Page 16 of So Smitten

“You mean a thief,” Michael said.

“Yep. Funny how they don’t like that word in the criminal world.”

“I’d like to see the scene,” Faith said, “and to interview the homeowner.”

“That, at least, I can arrange.”

***

Aloysius Farmer greeted the agents with a wan smile. As Garvey had said, the people of this neighborhood were less hostile than on Hansen street, but that didn’t mean they were friendly. Farmer’s smile was the closest thing they had gotten to a polite greeting since arriving in Atlanta.

“Excuse the mess,” he said as he led the agents to his backyard. “I haven’t really had a chance to clean up since yesterday.”

“That’s understandable, Mr. Farmer,” Michael replied. “I’m so sorry for what you’ve had to go through.”

Farmer shrugged. “It’s better than what the thief had to go through.”

“Good point,” Michael said.

“When did you discover Mr. Mariano’s body?” Faith asked.

“Last night, when I got home from work. I get home late, around nine o'clock most days, but I was a little early yesterday on account of I had a cough."

“Got it,” Faith said. “So what time were you home?”

“Seven-thirty.”

“And you saw the body right away?”

“Yeah. I feed Macy when I get home. I was early, but I wanted to get to bed quick so the cough would disappear, so I headed out to feed her as soon as I got home. I found her passed out in her doghouse and the guy, the thief, dead.”

“You said your dog was passed out?” Faith said.

“Yeah. The vet said there was a sedative in her body. It looks like someone knocked her out. I don’t know if it was the thief or the murderer.”

That would be an important question to answer.

“What did you do when you saw the body?”

“Well, I didn’t know it was a body at first. I didn’t see the hole in the fence or anything. I thought it was a homeless dude passed out in my yard. That happens sometimes.”

“A lot of homeless people pass out in your yard?” Michael asked.

“Well, this is the first time it’s happened to me, but I know two or three of my neighbors have come home to find people passed out on their couches or beds. I just figured it was the same thing.”

“So what did you do?” Faith repeated.

Farmer sighed. “I walked over and said, ‘Hey! What the hell you doin’ boy? Get up out of my yard.’ He didn’t answer, obviously, so I…” he hesitated and glanced nervously at Garvey.

“Better you answer here than at the station,” Garvey said.

Farmer nodded. "Well, I, uh, I kicked him."

“You kicked him?”

“Not hard,” Farmer said, “just a little tap to wake him up. I didn’t want to bend down and shake him in case he pulled a knife or something.”

Faith and Michael exchanged a look. “So you kicked him, and then what?”

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