Page 68 of Capture My Heart

“The bastard has a key.” Amy slammed her fist on the counter.

Trey flashed his badge. “We need to talk to your guard.”

The manager made a call and three minutes later, a short man with more hair on his arms than his head walked in. “What can I do for you?”

“Larry, these officers have a few questions for you.”

He nodded and sat down.

Trey pulled a chair up next to him and sat. “Can you tell me how long you’ve worked here, Larry?”

“Oh, let me see. I think my Addy was four, so that would be seventeen years this November.”

Amy was itching to grab his collar and demand he tell them who took the car. She didn’t, instead she let Trey do the questioning.

“Have you ever lent your gate keys out to anyone?”

“No sir. They are always on my belt. I clip them on in the morning and take them off at night. They sit in the same dish by the door.”

“Have you ever misplaced them?”

“No, not that I can remember.” he scratched his jaw. “Well, unless you count the time I dropped them in Trudy's bar. It was the darndest thing. They must have caught on the barstool because I got up to leave after I had a couple and the guy next to me pointed them out.”

“When was this?”

“Last week.”

Amy’s heart pumped at the possibilities. This could be how the unsub got the keys. “Did you know the guy who found your keys?”

“Oh, they weren’t lost. I dropped them. No, I don’t know him. But I think I’d seen him there before.”

“Can you describe him?” Trey asked.

He cocked his head for a moment then shook it. “No, I guess I had a few that night, you could say.”

“That’s alright. Thank you for your time.”

Larry left, and Amy turned to Trey. “What do you think?”

He didn’t answer but asked the manager. “How long had the other guard worked here?”

“Mark, twelve years. If you are thinking they took the car, I think you’re wrong.”

“Had he reported losing his keys in the last month?”

“Nope. I can call him in if you want to talk to him.”

“We will, but no need to call him in. Do you have an address for him?”

He wrote it down and handed it to Trey, along with a copy of the surveillance video.

“Thank you for your time.”

They stopped by and after five minutes were ready to cross him off the list.

“I’ll check out their financials, but my instincts aren’t sending any flags on either of these guys. I think the bar patron is our best bet.” Amy pulled out her work phone and added notes.

“Agreed. It’s a little early to check out the bar.”