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26
Tulane-Gravier, New Orleans, Louisiana
FRIDAY, JULY 29, 9:30 A.M.
Hey, Lamont?”
Lamont looked up from his office computer with a glare, discreetly closing the overnight police reports he’d been studying. No news was good news at this point. Ashley still hadn’t been identified. “Yes, Jean-Pierre?” He tried not to say the man’s name sardonically. Didn’t seem like he’d managed it, though, because the other man’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Ashley didn’t come into work again today. I was wondering if you’ve heard from her.”
“I sure haven’t,” Lamont drawled. “Why would she be calling me?”
Jean-Pierre shrugged. “I figured if she was sick or something, she’d have your number in her favorites. I never got a chance to give her my personal cell phone number that first day.”
Huh.He’d forgotten that Ashley had only been gone from his office for a day before her unfortunate end. “Well, she didn’t call me. If she does, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
Jean-Pierre frowned. “Dammit. I hope this doesn’t mean that I’ll have to find a new assistant. Could she have just run off? Did she have a boyfriend or anything?”
Only me.“If she did, I didn’t know about it. We weren’t really that close.” And once their relationship did come out, no one would blame him for lying. No one shouted the news of a secret mistress from the rafters, after all.
“Thank you.” Disgruntled, Jean-Pierre muttered a goodbye to Carrie in the outer office before the door closed behind him.
“Sorry, sir.” Carrie appeared in the doorway, her tablet in one hand. “I tried to get him to leave you alone, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“It’s fine, Carrie. He can be a bit persistent. If he gives you trouble, report him to HR.”
“Oh, he never gives me trouble. I was concerned that he was annoying you. I have your schedule for the day. Should I send it to your email?”
“That would be perfect. Do I still have that two thirty meeting with Mr. Proctor?” He’d better. It was an important part of his plan for Joelle.
“You do. His assistant called to confirm just a few minutes ago. Can I get you anything?”
“A coffee from that shop next door would be amazing, if you don’t mind. I’m afraid I didn’t get too much sleep last night.”
“Of course I don’t mind.” She tilted her head, the picture of concern. “Is everything all right?”
“Oh, you know how it is. My wife is a little annoyed with me right now, and I was banished to the couch.” That wasn’t true, but it would be a nice setup for later. “We’re having a few issues at the moment.”
Carrie’s eyes blinked wide. She was trying to look genuinely upset on his behalf, but he didn’t miss the glitter of interest of the gossipy type. And maybe the slightest bit of interest of the lusty type. “Should I send her some flowers from you?”
He nodded. “That would be really nice. Again, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” she assured him. “I’ll be back in a few with your coffee.”
He waited until he heard the outer door close before getting up and checking that she was really gone. Carrie was the type to gossip his business to every willing ear. Which would ordinarily be an issue, but he planned to use her little flaw for his own purposes.
She was gone, and he firmly closed his office door before returning to his desk and dialing Cresswell.
The cop answered on the second ring. “Lamont. What’s up?”
“Just checking to see if there’s any news on Mule’s killer.”
Cresswell sighed. “Nothing new. We’ve checked all of Mule’s cases, open and closed, for the past few years to see if the shooter’s body size matches anyone he was investigating. So far, just about everyone matches the shooter’s body type, so we got nothing there. We’ve been gathering Mule’s cell phone records, checking voiceprints on the shooter, trying to dissect that video. You know, all the usual stuff.”
Voiceprints on the shooter? Shit. Why didn’t I keep my big mouth shut? Lamont cleared his throat to keep his voice steady. “You gettin’ anything from that video?”
“Not yet. The guy’s face simply isn’t visible, and the tech guys haven’t been able to clear it up. We’re also checking connections to the five guys killed the other night—y’know, the guys breaking into that PI’s apartment and the restaurant owner’s place.”
