AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I follow her lead and get to the point. “You delivered a suitcase to a building yesterday.”
“Oh, yes. That was an odd request, but by far not my first odd request or strangest. I’ve literally bought dog bones and taken them to a dog when her owner was worried about her, bought booze for a man after his wife cheated and ended up comforting him, and sewed everything from a ripped crotch to a street walker’s bra. She was actually a really nice lady, she just made the wrong career choices. I told her to get an Only Fans page. At least she doesn’t have to touch the scumbags.”
I almost spew my coffee. “How do you even know about Only Fans?”
“I read the news every day and stay present. I saw a story about a school teacher who got fired for her Only Fans page, so I looked it up. That was a bad choice on her part. Anyway, the news, staying educated, alone with my little company—those things keep me alive. I believe that. Well, that and healthy eating, regular gym visits, and my coffee.” She lifts her cup and sips again.
All right, then. Granny is less of a granny than Jay.
“Was there a problem with the suitcase?” she asks. She sets her cup down. “Tell me it didn’t have drugs?”
“What apartment did you drop it at?”
“721. I just left it at the door as instructed.”
That’s the apartment where the murder happened. So, if she left it at the door, the owner might have rolled it inside, but then I’d think he would have called security. Maybe the killer got there first and had a way to enter the apartment.
“Please tell me it wasn’t a bomb,” she says, her mind clearly going wild now. “I didn’t look inside. It had a lock or I probably would have. I’m a bit nosey. My husband used to get onto me about it.”
“Did you know the person you dropped the case to?”
“No. I did not. Never been to that area of town even. Was there a bomb?” Her voice is higher now, and her cup is on the table. “Please say no.”
“Who was the customer who asked you to drop off the bag?”
Her brow furrows. “Gosh, I don’t remember. I have so many jobs this week, it’s kind of nuts.”
“Don’t you have records?” I ask.
“I do, but I’m pretty sure this was a cash transaction.” She stands and grabs a big box and brings it to the table, reaching inside to show me a bunch of tickets. “I’m not super organized. I typically report all cash in as income. I’ll have to dig through these. I owe them to my accountant anyway.”
“Would you know what he looked like?”
“I don’t. I actually think it might have been left with my daughter when I was out.” She dumps the receipts on the table. “I can go through them and call you.”
“Why don’t I help?” I ask.
“I think that’s under your pay grade.”
“Nothing is under my pay grade,” I assure her.
She studies me real hard and says, “How bad a person is my customer?”
“On a scale of bad, real damn bad,” I say.
“Well then, let me refill our cups, and let’s get to work.”
An hour later, Jay and Kit have both texted me three times and I’ve had to tell them to calm the fuck down every single time. The receipts are all dried up and there’s nothing we’ve found that has anything to do with the suitcase.
“It’s here somewhere,” Cathy says, sounding frazzled. “I’m going to dig through my jackets and ask Jennifer what she remembers. Call me tomorrow. Or come back by. I have this wonderful glazed donut blend I can make for you.”
At this point, I’ve assessed Cathy and do not believe she’s a suspect. Her daughter is another story. I want to pay her a visit when she’s not with her mother. For now, I’ve hit a wall. I leave Cathy with my phone number and am frustrated, certain the killer picked Cathy because he had a plan to manipulate her.
The question is how he knew her.
I pause at the door before I exit and turn to her. “Have you ever been to the diner down the street? It’s called—”
“Curly Joe’s. My gosh, yes. You have to try the whipped cream.”
