by Judi Lynn
He motioned for them to take seats and went to sit behind his desk. “She was the friendly sort, always had something nice to say when she came to pay her rent, but she worked two jobs. Didn’t have time to make many friends.”
“Two jobs?” Gaff opened his notepad.
“She worked two nights at the wings restaurant down the road from here. She was saving for a house. Wanted a big down payment. It was mostly work and sleep for her, but everyone liked her. She was just plain nice.”
“Did you see anyone come or go from her apartment?”
“Sorry.” He shook his head. “She was the last unit, and any visitor would have parked behind her town house. I wouldn’t see them. I leave here every night at six, so I wouldn’t see any evening visitors.”
“Anything at all you can tell us?”
He shook his head. “Sorry. She was a few days late on her rent, but she was so dependable, I just left a note in her mail slot. I thought maybe she’d gone home to visit her parents and stayed longer than she expected.”
Gaff rose. “I appreciate your seeing us. Thank you for your time.”
“No problem, I liked Meghan. I hope you find whoever hurt her.”
“We’re trying.” Gaff nodded to Jazzi, and she followed him out of the room. When they reached his car, he asked, “Have time to stop by the wings restaurant?”
“Sure. Why not?” Someone had killed a young guy with mental issues and a nurse who sounded like a truly nice person. And Leo, who struck her as naïve. She wanted whoever killed them in prison for the rest of his life.
It only took them five minutes to reach the restaurant. It wasn’t open yet, but people were inside, working. Gaff pounded on the door and pressed his badge against the glass. A worker opened it for him.
“Is your manager here?”
The kid pointed toward the kitchen. “He’s in there. We’re expecting a big crowd tonight. He’s overseeing prep.”
“Would you tell him I’d like to ask him a few questions?”
The kid headed to get him. Jazzi studied the place. Comfortable, but not fancy. It was known for its ribs and chicken wings. Booths surrounded the outside walls; tables filled the center. When the manager came toward them, he wore a frown. “How can I help you?”
“We want to ask you a few questions about one of your employees, Meghan Fuller.”
His expression turned sour. “What about her? She was always dependable, never missed a night, never came late, and then she just didn’t show up. Didn’t even call. When I tried to call her, she didn’t answer. Just quit. Left us in the lurch.”
“Not her fault. She was murdered.”
The man blinked. “She’s dead?”
“Yup, killed in her apartment and buried in a shallow grave.”
He rubbed a hand across his forehead. “I just thought she was a no-show. I get a lot of that with kids today. They don’t even give notice.”
“We’re trying to find her killer. Do you happen to know anyone close to her, someone she might have confided in about a new boyfriend, anything new in her life?”
“She didn’t talk much to anyone here. Just did her shift and left.” He thought a minute. “You might try the bar three doors down. She went there after work to chill out. I think she had a crush on the bartender there.”
Seth? Louisa’s nephew? Jazzi frowned. He was too old for Meghan.
“Did Meghan ever talk to you?” Gaff asked.
The manager shook his head. “She mostly kept to herself.”
Gaff handed him his card. “Thanks for your time. If you think of anything else, let me know.”
Jazzi wondered how many times detectives did the meet and greet, question and thanks. Probably more than she could stand. They left the restaurant and started down the sidewalk to Seth’s bar. A furniture store, pet shop, and department store were on the other end of the mall. An ice cream shop and upscale restaurant anchored its center. Seth’s bar sat on the far end, closed, too, but people were inside, getting ready for the lunch crowd. Once again, Gaff knocked and showed his badge.
Seth noticed them and hurried to open the door. Words rushed out. “Is everything all right with my aunt?”
Jazzi felt bad. She’d never thought about what Seth would think when he saw them there. “Everything seemed fine at her house. I just came with Gaff about the murders.”
His shoulders relaxed, and he turned to the detective. “You’ve learned something about Leo?”
