“Oh, damn. Forgot I turned the phone off when I left last night. I gave some kids my card with the office number and address. What’s the message?”
“They want to come by and see you. Told them to call back in fifteen minutes to see if that was okay. What do I tell them?”
She glanced at Adrienne. “Tell them I’ll be in the office in an hour.” Jonelle disconnected. “The kids want to see me. They may have news, so I’ll need to pick more of your brain later, okay?”
“Kids? What kids?” Adrienne cocked her head at Jonelle. “First, you get a kitten, which is step one to becoming a crazy cat lady. Now, you’re talking about kids? Girlfriend, you need a date. When was the last time you talked to Burt?”
Jonelle groaned. Her best friend never gave up trying to get her and Burt together. “I don’t worry about my social life when I’m on a case.”
“You know, seems to me you like having a case to work on more and more these days.”
Not wanting to start a fight, she ignored Adrienne’s last comment. “The kids are three twelve-year-olds from Tamora’s apartment building. Two of them, Piper and Fredricka—they call her Red Fred or Fred—live on Tamora’s floor. I got the impression from Fred that her mom gives her a lot of freedom to come and go as she pleases.”
“So you think this Fred knows something?”
“Maybe. These kids are bright. Not your typical ‘head staring at the phone screen’ types. I bet they know more than the adults in that building are willing to admit.”
• • •
After Adrienne promised to call if she remembered anything else from the porn studio—known as Playcat Productions according to the flier—Jonelle headed to the office. On the way over she stopped by the store for cookies, chips and, as guilt sunk in with all the junk food, added apples, oranges, and a small bunch of bananas. When she was growing up, her mother, now a working movie extra in Hollywood, didn’t care much what Jonelle consumed, so as a result she acquired a serious fast-food habit.
“Office meeting in five minutes,” Rainey said as she passed Jonelle’s office.
“Right.” She stowed the snacks next to her desk, grabbed notes on Tamora’s case, and took her place around the conference room table. Marvin sat at the head. Ben hadn’t yet arrived, which was typical. Once Rainey opened the box of doughnuts, it was only a matter of seconds before the most senior agent materialized.
“Ah, there he is,” Omar said, pointing at his co-worker. “We oughta commission a scientific study on how it is you can smell pastry all the way down the hall.”
Ben grabbed a glazed doughnut and started to sit before going back and grabbing another.
“Diet going well I see,” Jonelle said.
Ben shot her an “I don’t care” look and consumed half in one bite.
Anxious to get their opinion on Lark’s abduction, Jonelle signaled to her uncle she wanted to go first. He hesitated. His rule was everyone reported in order of seniority, placing Jonelle last. This time she knew her child abduction case outweighed Ben’s bank fraud and Omar’s cyber security breach.
“Jonnie wants to go first, if you guys don’t mind,” Marvin said, his eyes roaming from Ben to Omar. “She’s got more information on the child kidnapping case she’s working on for the public defender’s office.”
When Jonelle finished the recap Ben whistled softly. “Remind me how you got yourself involved in that?”
“Something I overheard piqued my curiosity, so I looked into it.”
Ben shot Marvin a look, eyebrows raised.
“You guys are busy, and all Jonnie had on her plate was delivering summonses. She knows not to let this case interfere with what she does around here.”
“Fine by me,” Omar said. “Nine times out of ten, whoever it is pleads guilty. You tryin’ to get evidence to prove the mothers innocent?”
“I’m not trying to prove guilt or innocence. Everything I find out, I give to her attorney. It’s his call.”
She turned to Ben, waiting for him to give his opinion so they could get on with the meeting. Instead, the senior agent remained quiet, a sly smile playing on his lips.
“What?” she asked. “Why’re you looking at me like that?”
“Just thinking,” he said. After swallowing the last of his doughnuts, he licked his fingers. “Of the three of us, you’re the only one who wants to be what everyone thinks of as a gen-u-ine dee-tec-tive.” His laughter ricocheted off the conference room walls.
