Page 70 of Sleigh My Heart

“I wish. She’s on a twenty-four-hour shift. It’s just me and Karma. Unfortunately, that dog hogs the bed.” He covered a yawn with his hand.

She chuckled. “Sweet dreams.”

He waved and left. Michelle closed her eyes. She should go home and get a few more hours, but this case was getting more complicated by the day. Blinking the sleepy vibes away, she opened the first case note and started to read.

The next time she checked the clock, two hours had passed, she had a page of scribbles, and still had no idea who would have known Garmen was in that alley. She could think of motives, but had nothing to back them up.

She dropped her pen, and it rolled to the floor. “Crap.”

As her face came close to her notepad, a word grabbed her attention. Songbird. That’s what Ernie said Cliff called his girlfriend. But that wasn’t why it was written on the notes. This songbird was the name of the bar that happened to have a back door on that alley.

“Could it be where he was headed?” She scanned through the file to find Brannon’s notes on the canvassing. She stared at the wall and replayed her pursuit of Garmen step by step. He was halfway down the alley by the time she had rounded the corner. Her focus was pinned to him. She couldn’t say if any of the doors were open. Could someone have propped an alley access open a few inches and shot? Would she have seen the door close?

“Shit.”

Jim strolled into her cubicle. “Cheer up. I was coming to tell you we got your ballistics results back. Your sergeant should be letting you know you’re cleared for patrol again. Not to mention working the Santa sleigh case.”

“Good.” She scooped up her notes and grabbed her coat. “See you later.”

“Hey, where you off to?” Jim whirled as she zipped by him.

“I’ll let you know if I find anything.” Michelle was out the door by the time his grumbling reached her ears.

***

Michelle checked the time. The club didn’t open for an hour, but she’d seen a car parked in the spot next to the back entrance. With as much force as possible, she knocked on the door. Two minutes and several raps later, she heard the lock click. The steel door cracked open an inch. The eye that peeked out widened in surprise, and the door opened. “Officer?”

“Good morning. I have a few questions. Were you working last night?” She asked the man with graying temples and a thin stature.

“I’m always here. I own the place.” He stepped back and allowed her to enter. “I don’t know what I can tell you that I didn’t already tell the other officer.”

This must be Joel Stigman. She’d read his statement. He was working the front door as his bouncer had called in sick. He didn’t hear the shot over the music. “I just have a couple more questions.”

He gestured for her to continue.

“How often is this back door used?” She pulled out her tablet to make notes.

“The employees use it. They come in the front as my manager and I are the only ones with a key, but they sneak out for a smoke on break.”

She glanced around and noticed the brick by the door. “Does the door automatically lock?”

“Yes. If they don’t prop it open, it will lock behind them. And when someone’s in the middle of a set, they could bang on it all night and not be heard.”

“You said you were up front and didn’t hear the shot?”

“Yes.”

“Could I get a list of the employees working at the time of the shooting last night?”

“Sure. I will grab the schedule and be right back.” He slipped into a small office and she heard keys clicking on a computer. A minute later, he was back. “I don’t know if it will do you any good. I can’t imagine any of my employees being involved in a shooting.”

“Probably not, but they may have seen or heard something. Thank you.” She took the list he had printed and scanned it. Ten people were working last night. She didn’t have a list of the patrons here, but they wouldn’t have access to the back door, most likely. Besides, one name popped out at her. Margarita Smith.

She thanked him again and exited through the back door. Looking at the scene with new eyes, she played the scene over again. Could Garmen’s girlfriend had known he was coming to the back door? Would she have shot him? And why?

It looks like she would be doing a little shopping today.

Chapter 18