Page 10 of Evidence of Deceit

Mary gasped. “You poor dear. How can I help?”

He had to be careful. Mary was too sharp.

“Well, did Claire have any special friends here? Someone she talked to more than others?”

“Hmmm.” She tapped her lips with half-inch red nails. “She talked to Sheri but didn’t say much to anyone else.”

“Sheri?” he asked. “Is she new?”

Mary nodded.

“Is she here?”

Mary thought for a moment. “No. I think she has the dayoff.”

Keith held his hands, palms up, and shook his head. “Mary, I’m desperate here. Do you know Sheri’s address?”

She put her fingers to her mouth. “We usually don’t give out that information, but this is serious. Give me a minute, and I’ll look it up in the office.”

Mary scurried away while Keith stood impatiently in the corner, listening to all the rich bitches’ ooh and aah over the jewelry. When she came back, she held out a piece of paper. “Here you go, hon. Good luck.”

“Mary, you’re the best. Keep in touch. Hear?”

She nodded and leaned in for a kiss. Riiight. Yuck, but he gave her a peck on the cheek anyhow and walked out.

Outside, he looked at the address.!It was still early afternoon. Maybe Claire was hiding out with this Sheri. A long shot but still.

Sheri lived farther downtown, a couple of stops from the subway. He hailed a taxi. The subway was for the masses.

He made one stop before the taxi stopped in front of an older ten-story brick building on the west side. He paid, tipped the driver and walked over to the front door. He needed to be buzzed in. Would Sheri be home? He took a chance of coming here rather than calling. Would she even let him in? He hoped so. He needed to look in Sheri’s face. He was good at telling when people lied to him. And God only knew what Claire had told her.

He rang the bell for apartment 601 and was buzzed in. Sheri needed to be more careful. Took the elevator up to the sixth floor and knocked on her door. An attractive, thin woman with black hair pulled back in a ponytail opened the door. Stood there, surprised.

“Oh. I was expecting my sister.”

Keith introduced himself and asked if he could come in. She hesitated but eventually opened the door wider and let him in.

“I don’t have a lot of time, but I was wondering if you heard from Claire?”

“Claire?” Sheri’s voice came out in a squeak. “No. Why would I?” Sheri averted her gaze and looked frantically around her apartment.

Oh, Sheri. Never take up gambling.She was lying. Keith wanted to show her what happened to liars in his world, but right now, he needed to be nice.

He explained Claire had disappeared and he was worried.

She covered her mouth. “Oh, poor Claire.”

Keith was sure she was laying it on thick for his benefit.

“How can I help?”

“Well, if you happen to hear from her, would you let me know?”

She nodded vigorously.

“Also, you could give me your phone number so that I can check in with you occasionally.” He tried to look pitiful. “In case you hear from her.”

Sheri appeared conflicted. He could tell she didn’t want to give him her number. She knew something about Claire, and he wasn’t leaving here without it.

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