She wasn’t offended. In the years she’d known him, Ben supported her need to go the extra mile and, in fact, encouraged her every step of the way. Now if Omar had ribbed her . . . well, that was different. Omar hated getting his hands dirty and had a fear of guns of any kind, which pleased her far more than she cared to admit.
For a brief moment she considered discussing Piper, Fred, and Grayson’s involvement but changed her mind. One bit at a time.
“So what’re you thinking happened?” Ben asked.
“I’m struggling with why this child? There are other children in that building, most on lower floors. The risk to go down all those floors with a child is enormous, but someone decided the risk was worth the reward. Why?”
The senior agent leaned back in his chair. “I’m thinking you’re getting the idea the mother’s involved, but you don’t wanna say. Have I got that right?”
Jonelle’s eyes moved from Ben to her uncle and back again. “I can’t prove anything like that.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
Marvin cleared his throat. “Ben’s got a good point. You work for the woman’s attorney, but you’re still obliged to keep an open mind.”
She squirmed in her seat. She didn’t like all the attention on her . . . not for very long anyway. In order to move the spotlight away, she asked Omar a question. “What do you know about surveillance cameras? Are they ever wrong?”
He stopped eyeballing his manicured nails. “Wrong how? They’re great. They record what they see. ’Course if they’re not maintained properly sometimes the time stamp is off.”
She sat up. “Really? Is that common?”
“Sure. I’ve seen cases where they’re as much as fifteen or so minutes slow.”
“Plus,” Ben added, “convenience stores usually have cameras only at the entrance, above the cashier. If the store’s got a lot of heavy traffic in and out, your perp might blend in with the crowd.”
“There’s no way this lady blends in,” Jonelle said.
This information wouldn’t help Tamora’s case, just the opposite. If she entered the store at say ten that evening, if the recording was slow, the time stamp should record several minutes before ten, not after. “You ever known them to be too fast?”
Omar shook his head, his perfectly oiled hair staying in place.
Once Jonelle finished, the rest of the team gave a ten-minute progress report, and Marvin dismissed the group with his usual request to keep him informed. He headed for his office with his usual “be safe” remark.
“Hold on a minute,” Rainey said, after Ben and Omar filed out of the conference room. “I know you guys don’t need to give me details about what you’re up to, but what’re you doing with children?”
Jonelle held up an index finger to signal she’d be back. She brought four bottles of water and three colas from the break room, grabbed the snacks and arranged everything in the middle of the conference table. “I bought some things I thought kids would like and threw in some fruit for good measure. What do you think?”
“I think I want to know a bit more about them.” Rainey had raised her daughter on her own after her divorce and was now a proud grandmother of a two-year-old. The worry in the blue eyes below the white-blond bouffant hairstyle gave Jonelle pause.
“I understand your concern, but hear me out. I think they want to visit because they’re curious about what a real detective’s office looks like. They’re savvy—the first time I met them they were headed to the IHOP by themselv
es. Can’t swear to it, but I’m fairly confident that none of them have helicopter parents.”
Rainey’s head bobbed up and down before Jonelle finished. “I get all that, Jonnie. Hell, my own daughter was more mature than most her age. She didn’t have a choice since I worked so much to make ends meet. How old are they?”
“Twelve.”
Another frown.
“Listen. I’m not going to question them.”
Rainey’s eyebrows shot up.
“Well, not much,” Jonelle admitted. “I’m thinking it’ll be more of a conversation than anything else. Kids see and hear a lot without always revealing what they know to an adult. All I want is a true vibe of what goes on in that building. I don’t know where Lark is, or who has her, but I have my suspicions.”
“Lark? She the little one abducted?”
