Page 152 of The Grey Wolf
When he caught up with her, he had to stand right in front of her to get her attention.
He’d had an idea. “Look at this.”
“It’s a waste of time.”
He brought out his phone and clicked on a photo. This one showed Parisi dead.
Madame McGregor was fiercely protective of the residents, so wouldn’t talk about one with a cop. At least not a living resident. But a dead one was another matter.
Claudine looked at the photo and drew her brows together. Not, Jean-Guy thought, in horror at seeing the face of someone clearly dead. She’d seen enough of those, on sidewalks and under bridges, on subway grates and in ditches.
It was seeing a familiar face that concerned her.
“I’m sorry,” said Jean-Guy, and meant it. “You did know him.”
She nodded, still staring into Parisi’s wide-open eyes.
“What happened?”
“He was killed.”
“I can see that. How? Why?”
“He was staying here?”
“Oui.For a couple of weeks. Left a few days ago and hasn’t been back. I was worried…”
“Who is he?”
“He called himself Guido. I doubt that was his real name. He was a nice young guy. Italian, of course. Spoke a little English. Almost no French, but wanted to learn.”
“Did he hang around with anyone in particular?”
“He had breakfast every morning with Big Stink. He was teaching Guido French.”
“Is Stink his family name?” asked Beauvoir and saw Claudine’s wrinkled face wrinkle even more.
“I believe they changed it to Stink when they immigrated. It had been Smith.”
Beauvoir gave a grunt of laughter. “Can I speak to Monsieur Stink please.”
“You’re out of luck there too. He hasn’t been back for a week. I think he wanders.”
“Dementia?”
“Maybe. Not bad enough to alert the cops, for all the good that would do. But he always comes back.”
“Can you call me when you see him next?”
“No.”
Beauvoir sighed in exasperation. “I need to see your security video again. This time over the period when Guido was here. Did it coincide with any of the VIP visits?”
“Probably.” But she didn’t move. “Since when are the cops interested in the death of a homeless guy?”
Beauvoir felt his hackles rise, partly, mostly, because he knew the truth of it.
“And even I know this isn’t your jurisdiction. So why’re you investigating?”
