Page 50 of Wild Escape

My next move was to check criminal histories and run down another lead.

26

"Perfect Pipes, how can I help you?"

"Hi, I'm Deputy Wild with Coconut County. I'm hoping you can help me. I'm looking for a plumber who was at the Caldwell residence about a week ago.”

She hesitated a moment. "Is there some kind of problem?"

"No problem. We’re just interviewing everyone who's been to the property recently."

"Hang on a second, I can get that information for you. Do you have an address?”

I gave it to her.

Her fingers danced across the keyboard, and a moment later, she said, "That would be LJ," she said in a tone that soured her voice.

"Where can I find LJ?”

"I have no idea.”

"Is he on a call?" I asked.

"Not for us. He got fired.”

I lifted a surprised brow. "What for?"

"Inappropriate behavior with a customer.”

I had a pretty good idea where this was going, but I asked anyway. "What kind of inappropriate behavior?”

"Inappropriate. Why are you interested in him? What did he do?”

"We're investigating a robbery at the Caldwell residence. The resident was shot."

The receptionist gasped.

"Does that sound like something LJ is capable of?”

"LJ is a first-class loser. Nothing would surprise me at this point.” It sounded personal.

"Feel free to elaborate," I said.

She was just looking for a chance to bitch, and I was more than willing to listen. "First of all, he can't keep it in his pants. Second of all, he's a deadbeat that doesn't pay child support.”

"Does he owe you child support?" I said, hazarding a guess.

"No, but I talked to his ex-wife, who he was still seeing from time to time while we were together." Her voice dripped with venom. There was no better source of information than a woman scorned. "And let me tell you, he owes plenty of people money.”

"Who? If you don't mind my asking.”

"The wrong kind of people.”

"How long did you two date?"

"Too long.”

"Sounds like it.”