“Right. The mother has a secret life which may or may not have bearing on the case. Not only that. There are a few adults who know more than they’re telling me. As soon as they find out who I am and why, their guard goes up.” She paused, waiting for another reaction from Rainey. In reply, the receptionist stuck another pencil in her well-sprayed hair. Jonelle looked closely. She could already see two other implements in the frothy hairdo.
“When we’re done here, I plan on driving them back to their apartment rather than having them take the bus. Depending on time, I might treat them to lunch. What do you think?”
“I think, except for your uncle, you’re about the only person I trust talking to youngsters without parents present. And I also know how tenacious you are when you get hold of something, so no matter how mature they seem to you, don’t forget they’re only twelve.” Rainey left without another word.
A few minutes later Jonelle set out napkins and cups. After admiring her handiwork, she could no longer put off calling Langford. While in the middle of punching in his number, Rainey buzzed from the front. Her guests had arrived.
“I’ll come out and get them, Rainey. Thanks.”
Jonelle found Piper turning her head this way and that at the large photo of Marvin Shorter, Grayson scrutinized the framed private investigator business license, and Fred had stuck her hand in the candy bowl on the desk. The redhead noticed Jonelle first and immediately withdrew her hand.
“This lady said I could have a piece.”
“Of course you can. We all make sure Rainey has a never-ending supply. Help yourselves, but I do have snacks for you in the conference room.”
“Can we see your office?” Piper asked.
“Sure.” Jonelle led the youngsters down the hall.
“Not much to see except my license.”
“Who’s the guy in the picture?” Grayson asked, fingering the photo in a silver frame on Jonelle’s desk.
“My late husband.”
No one spoke as Jonelle led them to the conference room.
She instructed the kids to sit anywhere.
“Do you have a gun?” Grayson asked, sitting close to the chips.
“I do.”
“Cool. Can I see it?”
“You cannot.”
Piper giggled.
Before Grayson said anything else, Jonelle needed to clear up a few things. “Okay, guys listen up. I’m really glad you’re here, and if you have any questions about a PI’s life, I’ll be happy to answer as many as I can. The truth is the PI business is not as exciting as you see on television.” Technically, that was the truth. She didn’t want to go into what she’d experienced in the past which would shoot holes in what she’d just said.
“Most of the time we do background checks and surveillance work. Work that doesn’t involve car chases and shooting bad guys.”
“Yeah. But you carry a gun. You said so,” Grayson insisted.
“I have a gun, yes. And I keep it locked up.”
“Who’s the black guy in the big picture out front?” Piper asked.
Jonelle turned to her, grateful for the change in subject. The youngster’s sweet-smelling perfume hung in the air. “That’s Marvin Shorter. He’s my uncle and owner of the business.”
Piper smiled. “My mom wants her own business. She says it’s gonna happen, too.”
“I’m sure it will.”
“You ever kill anybody?” Fred asked, reaching for the chocolate chip cookies.
Not yet, Jonelle thought. “No, and I hope I never do.” No need to mention she’d shot at and wounded people in the past. “Help yourself to soda or water. I’ve got fruit here, too.” She pushed the bowl closer to Piper who ignored it in favor of a handful of barbeque-flavored potato chips.
“I haven’t been able to reach Tamora. Anybody see her around the apartment building lately?”
All eyes turned to Fred.
“Why’re you guys lookin’ at me?”
“You might’ve seen her when you, you know, walk around at night,” Piper said.
Fred shrugged. “One day I thought I saw her outside the building, but she was walkin’ really fast like she was in some kinda hurry.”
“Was she in a hurry to get to the building or away from it?” Tread easy, Jonelle.
“She was leavin’.” Fred gulped cola.
“Anybody else see Miss Tammy around?” Jonelle remembered that’s what they called Tamora.
Piper and Grayson shook their heads.
“What about seeing things that don’t belong?”
Three opened mouths gaped at her.
“What I mean is have you seen any strange people hanging about?”
“Why didn’t you say that in the first place?” Piper asked.
“Sorry about that. Have you?”
Piper shook her head. “Naw.”
