Mayes, Casey - A Deadly Row

As I walked back into the living room, I saw that there was a blinking light on her answering machine. Out of habit, I hit the play button and heard a man’s voice say, “Cin? Are you there? Call me, this fight is ridiculous.” Who was she fighting with, and why? Hadn’t he heard that she was dead?

This sounded like something Zach should know. I picked up my cell phone and dialed my husband’s number.

He picked up on the fourth ring, just before it went to voice mail. “’Lo?”

“Hey, did I call at a bad time?” I asked.

“No, I was digging into one of the last boxes of evidence, and I couldn’t hear my phone. What’s up? Are you still at the Glass place?”

“I am,” I said. “I promised Barton I’d stay as long as I needed to.”

“Is he there with you?”

“No, he came in with me, but he couldn’t take it. I’m collecting a few things for him, and I was walking past the answering machine when I noticed that the light was blinking, so I hit the play button.”

“You shouldn’t have done that,” he said. “We’re in the middle of an active police investigation.”

“You’re the one who gave me permission to come here, remember?” If he was going to use that tone of voice with me, he was going to get it right back.

“Sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. I’m just tired, I guess. What did it say?”

“Evidently she was fighting with someone, and he called to make up with her.”

“If he killed her, he had to know she wouldn’t be getting the message.”

“I thought of that.” I said. “But what if he’s trying to make it look like he’s innocent? That call might help him, if a jury hears it. Shouldn’t you trace it?”

“It’s probably innocent enough, but I’ll have Joe look into it. He’s the guy who drove me over here today. Hang on.” He covered the mouthpiece, but I could still hear some of his conversation.

A minute later, he asked, “Is there anything else?” “I’m not sure I want to share the rest of it with you,” I said.

“Come on, give me a break, Savannah. I’m up against the wall here.”

My voice softened. “Did Davis give you a hard time today?”

Zach snorted. “He never showed up for our meeting, and no one’s seen him around here all day.”

“That’s a good thing then, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know about that. When the police chief bails out on you, it can’t be good.”

“How about Grady? Have you spoken with him?”

“Nobody knows where he is, either. He told his assistant that he was taking the day off. Who knows, maybe the two of them are off somewhere conspiring.”

“Slow down, Zach. Don’t let the paranoia get to you.”

He sighed. “I know. I’m just whipped.”

“I am, too. I found a photo of Cindy and a man in her lingerie drawer.”

“Really? I looked there, but I didn’t see anything.”

I kept my comment about my husband going through a woman’s lingerie drawer to myself. He didn’t need to hear me teasing him at the moment. “It was in the back, wedged in. I’m not sure it means anything. The guy’s face has been ripped out of the picture.”

“Wrap it up in your handkerchief and don’t touch it any more than you have to. I’ll get it from you tonight. What else did you find?”

“It’s what I didn’t find that’s bothering me. Do you know if the investigating officers collected any personal correspondence from her place?”

“Sure, I don’t even have to look. There’s a box of letters she kept, along with some photos that might be significant, and a few other things. Why?”

“Did they find a silver chain with a cow pendant on it?”

He paused, and then said, “I don’t think so. Hang on; let me grab the inventory list.” I could hear him pull out some papers, and then he said, “No, nothing here about that. They took some photos of her jewelry box, but they didn’t take it as evidence. Does it matter?”

“It must to Barton. It’s the main reason he wanted to come here tonight.”

“Well, we don’t have it,” Zach said. “How much longer are you going to be?”

“I’m just about finished. Why? Are you ready to come back to the hotel?”

“I wish I were, but I’m afraid I’ll be here half the night.”

“Should I come join you?” I asked.

“No, I’m not going to be very good company. Why don’t you go back to the hotel, and I’ll see you sometime later?”

I thought about telling him about the box Uncle Thomas had given me, but if I did that, I knew Zach would insist on being by my side when I opened it, and he was needed right where he was. I’d deal with it—or not—by myself, one way or the other.

“Don’t stay there too late,” I said.

“I’ll try not to fall asleep on the table, but I’m not making any promises. Call me later, okay?”

“You know I will.”

After I got off the telephone with Zach, I took one last look around the apartment. There might be something there that had value to Barton, but without knowing what it was, I couldn’t say. I was certain he’d have a crew come in after me and bag, tag, and catalogue the apartment’s contents, so I didn’t worry too much about missing anything.

That wasn’t why I’d been there.

I looked at the paltry selection and frowned. What was I missing? Cindy hadn’t been all that sentimental, if the limited personalized things before me were any indication.

I hated to go back to Barton so empty-handed, but I didn’t have much choice. I couldn’t manufacture sentiment out of thin air.

I finally picked up my cell phone and called the hotel.

“Garrett, it’s Savannah Stone. I’m ready for my ride back to the hotel.”

“Yes, ma’am. The driver is waiting for you outside.”

I hadn’t expected that. “Barton’s not still here, is he?”

“No, he’s in his penthouse suite here. As soon as you arrive, I’ll escort you there.”

“I thought we had the top floor.”

“Of the public rooms, yes, but there is one more floor above you.”

“Then I’ll see you in a few minutes,” I said.

I found the driver out front, but before I walked to the limousine, I locked the door to Cindy’s apartment behind me.

“I’ll take the key, if you don’t mind,” the driver said.

“Oh. Of course,” I answered as I handed it to him. “I’m Savannah.”

“I’m Henry,” he replied, and then he smiled brightly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Don’t tell me you’re a puzzle fan, too.”

He looked surprised by the question. “No, ma’am, I’m not exactly sure what that is, but you’ve done a service for my employer, and I greatly appreciate it. He hasn’t asked anyone for help as long as I’ve known him. You should feel honored.”

“I do, but I’m not sure I did much good.” I had collected the few things I’d managed to find in a paper grocery bag, and it felt too light in my hands.

“You helped, trust me.”

As he drove us back to the hotel, I asked from the back, “Did you know Cindy Glass?”

He nodded, and I could see a tear in the corner of one eye. “She was special; there was no doubt about that. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to harm her. I thought it was going to kill Mr. Lane. He didn’t leave the penthouse for five days, but talking to you on the telephone when you and your husband first arrived seemed to revive him. Today, I finally believe that he is beginning to mend.”

“I wish I could take credit for it, but I haven’t really done anything.”

Henry shrugged. “Sometimes three quarters of the battle is just showing up and trying your best. At least that’s what my grandmother used to say.”