Page 67 of Pied Sniper

“Her New York apartment was slated for foreclosure.”

“That has to be a mistake. Grace got that wrong!”

“And she doesn’t own the Montgomery apartment.”

“Sure she does!” But Flavia didn’t look at me as she protested. Instead, her gaze drifted around the room before finally settling on her pink stilettos as she breathed deeply.In, out, in, out,like she was counting to ten before she burst into anger. Or tears. It was hard to tell. “I think I should go. I have a reservation at the Belmont and I have to make a video appealing for Tiffany’s safe return.” She flittered around, looking for the Hermès purse she dropped onto a desk. I almost asked her if I could touch it but now wasn’t the best time. “I’d still like to help put some more money towards the tip line. People respond faster when there’s more money,” she said with a sigh of resignation. I knew she was thinking,at least, Tiffany would.

“Why don’t we get someone to take you back to your hotel and we’ll be in touch?” I said gently. Next to me, Solomon tapped his phone. “It’s very kind of you to want to help.”

“Sure.”

“Perhaps you could write down everything you remember about her. Maybe ask your friends if they also paid for Tiffany’s expenses?” I suggested.

“I guess I could do that.”

“This is one of our associates,” said Solomon as the office door opened. “He’ll take you to the hotel and here’s my card. If you need anything else, just call.”

Flavia took the card, looked at it, then up at Solomon, batting her eyelashes. “Or call my wife,” added Solomon, indicating me. I smiled and Flavia’s shoulders dropped as she sighed softly.

“Thank you,” she said, gathering herself. “I’ll do that. And I’ll email you the amount I plan to contribute to the tip line reward.”

“I know your friend will appreciate all the help you can give us,” I said.

“I guess I don’t have to ask what you make of everything,” said Solomon after she left.

“The more I hear about Tiffany, the less I like her. She sounds like a grifter.”

“What’re the odds that she owed money to the people who kidnapped her?”

“Higher than a business deal so important in Montgomery that she just had to sell and leave the city to move here. A movie, really? Flavia fell for that?” I dropped into my chair and fixed a look at Tiffany’s laptop. “I need to study this more closely. I must have missed something.”

“Agreed. Why don’t we team up for the next hour? You do that and I’ll deep dive into her finances. If she owes big money to someone unscrupulous, and there’s a paper trail, I’ll find it.”

“There’s definitely something wrong with this case. I can feel it.”

“Trust your instincts.”

“I do. I just don’t know what to do with them.”

“Don’t think too hard. If something’s on your mind, let it come to you. Maybe we just need more pieces of the puzzle before everything becomes completely obvious.”

“I know what’s obvious. I don’t trust a damn thing about Tiffany. This kidnapping included.”

While Solomon went to retrieve his laptop, I called Maddox.

“Garrett filled me in already,” he said. “I’m on the road following a lead but it sounds like you’re making good progress.

“I think so. Jonathan and Grace are on their way over to MPD, and Tiffany’s friend, Flavia is in town. She wants to help.”

“Flavia? The Barbie-doll lookalike that Tiffany is always fighting with?”

“You’ve done your research. She’s staying at The Belmont.”

“You think she’s involved?”

“No, but she’s going to reach out to people they know. I think Tiffany ripped off a lot of people but they failed to notice.”

“Ouch. So what can I help you with? Or are we shooting the breeze?”

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