Page 83 of All You Want
“Probably the cat.” Tami jingles the keys. “Someone must be feeding him. I bet it’s the kitchen staff.”
“I wonder how he gets in and out of the basement.” I turn on my flashlight and search the newly laid cinder blocks. They don’t quite reach to the ceiling. “Looks like there’s a gap where he can jump to the other side. Where does that go?”
“The coal bin,” Tami says with no inflection in her voice. “There was too much mess to clean up, and we didn’t need the space.”
“They would have built the coal bin underneath or close to the kitchen with stairs to get to it.” I zigzag around the boxes and piles of building material and pull myself up so I can look over the dividing wall, placing the flashlight up top. “So, the cat jumps over the wall, crosses over the top of the coal bin, and then what?”
“I bet there are rats over there,” Shane says.
“I don’t have rats in my hotel,” Tami protests. “Are we going to talk to Diana or not?”
I doubt anyone in their right mind would hang out in the Baja Angel Studio, which seems more like a dungeon than an attraction.
“We’ll get to Diana, but I’d like to see if there’s a way to reach the coal bin from the dumpster.” I wave the flashlight’s beam in an arc along the far wall. There’s one section that has deeper shadows, as if there are two overlapping walls.
“Are you thinking that’s how the cat gets in and out?” Shane asks, following my lead. “What does that have to do with Viola’s murder?”
“I don’t know. Just wondering how the cat gets in if the basement is supposedly locked.”
“Broken window? Grate? I don’t see anything,” Shane says, dropping back to the ground. “Let’s go see what Diana’s up to, and then we need to search Viola’s car.”
Unfortunately, Diana doesn’t answer her door, and Tami isn’t opening up without a search warrant. I understand why. She wouldn’t want to get sued for violating someone’s constitutional rights.
“There isn’t a Do Not Disturb sign on the door,” Shane observes. “Maybe we can ask the maids if she dirtied any towels.”
“Good idea. While Tami and I find the maids, Shane, you should find my uncle. Maybe Diana is with him.”
“Okay, boss.” Shane retreats up the creaky basement stairs.
Once we’re alone, Tami melts into my arms, leaning her face against my chest.
“I’m so stressed,” she says. “Thinking the murderer is lurking and waiting to strike again.”
“Or he’s long gone.” I kiss the top of her head to comfort her. “Let’s go to the dumpster and see if there’s a chance the cat can get from here to there.”
“Why would it matter?” Tami asks. “Cats can fit into the narrowest openings.”
“So can ghosts.”
“You’re kidding.” Tami’s tone is sharp, showing she’s not amused.
“I didn’t finish. You said the guy who pushed you into Viola was not bulky, right?”
“I would say solid, but on the thin side,” Tami concurs. “Are you thinking?”
“I’m the only one who believes that someone else was involved. Right now, Shane thinks you made it up, either because you were hysterical, or that you are the one who killed Viola.”
“He really believes that?” Tami’s voice sharpens. “How can he?”
“I don’t know what he believes, but he can make the case and bring it to the grand jury. All he needs is a motive and to tie you to that baseball bat Evan was carrying around.”
“Are you saying Evan did it? And that’s why he’s gone?”
“He’s high on the list, Tami. He would know of any secret passageways. He is acquainted with Viola. All we’re missing is a motive, and the motive could involve you.”
“Me? No way.”
I have my theory, but I keep it to myself. What if Viola knew about the packet of naked Tami pictures, and she was blackmailing Evan? Someone searched his room. Could she have been caught searching? Then Evan asked her to meet him at the dumpster, or had he sent Molly to do the dirty work while he left to go to San Francisco?