“I have,” Grayson said.
All eyes turned in his direction.
“You never said,” Piper replied, her tone accusing.
“You never asked,” Grayson retorted.
Jonelle waited until the interaction played out.
“Anyway,” Grayson continued, “my dad wanted me to take my sister’s old bike out to the trash in the back. It’s rusty and the frame’s bent and it’s too big to cram down the chute. While I was out there I saw Jelani and Randy talkin’.” He paused. For a while the only sound in the office was that of teeth crunching.
“So,” Jonelle prompted. “What happened? Those two never talked before?”
“Sure they have. But they wasn’t the only two there. There was some other dude I never seen before. They stopped talkin’ when I got closer. Jelani sees me and says, ‘Lemme have that. I’ll throw it away.’ He, like, never offers to help anybody out, ever.”
Another hesitation. More slurping. More crunching.
“Get on with it, willya?” Fred insisted around another mouthful.
Grayson, though he made a face, complied. “So after I gave him the bike, I went ’round the corner a little ways, then sneaked back. I wanted to make sure he threw it away ’cause my dad would be mad if he saw it still hangin’ around. The three of ’em was still talkin’. The more they talked the louder they got. Randy kept sayin’ stuff like, ‘We shouldn’t talk about that here,’ or somethin’ like that, and Jelani kept sayin’, ‘Chill out, dude,’ over and over, like that.”
“What did the other guy look like?” At this point Jonelle decided the hell with not questioning kids.
The description by Grayson sent a chill down her spine. If accurate, she had come across the man twice. Once at Tamora’s workplace and again in front of the porn film studio. “Did Randy or Jelani call the other man by his name?”
Grayson shrugged.
“Did you hear them say the name Shawn?”
Another shrug.
“When did you see the three of them?”
“Yesterday,” Grayson said.
“Reason we’re here is because we wanted to see what a real detective’s office looked like,” Piper said. “And Fred said she saw Randy go into Miss Tammy’s place.”
“When was this?”
“Y
esterday. Real late,” Fred said. “I went across the street to get my mom a coupla Red Bulls ’cause my sister made a mistake and drank the last one. That’s when I saw him.”
Jonelle knew Tamora was at the film studio late last night. “Did you see Miss Tammy or just Randy?”
Fred’s freckles merged together as the youngster concentrated. “I seen Randy at the door talkin’ to somebody inside. Didn’t see Miss Tammy, but who else could it’ve been?”
Who indeed?
CHAPTER 27
I got me a plan. Can’t do it now or else I could screw it up. It’s only because of the mother that we’re treating the kid like glass. Somebody mentioned the kid could tell the cops because she’s seen all of us. Somebody else complained that the mother’s starting to crack. Beginning to ask too many questions.
My idea? Toughen the kid up a bit.
Someone pulls out a butterfly sticker and starts ripping the wings off. All but two of us laugh. I don’t think it’s funny. There are ways to toughen her up without ruining her favorite thing.
We could leave her by herself for a longer period of time. Instead of feeding her all the things she likes to eat, only give her vegetables, see what happens. Except. I don’t like veg that much so that wouldn’t work too good.
Gotta think of something, though. It ain’t the first time we’ve done this . . . and if I have any say, it won’t be the last.
CHAPTER 28
According to Fred, Randy entered Tamora’s apartment. “I didn’t stick around to see when he left.”
“Do you know if he’d visited Miss Tammy before?”
“I dunno,” Fred said. “But the only time I ever see him is late at night, anyway. I think he sleeps during the day. Or somethin’.” She grinned at her two friends, who giggled at the shared joke.
“What do you think that something is?”
With her back against the chair, Fred swung her legs back and forth. “You know.” She pressed two fingers to her lips and blew imaginary smoke. More giggles all around. Jonelle itched to talk to each one separately, but that was definitely out of the question. Maybe a change of scenery would trigger more information.
Five Minutes Page 13
