AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jason’s sharp knock drew Cassie out of her thoughts. She wished she could’ve shared them with him, but she knew better than to add to his burden. He was taking this investigation well enough, but she caught the sadness in his eyes when he didn’t think she was looking.
After a second knock, they heard a muffled voice from the other side of the door. A few seconds later, a lock slid back, and the door cracked open. A chain kept the door from swinging wide.
The woman’s voice was quiet. Confused. “Can I help you?”
She was the exact opposite of what Alan had described. She had short, straight, blond hair and bright blue eyes. Her skin looked like porcelain, and her makeup was light. Cassie saw the barest hint of pink eyeshadow without any eyeliner. There was a natural beauty to her that emanated softness and fragility. Her tank top made her look even tinier and revealed the fact that she didn’t have any visible tattoos.
Cassie stepped into view so the woman knew she was safe. “Hi, my name is Cassie. This is Jason. I’m guessing you’re not Charli?”
The woman blinked twice and then shook her head. “My name is Stephanie.”
“Hi, Stephanie.” Cassie put on her brightest smile. “Do you have a second? We have a couple questions about someone who might’ve lived here before you.”
Cassie could see the woman calculating the odds. Were these people who they said they were? If she unlocked the door, would they try to come in? There must’ve been something in Cassie’s smile that put Stephanie at ease because she nodded once, closed the door, unlatched the chain, and then swung it wide open.
Cassie didn’t make a move to step forward, and the woman didn’t invite them in. That was well enough because it didn’t look like she had much furniture for entertaining guests. What little Cassie could see of the apartment looked spartan. There was a table and a single chair in the kitchen, and a single recliner in the living room. Beyond that was out of her view.
“Thank you.” Cassie didn’t allow her cheery façade to slip. “I’m guessing you haven’t lived here for long?”
“About a month.” Stephanie’s voice was light and airy. Small. “I haven’t really had time to make it mine yet.”
“That’s okay. I’m pretty sure I still have boxes I need to unpack that’ve been in my basement for years.” Cassie gestured to Jason. “We’re looking for a woman named Charli. We were told she lived here.”
“I don’t know anyone by that name, sorry.”
Cassie twisted her mouth to the side. They hadn’t come all this way for a dead end. “Do you know anything about the woman who used to live here? She had piercings and tattoos. She used to volunteer at the Tulane Medical Center?”
“I never met the person who lived here before me, but I think the landlord said it was a woman.” Stephanie’s voice remained small, but she seemed to relax. “I think she used to work at a bar, though.”
“Oh?” Cassie couldn’t decide if she felt elation or disappointment. Another lead was great, but she was tired of not finding anything of substance. “Do you know where it was?”
“Hang on.” Stephanie retreated into her apartment, but kept the door open. She was back in less than thirty seconds, holding a glass in her hand. “There were a bunch of these left behind when she moved out. I didn’t have anything with me, so I kept them.”
Cassie took the glass from the woman’s hands and peered down at the label. PETE’S BAR was emblazoned across the front in cherry red letters. She could see the silhouette of a pelican through the glass on the other side.
“I remember passing a Pete’s Bar on the way over here,” Jason said. “It’s not far.”
Cassie handed the glass back to the woman. “Thank you so much. This helps.”
“I’m glad.” She didn’t smile. “I wish there was more I could do.”
“It’s okay. It was a long shot, anyway.”
“Is she in some sort of trouble?” the woman asked. “Did she do something?”
Cassie and Jason exchanged looks. “No, she’s not in trouble,” Cassie said. “She might have some information about someone we know.” She didn’t want to give too much away, but she was hoping something might trigger Stephanie’s memory. Maybe there was something else the woman had left behind in the apartment. “Since she worked at the hospital, I mean.”
“Oh, okay.” Stephanie hovered in the doorway, one hand on the jam and the other curled around the glass, which she clutched to her chest. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help.”
“That’s okay. We appreciate your time.” Cassie took a step back, and after a moment’s hesitation, the woman smiled and closed the door with a soft click. They heard the latches slide back into place.
“Onto the next?” Jason asked her.
Cassie sighed. “Onto the next.”
25
By the time they had arrived at Pete’s Bar, Cassie was ready for a drink. Jason must’ve agreed because as soon as they sat down, he ordered himself a beer. Cassie wrinkled her nose and ordered a margarita.