Jazzi noticed he didn’t call him Uncle Leo. She wondered if Leo had ever been fond of him. When Seth was ten, he wouldn’t have been running a bar. Did Leo disapprove of him even then? She decided to ask. “Were you close to him?”
Seth motioned them to a booth. “Never. Leo didn’t like my mom. Thought she was too rough around the edges. She worked as a dispatcher at a trucking firm, knew all the guys. A little on the salty side. My dad worked in a factory. We weren’t classy enough for Leo.”
Jazzi could see Leo being a little on the particular side. “He told me he didn’t like bartenders.”
Seth laughed. “Maybe, but that’s only part of it. I’m not sure he would have liked me even if I became a college professor. He’d already made up his mind about our side of the family.”
Gaff took out his notebook. “We’ve come because your uncle’s death ties in with two other murders. We think the nurse, Meghan Fuller, was the first victim, and the others were killed because they saw something they shouldn’t have.”
“Meghan? Did she have soft dark hair? Pretty and soft-spoken?”
“That would be her,” Gaff said.
“She came in here a lot after work, after her shifts at both the hospital and the wings place. She always sat at the bar and ordered nachos and two beers. Had a thing for my bartender, Greg.”
Relief seeped through Jazzi. Meghan hadn’t been flirting with Seth. She’d had a crush on his bartender.
“Is Greg here now?” Gaff asked.
Seth shook his head. “Won’t show up until the evening shift. Fridays are always busy.”
“Were Meghan and Greg an item?”
“She wanted to be, but Greg’s like a flame for women. They line the bar, flirting with him. After his ex, though, he’s not ready to commit to anyone. Keeps a safe distance from all of them.”
Jazzi had taken some time to lick her wounds when she broke up with Chad. It had surprised her how much she’d misread him. Maybe Greg felt the same way. She’d distrusted herself for months. They’d been happy, happy, happy until they moved in with each other. Then he’d wanted to change everything about her. Didn’t like it that she worked with Jerod. Wanted her to stay home and have his babies and take care of their apartment. She wasn’t ready for that yet, but he’d wanted it now. She finally moved out.
A young, attractive waitress went from table to table, filling ketchup bottles and salt and pepper shakers. Her shorts stopped at mid-thigh and her V-necked T-shirt showed a decent amount of cleavage. A blond waitress with a snug T-shirt that showed off large, firm breasts was wrapping silverware. “How can female customers compete with your work staff?”
“Bailey and Lexie? They both have steady boyfriends. They dress for success—big tips.”
Maybe Peyton was on to something. Being cute and flirting probably filled your pocketbook.
Gaff asked, “Was Meghan interested in any of the customers who came here? Did anyone come on to her?”
“Not that I noticed. She wasn’t good at flirting and shut down most guys, but she really liked Greg.”
“It wasn’t mutual?” Gaff poised his pen above his notepad.
“Greg liked her, but not like that. When Greg hits the bar, he turns on. He becomes Mr. Showman. He’s great for business.”
“Anything else you can think of that might help us find her killer?” Gaff asked.
; Seth shook his head. “Sorry, she was a steady customer, but I didn’t talk to her much.” Then he hesitated. “You know, she did talk about an EMT who got a little too infatuated with her. Came up to her outside the hospital a few weeks ago when she waited for the shuttle. Shook her up a little.”
“Do you remember a name?”
He shrugged. “Maybe you can ask one of the nurses she worked with.”
Jazzi waited for Gaff’s magic words, and he didn’t disappoint. “Thanks for your time. If you think of anything else, give me a call.” He handed Seth his card.
On the drive back to Thane’s house, Gaff said, “I’ll drop you off, then go to the hospital and ask around about the EMT who had the hots for Meghan. I’ve talked to a few of the nurses before. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Thanks. Seth made me curious about the guy.” Gaff pulled into the driveway, and Jazzi got out of the car. As he pulled away, the sound of kids’ voices drifted from the school’s playground. They were low-key today, sluggish. It was too freakin’ hot.
