Page 30 of Nightshade

“Because it’s prorated by the number of shifts you work. She was getting only four, sometimes three, shifts a week. The full-timers were getting more, and that meant more at the end of the month.”

Stilwell nodded that he understood and pivoted, hoping a change of direction would keep Callahan uncomfortable.

“So what did you say to her that day after Crane fired her?”

“Nothing. I never saw her leave. She probably didn’t want anybody to see her. That’s why she went out the front.”

“How do you know she went out the front?”

“Because if she’d gone out through the kitchen or the restaurant, we would’ve seen her.”

“‘We’?”

“We all knew she was getting fired. No other reason to get sent up to the boss.”

“Who were the members who didn’t like her? Who complained about her?”

“Complaints would have gone to Mr. Crane. You have to ask him.”

“Where was Leigh-Anne Moss living on the island?”

“No idea.”

“Was she friends with anybody on staff? Anyone she might have roomed with?”

Callahan shook his head like he was dealing with a child. “You don’t understand. No one liked her here. No one could figure out why she’d even been hired, except she was a looker. But nobodywas going to let her bunk with them. That wasn’t happening. I should get back downstairs. I’ve got deliveries coming in. It was a big weekend.”

Callahan stood up to go.

“Sit down, Mr. Callahan,” Stilwell said. “We’re not finished.”

Callahan slowly sat back down, anger crossing his face. He didn’t like being told what to do. Stilwell had finished the interview, but he wasn’t going to let Callahan dictate anything. He dropped back into a more cordial tone that he hoped would keep Callahan talking.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” he said. “Last few questions and then you can get to your inventory. What do you think Leigh-Anne did with the statue of the black marlin?”

“How the fuck would I know?” Callahan said. “It’s probably in a pawnshop in Long Beach. But I tell you what, she didn’t steal that thing to sell it. She stole it as a fuck-you to this place.”

Stilwell nodded as though Callahan had made an important point.

“Last question,” he said. “Where do you think Leigh-Anne is right now?”

He studied Callahan’s eyes for any sign of hesitation or dissembling as he answered.

“Same thing,” Callahan said. “How the fuck would I know?”

Stilwell said nothing for a long moment, hoping the angry man in front of him would say more. But Callahan held his gaze and said nothing else.

“Okay, Mr. Callahan, we’re finished here,” Stilwell said. “You’re free to go.”

“About time,” Callahan said.

He stood up and stepped over to the window to take a look at the harbor. Then he turned and gave Stilwell a dead-eyed stare before heading to the door.

Stilwell waited, and a few minutes later Crane returned to the office.

“How’d we do with Buddy, Sergeant?” he asked.

Stilwell got up to return the seat of authority to its rightful owner.

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