Page 14 of A Step You Shouldn't Take

“Suit yourself. How about… Ugh, no. He’s wearing a toupee.”

“What about his credentials?”

“I’ll try the next one.”

“This isn’t a fashion show. I don’t care what he looks like. Or she. Do any of them have testimonials?”

“They write those things themselves. Do you know anyone who’s used a private detective?”

No, but I did know an actual detective. Banks. Could I call him? He’d seemed so dismissive before, and I worried he’d think I was stupid for trying to dig into this myself. But what about Officer Leopold? He’d seemed genuinely sympathetic, and I didn’t worry so much about him judging me.

“Hold on. I’ll make a call.”

Without Leopold’s direct number, I phoned the precinct and asked to speak to him. Luckily, he was at his desk, in the midst of eating by the sounds of it. If he helped, I’d have to send him a box of donuts as a thank-you gift.

“Miss Jennings? I heard about the toxicology test. I’m sorry we couldn’t do more.”

He sounded worried, as if I were going to ask him to take on the case by himself. At least I could allay his fears.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done, but I’m hoping to engage a private detective. One who can look further into my case. I was hoping you might know of somebody.”

Somebody who wouldn’t rip me off.

“An investigator?”

“Yes.”

“That won’t be cheap.”

His unspoken words?And it’s a hopeless cause.Well, he didn’t know about Georgette, did he?

“I understand that, but I still want to try. I’m just worried about hiring someone who isn’t up to the job. Can you help with a recommendation? Or do you know of anyone else who might be able to?”

A long silence followed. Then I heard rustling and footsteps, as if Leopold had moved out into the hallway.

“There is one person I can think of,” he said.

“Who?”

“An ex-cop. He was good. The best investigator we had. But there were some problems a while back, and he quit.”

“Quit? Or got fired?”

“Quit. His sister was dating Sergeant Banks. I believe you two met?”

“He came to my office.”

“Anyhow, Banks had an…indiscretion. It left Cullen in a difficult position in the department. When Banks got promoted, Cullen handed in his resignation.”

“Because he couldn’t play nicely with others?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to deal with a man like that.

Leopold’s voice dropped to a whisper. “None of this came from me, okay?”

“I promise I won’t say a word.”

“Banks refused to admit he’d done anything wrong. I don’t know all the details, but whatever happened, it was bad enough that Cullen’s sister fled the state. She contacted him every so often, and each time she did, he’d take off to try and find her. Banks gave him a disciplinary for unauthorised absence.”

“That seems a little harsh.”

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