Jazzi hurried into the house to help finish up the kitchen. The cabinets were all installed and the counter tops had been delivered and put in place. Wow. Her sister had a thing for white. White cupboards and white granite counters with gray streaks. Not Jazzi’s thing, but it looked gorgeous.
While the guys worked on getting the stainless-steel appliances in place, she started installing aqua glass tiles for the backsplash. The pop of color made a big difference. They stopped for quick sandwiches for lunch, and by four-thirty, their work in the kitchen was done. This weekend, Olivia and Thane could put up finishing touches, fill cupboards, and buy stools for the kitchen island.
Thane grinned. “Are you going to miss me next week? We’ll all be back to our regular jobs.”
True. Thane would go back to fixing and installing furnaces and air-conditioners. Jerod, Ansel, and Jazzi would start work on their new fixer-upper off Anthony Boulevard. All of its bones were great, but no one had lived in it for eight years. The owner had flown to California to stay with her aging mother, met a nice man there, and decided to stay. She didn’t want to return to sell it, so she put it up for auction. They’d gotten it at a great price.
Jerod laughed at Thane. “Hate to tell you, buddy, but I’m happy enough just seeing you on Sundays at Jazzi’s house. We can catch up then. I don’t need to see you every day.”
Thane grew serious. “I sure appreciate all the work you guys have done. It would have taken us forever doing it ourselves. All Olivia and I have to do now are small things.”
“You’re family,” Jerod said. “And Zanders take that seriously. Don’t ever cheat on Olivia or we’ll track you down, draw and quarter you.”
Ansel and Thane exchanged glances. “We’ll keep that in mind.”
“Do that.”
“And if you ever cheat on Franny?” Thane asked.
Jerod just stared at him. “Why would I do that? Franny’s my everything.”
Ansel sent her a sizzling look. “That’s how I feel about Jazzi.”
Really? His everything? He felt that way now, but they’d only lived together a short time. Chad was happy when they’d first moved in together, too.
Jerod gave a quick nod. “When you hook up in our family, it’s till death do you part. If you try to wiggle out ahead of time, you’ll only wish you were dead.”
Jazzi turned to him with a frown. “What about Chad?”
“That was different. We were all happy to see him go.”
“Everyone was always nice to him.”
Jerod stared at her as if she had two heads. “You moved in with him. What were we supposed to do? We weren’t fans, but we respect you.”
“What if Jazzi leaves me?” Ansel asked.
“Then it will be your fault. You did something wrong, and we’ll all stick up for Jazzi. You’d better move far, far away.”
Ansel liked that answer, she could tell. Why, she had no idea. It sounded unfair to her, but Ansel valued families who stuck together. They said quick good-byes, and Jerod beat it for home.
Ansel glanced at George. “I’m starving. Can we leave George here while we grab supper somewhere close?”
Thane looked at the pug, still napping in his dog bed in the living room. “He’s a lot of bother, but I can manage. He can help me clean.”
Ansel went to pat the dog’s head. “We’re leaving for a minute, but wait here. We’ll be back soon, and I’ll bring you something.”
It was the oddest thing, but the dog seemed to understand. He licked Ansel’s hand, then stretched out again, content.
When they reached his work van, Jazzi asked, “Where to?”
“You made Seth’s bar sound good. Want to give it a try?”
“It had fried calamari on the menu.”
“That’s a yes then.” And it was only five minutes away.
When they walked in, the place was packed. There were two seats at the bar, and they snagged them. They’d just settled when the door opened and a group of girls rushed to stand behind a friend who sat at the bar’s other end. They all preened and posed, trying to impress the man taking their friend’s order. Ah! The bartender Seth had told them about who cranked up hormones. Jazzi craned to catch a glimpse of him.
Chapter 20
At first, Jazzi was disappointed. The guy behind the bar couldn’t hold a candle to Ansel. Of course, if Ansel were a bartender and smiled and smirked, that bar might be standing room only. Girls tripped over themselves when he didn’t even notice them. They were happy just to look.
