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“Proof. Sammy was just a scared kid. Not a killer.”
Knight got behind his computer and plugged in the thumb-sized stick. Everyone piled behind him as he pulled up video footage of Sammy in the dining areas after closing, and cleaning, just like it said on his clock card. Knight fast-tracked through the footage for any place Sammy was missing and the time stamps on the footage for any correlation with the time of death. There were moments when he would sit on his phone, but mostly, he was doing a full overnight eight-hour shift, just like it said on his clock card. The only times he was off-screen wouldn’t have been enough time to make it to the alley and back.
Knight sighed heavily. “A gift from your boss?”
“He hates to think a clean name was dirtied. Sammy shouldn’t have had a gun on you, but he didn’t deserve to die like the murderer he wasn’t.” Montgomery looked pointedly at Anastacia and nodded at her.
She nodded back. “Thanks, guys.”
Delivery made; Mel watched both men weave their way around desks toward the exit. He thought maybe they were trying to sneak a peek at a case or two on computer screens or desks as they passed by. He couldn’t blame them; he would have done the same thing.
Knight groaned and rubbed at his eyes in agitation. “So, we’re at square one. I won’t hold my breath on the ballistics matching now.”
“I’ll leave you to it.” Baker smiled and patted her hands on Knight’s shoulders as she started to head back to her desk, pausing to add, “Just a word of advice. I would follow her feelings on things. Good luck, Knight.”
AgroancamefromKnight as the computer monitor flickered.
“What’s wrong?” Anastacia glanced up from her notebook where she was focused on who could have wanted to hurt or frame Sammy. He was a bright kid, stayed in school, interested in culinary studies. He wanted to be a chef and make his mother proud. The wave of guilt rushed over her again, a firm burn in her eyes as she thought about how he would never get to live his life. Then there was the frustration mounting from nothing about Mel and Sammy adding up. Two bodies in two weeks. Her first outing as a consultant was brutal.
“My computer’s busted, I think. It’s the third time it’s flicked off and on with me in the last hour.” Knight stood to his feet, hitting the monitor from all sides to bring it back up.
“Really?” Anastacia checked the wires at the back of the computer and found Mel laying on the floor. “I wonder how that’s happening.”
Mel threw a cheeky grin up at her.
“I’d say it’s time to punch out for the night. Now we know he’s not connected; we need a new game plan.” Knight shut down his computer for the evening.
“Just a little longer?” she asked with the notepad still in her lap.
“Come on, Stacia. We’ve been here forever!” Mel popped up from behind Knight and begged her over his shoulder. “Even the dead need a break!”
“Okay, a break may do us good.” Anastacia huffed out a sigh.
“You hungry?” Knight watched her as she grabbed her bag.
“I have some microwave dinners at home with my name on them," she said offhandedly, “They fill me up well enough.”
“You’re living in one of the best cities to experience cuisine and you choose microwave dinners at home?” Knight chuckled at her confused expression.
“This is what I’ve been telling her!” Mel yelled. “Come on! Let’s get out of your crummy apartment and live just a little! Let’s just go.”
“I don’t know, Knight. I’m not the best dinner guest.”
“Not expecting to take you to my kitchen tonight. Come on, dawlin’, let me show you some actual food.”
“I don’t know, Knight," Mel mimicked as if Knight could hear him and circled Anastacia. “I haven’t been able to get her out of her apartment since we met. I don’t know if she even does fun.”
“You know what? I’d love to. Maybe a new place will drown out some of the extra voices in my head.” She eyed Mel and followed Knight out the door.
#
The restaurant was barely more than a hole-in-the-wall with the bar taking up over half of the slim seating area. There were decorations everywhere as if it was still Mardi Gras, and neon lights advertising the known and not so known alcoholic options. The tables were filled with people and the bar was the only space with any breathing room. Knight directed Anastacia to the bar to quickly snag the two seats that had been vacated before anyone else could get them. As they sat, Knight shed his jacket, tossing it on the back of his chair. Anastacia hugged her bag on her lap.
“You ever relax?” he almost had to yell over the music.
“Only when I have to.”
He grinned at her and chuckled at her with a nod.
