Page 72 of Little Empty Promises

“I understand why the timing of a strange man you’ve never seen before coming into the library seems suspect,” I said.“Maybe it is, and maybe it isn’t.Either way, you can’t blame yourself for any part of what happened.”

“Ididdo something wrong, though.I should have given you this information the night she died, and I didn’t.”

“Why did you wait until now?”

“When I learned about what happened to her, I was in shock, to be honest.I hadn’t processed all that had gone on that day yet.When I did, I realized I needed to say something, to tell someone, even if it amounted to nothing.I let my fear stop me from doing the right thing.”

“What are you afraid of, Samantha?”

She choked up, struggling to get out the words.“I’ve had nightmares ever since she died, nightmares of me telling the police, and word getting around town about that strange man.What if he was the one who killed her?If he finds out I’ve been running my mouth, what’s to stop him from coming after me?”

30

While I understood Samantha’s concern for her own safety, I didn’t find much merit in it—that the killer would return to shut her mouth for good.Still, she’d let me know there was one other person in the library that day who may have seen him—Johnny, the other employee.

I wanted nothing more than to return home after the long day I’d had, but I knew if I didn’t make one more one last stop, I’d regret it.

When I pulled up to Johnny’s driveway, a burgundy ’90s Mercury Capri two-door hatchback was parked in the driveway.After too many years in the sun, the paint on its roof was weathered and faded, adding to the rundown look of the vehicle.

As I glanced at Johnny’s condo, I noticed the blinds were drawn.Even so, light was emanating from between the slats, a good sign that he was at home.I parked behind the Capri and walked to the front door, ringing the doorbell.

I heard some rustling from inside the house but got distracted when I felt something brush across my ankles.I looked down.A cat was rubbing itself over my legs, purring up at me as if in need of attention.It was a big, white, overweight fluffball, but its bright-blue eyes were captivating, and before I knew it I was crouching down, stroking its fur.

The front door opened, and the man looked down, smiling at the cat and then at me.I gave the cat one last pat and stood, facing the man in front of me.

“Hello,” I said.

“Hiya.What can I do for you?”

“I’m Georgiana Germaine with the Case Closed Detective Agency.Are you Johnny?”

“That’s me.Why?”

“I’ve been hired to investigate Cordelia’s?—”

“I know who you are.You work with that woman … Simone Bonet.”

“I do.I believe the two of you spoke yesterday.”

“We didn’t talk long, a few minutes at most.”

He turned his head, peering inside his house as if something had diverted his attention.

“Is everything okay?”I asked.

“Aww, yeah.It’s fine.”

He had a thick Southern accent, which I enjoyed, but it was hard to make out what he was saying at times.

“I was wondering if I could speak to you for a few minutes,” I said.

“Why?”

“I just visited with Samantha, and I wanted to ask you about the last day you worked with Cordelia at the library.”

His eyes lit up.“Yousaw Samantha?I was told she wouldn’t see anyone, not since the murder.How’s she doing?”

“Better, I hope.There was something she hadn’t told me before now.It’s the reason why I came to see you.I have a few questions.”

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