Page 21 of Taken by the Lawman

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Leaning his elbows on the edge of the receptionist’s desk, the pretty brunette gave him a nervous, shy smile. “I don’t think I can be of much help.” She flicked a glance around the lobby.

“Did he call in? Give you any clue where he was or where he was going?” Deegan asked again.

There was a long hesitation—long enough for her to debate what she’d divulge. “Not a word. We haven’t seen him in days. He just hasn’t shown up.”

“Is that normally like him?”

She tapped her crimson nails against the desk and leaned in. “These days, yes. He has a priority list and work isn’t one.”

Deegan saw a slip in her wall. “You’d tell me if you knew more, wouldn’t you?”

“Of course.” She batted her eyelashes and her cheeks pinkened.

He reached over the desk for one of the business cards and pen. He jotted down a number, then handed it to her. “If he shows up to work, or you hear anything, will you give me a call?”

“I will. I promise.”

Leaving the building where Gilbert had worked for ten years, Deegan decided to walk to Annie Steele’s apartment located only a few blocks away. Once he reached the three-story historic building, he stood in front, surveying the entrance. It was a walk-up with a locked entrance so he wondered how easily someone could get inside, walk the three flights to Annie’s apartment without there being any witnesses. Not even one. Not even a camera on the premises. He’d seen this before in apartment buildings with a younger crowd in residence. They’re so wrapped up in life they forget the rules of safety and don’t think twice about who’s walking their halls.

He made a mental list of what he knew already. Lisa and Max were together that night so both had an alibi. RayAnn Mont seemed convincing that Annie wouldn’t do drugs. Everest Gilbert, who seemed to love the spotlight, had untimely, or timely, disappeared. If he was a good friend, where was he? Deegan checked and the man hadn’t been interviewed by detectives to ask what he knew. The syringe found on the floor next to the bathtub didn’t have any prints outside of Annie’s.

Turning, he stared down the sidewalk, looking around at the businesses. Across the street was a coffee shop where someone could have watched the apartment building. In the report Deegan had read that Annie was out until nine. She had a late night at work.

Walking across the street, Deegan checked the times that the shop was open. They were open until ten.

Inside, he approached the counter, flashed his badge and started to speak to the server but she rolled her eyes. “Are you here about that woman? The one who was banging the Senator?”

“Yes. Have you had anybody asking about what happened?”

“Everyone and his brother. Just like I told everyone else, I didn’t see anyone who appeared suspicious and I was busy working,” she snapped.

Realizing he wasn’t going to get anything from her, he left the shop. He made it almost ten feet when he heard a noise.

“Psst. You! Cop! Over here.”

He looked for the whispered voice and found a middle-aged man wearing a black shirt with the coffee shop’s logo. “You work here?” Deegan asked.

“Yeah. Unfortunately!” He shifted and looked over his shoulder. “That girl in there won’t tell you anything.”

“I got that.”

“That’s because she was outside with her boyfriend, you know...” He snorted and swiped a hand down his thin jaw.

“And you think she saw something?”

“I heard her, man. I heard her talking. She saw a man in black go inside the building across the street where that dead girl was found.”

Deegan chewed on the morsel of information for a second. “Did she get a good look at him?”

“Nah, that was all. It was dark.” He shrugged. “I have a speeding ticket. It stinks, you know. I figured maybe you could take care of that for me, you know, since I helped you out and all.” The man looked serious.

“Sure. I’ll help you out…with a suggestion. Pay the fine and drive responsibly.” Deegan left the man standing. He’d learned to watch for the cues when someone was falsifying information.

Making his way two blocks away to the alley where the unidentified victim was found dead by a gunshot, he wanted to check the area out again. The last time he’d been there he hadn’t seen anything, but sometimes it took more than once to find a needle in a haystack.

He was certain there was a connection, but what was it?

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