middle-aged man in uniform – black pants, white shirt with insignia, black and gold epaulettes that came with the rank. He sported a thick, graying moustache that might have come with the rank too. A row of three silver pens sat in his shirt pocket, neatly held in place by their clips. The shirt was clean and diligently pressed.

‘Captain Landry,’ she said, and stood to shake hands. ‘It’s just Bloch.’

‘Pleased to meet you, Just Bloch. And this gentleman?’

‘He’s not important,’ said Bloch.

‘Do you have your identification?’ Landry asked.

Bloch handed over her private-investigator’s license. Landry glanced at it, threw it on the desk of the sergeant and asked him to take a photocopy.

‘Just for our records, you understand,’ he said. ‘What about Mr. Unimportant?’

‘He’s with me,’ said Bloch.

‘Does he have a license?’

‘Why don’t we talk in your office?’ asked Bloch.

Landry pressed his thick fingers onto his hips. He said nothing. And didn’t move again for a time. He was putting up a roadblock of sorts. There was no getting around this.

‘I don’t usually like giving my name,’ said Lake. ‘I don’t have a PI license. I’m not insured or regulated as an investigator. I pay my taxes, I’m polite and I obey the law, most of the time. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m just assisting Bloch.’

‘You want to talk about Teresa Chase, I’m going to need your name and identification.’

‘I might have an old Blockbuster Video membership card, if that helps?’ asked Lake.

‘Your name will suffice.’

‘Gabriel Lake.’

‘You’rehim.’

Lake stared at him. Landry stared back.

‘I thought you’d be bigger,’ said Landry.

‘I get that a lot,’ said Lake.