Page 48 of Little Bitter Truths
He swallowed.“What she’s going through right now, it must be tough.What makes you think someone killed the wrong sister?”
In my line of work, information was currency.You didn’t hand it out unless you knew what you were getting in return.And yet, part of me wanted to see how he would react if I was straight with him.
“Someone tried breaking into Mia’s house last night,” I said.“I was there.I saw them outside before they made their way inside.I have no doubt their intentions were bad.”
The shock on his face looked genuine.
But was it?
“Is Mia okay?”he asked.
“She’s fine.”
“I haven’t seen her or spoken to her, not since they transferred me to the other location.You may not know me, but I’d never hurt someone over a missed job opportunity, or for any other reason.I was upset the day I found out I’d been passed over, sure.But I’ve moved on.To tell you the truth, she did me a favor.I just didn’t see it at the time.”
“What favor?”
“I wouldn’t have been able to handle working for the new boss.The team I work with now has been great.I like working there.”
His words came just a fraction too fast, and yet, there was something else, something small and kind and human.It made it hard for me to place him inside Mia’s house the night before, standing in her doorway, preparing to correct his mistake.
“I didn’t kill Mia’s sister,” he said.“Your mom was right, though, wasn’t she?I’m on your list of suspects.”
“I suspect anyone and everyone related to the case,” I said.“It’s my job.”
“I suppose that makes sense.Well, thanks for the food.”
“Thank you for talking to me,” I said.
He nodded and stepped back, and I raised the window, shifting the car into drive as I pulled away from the curb.
In the rearview mirror, I saw Karl watching me as I drove down the street, the bag of food dangling from his hand.He was an odd little man, and sometimes the odd ones made the best killers.
19
The drive to Bakersfield the following day took a little over two hours, the landscape shifting as I moved farther inland.The coastal greens gave way to dry stretches of land, the hills flattening into long, open fields that gave me too much time to think.
My thoughts drifted to Karl, the way he spoke, and the way he watched me leave.As far as suspects go, he was still on my list.
By the time I reached Renee’s neighborhood, the sun had climbed high enough to wash the streets in bright light.The homes in the subdivision were newer, uniform in structure, and polished in presentation with clean lines, fresh paint, and immaculate landscaping.
I pulled to a stop in front of a two-story house with white trim and beige siding.There were no toys scattered across the yard, though the presence of children was clear in the chalk drawings along the edge of the driveway.
I knocked on the door, and a woman opened it.She was dressed in a light blue blouse and fitted jeans, her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail.She had the kind of look that felt put together without trying too hard, and she gave off the impression of someone natural and approachable.
She smiled and said, “Can I help you?”
“Are you Renee?”
“I am.”
“My name is Georgiana Germaine, and I’m a private investigator.I’d like to ask you a few questions about your cousins, Mia and Wren.”
At the mention of their names, her smile shifted to an expression of sadness.“Did someone hire you?”
“Mia did a few days ago.I’m working with the police to try and find out who killed her sister and why.”
“Killed her?I thought the police said it was a break-in.”
