Page 92 of Lost Lake
“I don’t know if I’d say close contact, but she acted in an admin capacity, so yes, we worked together. Mostly via notes or emails, but in person on the nights I worked the late shift.”
El scribbled a note on her pad. “Anyone else work directly with her?”
He shook his head. “You’re not suggesting I had something to do with her death.”
“No, but since you mention it, where were you on Friday evening between seven and ten p.m.?”
“Friday?” He closed his eyes for a moment. “Sorry, I’m just so stunned. I can hardly think. At the movies. Yes, I was with my family. My wife and two kids can verify that.” He named the movie and gave details of what happened in it, including the ending.
He was giving way too much information, the hallmark sign of someone who had something to hide. The guy was either giving them half answers or over-answering. Seemed like he wanted to play cat and mouse.
Fine. Gabe excelled at games, and he always played to win.
El walked alongside Tinsley, with Gabe behind them, as they strolled through Safe Harbor’s main floor. So far, they’d seen a large living room with shabby couches, a TV, board games, and worn books. They stepped into a hallway.
El believed Tinsley was holding back, and she needed to get him talking more to trip him up if he was lying. “I appreciate your willingness to give us a tour.”
“Like I said, my day is filled, and it has to be fast.” He pointed at a closed door with a bulletin board mounted on the front. “Staff office. This is where the bookkeeper I mentioned works. Also, our admin volunteers.”
“Looks like no one’s here today.”
“That’s normal. We’re very conscious of people with families and schedule our staff and volunteers for three- or four-day weekends whenever we can. If they do have to work on Monday or Friday, we make sure it’s only a half day.”
El didn’t know if this was significant, but she made a note of it. “Tell me about your other paid staff members.”
“We have a house manager. She let you in the door and called me. She runs the place in the daytime, and we alternate evenings, ensuring a manager’s on duty at all times. There are two staff on shift at a time. One awake overnight. The other asleep, but on call. They rotate. That’s all. We have limited funds. Means we have a lean, but very effective staff.”
“I’d like a list of their names, addresses, and phone numbers.”
“I’ll get one to you, but don’t be surprised if it changes the next day. Turnover in daily workers is high in this industry.”
Probably even higher working in a shabby place like this for a guy like you.
“Did a man named Howard Mason work for you?”
He swung his gaze to El. “No, am I supposed to know that name?”
“Not necessarily,” El said. “How many children do you serve?”
“Usually six, but we can house up to eight.”
Fewer than El had thought, and it explained the smaller staff. “Does anyone from the state evaluate your program?”
“Well, of course, we had to be approved before opening and obtain a license. It’s renewed every two years after an on-site inspection. Plus, we have a caseworker who visits periodically and a therapist who comes in weekly.”
He bolted ahead, put his hand on a doorknob, and turned back to look at them. “This last room is for high needs or new placements. It’s currently vacant and you can take a look.”
He opened the door to reveal a meagerly decorated room with a dresser, single bed with the bedding folded on top, and a desk. Stained vinyl tiles covered the floor, and a white roller shade shielded the only window. All in all, a very depressing room. The only thing that saved it was the cheerful yellow walls.
“There,” he said. “You’ve seen the main floor and my office. The first and second floors are bedrooms like this, only with two of everything. Nothing else to see, and I’ll escort you to the door.”
El planted her feet. “I’d like to see one of the double rooms.”
“Fine,” he said. “We have a vacant double on the second floor where our girls stay.”
He charged back down the hall and up the stairway. He used a key card to unlock the main door. They stepped into a hallway. Once again all the doors were closed, but these were decorated with bright posters and fun pictures by the residents.
“How do children come to stay here?” she asked.
