Page 9 of Night Prey
“I hoped one of your staff might have seen the man we are seeking,” Ian said.
“Hold on.” Chef spun and crossed the room where he let out a high whistle. Suddenly, silence filled the room save the hum from the running refrigerators. “Did anyone see a guy come out of Ballroom D about an hour ago?”
Chef received shaking heads in response. “Okay, back to work. I want desserts on the table in five.”
Chef turned to them again.
“Is this everyone?” Ian asked.
“My staff, yes, but not the wait staff who are in and out of here too.”
Ian fished a business card from his pocket and handed it to Chef. “If you remember seeing anything, call me. My team will be back to interview everyone individually.”
Chef looked like he wanted to groan but nodded instead. “I’ll make sure they’re available.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.” Ian avoided giving Vandyke a look saying this was the attitude to have when a detective was investigating a murder.
Chef didn’t wait even a second to cross the room to oversee his workers.
“He runs a tight ship,” Vandyke said and started for the exit.
Ian followed him back in the lobby and to his office, where the security file was waiting for them. He gave Vandyke a business card too. “Workers are bound to start talking. If you hear anything, no matter if you think it’s important or not, have them call me.”
“Will do.” Vandyke creased his eyes. “How long will your team be in the ballroom?”
“Forensics will finish tonight, but I’ll want the room cordoned off for a bit longer.”
“I have an engagement party booked for the room tomorrow night.”
“We should be done by then.”
“Not to sound unfeeling, but I’ll need time to get the blood cleaned out of the carpet.”
“You might want to plan to replace it.”
He opened his mouth to argue but gave a sharp nod instead.
“Call me if you hear anything.” Ian left the irritating man behind and strode toward Ballroom B, where the reunion had been in full swing not more than two hours before. His classmates having fun and catching up while he looked on. Now, the only people left were the committee members packing up their items in shocked silence.
He approached Janice King, chair of the committee, who’d sat by him in algebra.
“Did you catch him?” she asked, a hand clutched to the chest of her revealing black dress. “The guy Malone saw, I mean.”
Not a surprise that she’d heard what happened. Not with how gossip traveled at a crime scene, and one connected to a class reunion would add fuel to the fire. “I was hoping you could give me the sign-in book for tonight, along with a list of the RSVPs.”
“Sure, sure.” She thankfully ignored the fact that he’d sidestepped her question and hurried to the welcome table, where she gathered the information Ian needed and handed it to him. “You need anything else, let me know. I’m more than happy to help in any way I can. Junior wasn’t…well, let’s just say he wasn’t the friendliest of guys, but he didn’t deserve to be murdered. And Malone sure shouldn’t be set up for it. She’s like this saint, helping battered women and kids and runaway teens. I know she didn’t get along with Junior, but she would never kill him.”
“Can you think of anyone in our class who might have wanted to kill Junior?”
“Want to?” She tapped a red fingernail, which matched her lipstick, on the table. “Sure. Plenty. But do it? Hmm. No. I don’t think so.”
Ian handed her a business card. “If you think of anyone who might or anything that could help, give me a call.”
“Is that all?” She smoothed back brassy blond shoulder-length hair that had replaced the mousy brown he remembered from high school. “I mean, is that all of your questions. I thought like on TV you’d have much more to ask me.”
“Real life investigations rarely happen like you see on TV.” He held up the folder of information. “Thanks again. You’ll get it back after the investigation concludes or after the trial if the information is vital to the case.”
He tucked the folder under his arm and headed for his truck. On the road, he ran the information he’d collected through his detective filter. He knew Malone, and if he took off his detective hat, he believed her. She wouldn’t kill anyone. Though, he suspected if she ever became homicidal, it would be with Junior.
