Page 24 of Special Agent Murphy

***

While Murphy did a surveillance of the outside area, Kayti walked into Vinnie’s convenience store. Christmas lights hung around each of the aisle ends and in both the front windows. The place was chockablock full of everything most of these stores sold, but Vinnie had piled it all into a smaller, more crowded space than usual.

She spotted a mirror over the door and wondered why they bothered. It wasn’t like you could see anything with aisles loaded almost to the ceiling. There were coolers along the wall where a short counter had been installed. The fellow sitting on the stool behind the counter looked at her, waiting with a grin. He winked. “Hey, sweetheart. What can Vinnie do for you today?”

Kayti took a liking to the older man and his gentle smile. His coffee-colored skin was the perfect setting to make his white teeth shine and his green eyes startling.

She showed him her badge and smiled back. “Do you know an old bag lady called Maddie?”

“Sure. Everyone around here knows her. Just saw her this morning. She stays in the old shed on the vacant lot a block over. There’s a few of them take turns using the bed in there. Her time is mornings. Is she okay?”

“Oh, she’s fine. Did she tell you she found this Fitbit outside?”

Vinnie leaned over and checked it out. “Nope. But I saw her rummaging around on the ground by the gas pumps before she left. Probably about eight this morning.”

“It belongs to a missing girl. She must have been here at some point during the night. What time do you stay open till?”

“Twenty-four seven. I work dayshift from seven to seven. I like my bed at regular hours, we usually have another person who works the nightshift.”

“So, you weren’t here last night?”

“Not saying that. The kid quit two days ago. I had my son come in for a few hours last night so I could catch some sleep. But until I find a replacement, it’s mostly old Vinnie who’ll be looking after the joint.”

Murphy had stepped inside, showed the badge at his waist and picked up the conversation. “Do you happen to have surveillance equipment, Vinnie? Any cameras with views of the gas pumps?”

“Sure do. But they don’t work worth a damn. Bin meaning to change them. You can take the tapes from last night, but I bet they’re empty. Damn new-fangled thing doesn’t turn on like the instructions read. My son says I need to spend money and get the better brand. Guess I will one day.”

“Thanks, Vinnie. Do you remember anything at all about a car this make and color turning up here? Has a dent in the back-right fender?” Murphy had found a similar model to the one they were after, saved it and now brought it up on his cellphone to show the old man.

“Sorry, I’m color blind so that don’t mean anything to me. It was busy last night. There may have been a car like this one, I can’t say. The folks, they fill their cars nowadays using cards. Those people I don’t see. A few come in to buy stuff. How old is the girl?”

“Sixteen. She was snatched at a club on Fourteenth. Her father is frantic. You might know him. Senator Bond?”

“Sure, I voted for the man. I wish I could be of more help.”

Murphy mentioned, “If you recall anything you think might help, here’s my card. Call anytime.”

Kayti handed over hers too and smiled when the old man took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I hope I do remember something so I can call you, pretty lady.”

---