She watched Greg in action, though, and he had swagger and style. He might not want a woman in his life, but he sure enjoyed flirting. The girls crowded even closer, but he held up a finger and winked at them. “Ladies, behave! Two customers came in ahead of you, but I’ll be right back.”
He came to take her and Ansel’s orders. Calamari for an appetizer, and a burger and fries for each of them. Beer for Ansel, wine for her. Greg held her gaze a little too long. “You’re new here, aren’t you?”
“We don’t live close, only visiting. Nice bar.”
He grinned. “Hope you have to come back soon.”
Ansel glared, and Greg returned to his fawning crowd. He wasn’t handsome, but his personality made him appealing. And he was good at bartending. Every customer had a drink. Even with the overflow of girls, no one was neglected.
When their drinks came, Ansel took a sip, then looked at her. “I rushed you tonight. You still need to walk Cocoa, don’t you?”
“Yeah. I’ll get her when we go back for George. But Louisa said she’d find someone else to walk her from now on. She knows we’ve finished work at Olivia’s.”
“Good, I’d hate to drive back every night.” A bowl of popcorn sat close to them, and Ansel grabbed a handful.
“What do you think of Olivia and Thane’s house? I think it turned out great.” It wasn’t Jazzi’s style, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate it.
“It’s going to be a showstopper, but I love our place.”
Our place. She liked the sound of that every time he said it.
Seth hurried from the kitchen to them with the calamari. “Order’s up! Hope you like it. If you don’t, don’t tell my aunt.”
Jazzi laughed. “It’ll be our secret.”
“I’d better get back behind the bar again and help Greg. A guy bumped a waitress and made her drop an armload of plates. I had to help out for a minute, but everything’s smooth now.” He dipped behind the bar, and Greg gave him a grateful nod.
Families finished their suppers and left. New customers rolled in. Seth whisked away their empty appetizer plate and delivered their burgers. People lined up at the front counter for takeouts. The place was bustling. Seth and Greg made a perfect team. People got welcomed, served, and checked on.
&nb
sp; Jazzi and Ansel ate, waved a good-bye to Seth, then drove back toward Louisa’s house.
“I like that bar,” Ansel said. “Wouldn’t mind going there again.”
“We could stop some night when we visit Mom and Dad. Their house isn’t that much out of the way.”
He grinned. “Your parents might start seeing more of us.”
“Lucky them.” Jazzi probably only stopped to see them once a month.
“Hey, they like me, welcomed me into the family with open arms.”
She chuckled. “They like me, too, but seeing me every Sunday might be enough for them.”
They pulled into Louisa’s drive and knocked on her door. When Cocoa saw Jazzi, her tail started wagging.
“She’s ready for her walk.” Louisa handed Jazzi the dog’s leash.
Ansel started across the street. “I’ll go get George and bring him with us.”
Jazzi couldn’t hide her surprise. “Does George walk that far? We’re going to the end of the subdivisions and back.”
Ansel hesitated. “Maybe I’ll wait. I’ll walk with you, then get George. And don’t let me forget to buy him a takeout burger on our drive home. I promised him one.”
The pug was nothing but spoiled. She and Ansel walked side by side, taking the Lab through one neighborhood after another. Jazzi hoped whoever took her place with Cocoa knew how far the dog was used to going. When they reached the field that separated the houses from the businesses, Cocoa started a high-pitched whine and strained against her leash.
“No, you can’t cross the street!” Did Leo let her walk farther on Fridays? Surely, they didn’t go through the parking lots. Jazzi tried to pull the dog closer, but Cocoa leaned into the leash, almost ripping it out of Jazzi’s hands. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Do you think she’s hungry?” Ansel motioned to the back of Seth’s bar. “Maybe Leo let her cheat once in a while. Louisa only gives her dry dog food. Maybe she has a thing for burgers.”
