Page 58 of Penny For Your Thoughts
Tallus touched my arm. “This is my partner, Diem Krause. We’re private investigators for Shadowy Solutions.” Tallus presented his credentials with the flair of an FBI detective on the set of a criminal investigation drama, looking into a serial homicide. “We were wondering if we could ask you a few questions.”
Marcy looked appropriately shaken. Her easy smile vanished as she glanced from me to Tallus before seeming to notice Echo for the first time. “What’s this about? I thought you were planning a party. Aaronsaid—”
“I am—”
“We’re investigating missing money.” I removed my fedora, tucking it under my arm. Tallus mentioned once how it came across as intimidating. We needed this woman to be agreeable. “One of the seniors was targeted in what is commonly known as a grandparent scheme. He was conned out of tens of thousands of dollars. We’re helping the police get to the bottom of it.”
We weren’t, but acting as though we were affiliated with the police often encouraged people to be more cooperative. I didn’t know how much information had been shared with the staff at Evergreen, but Marcy didn’t seem all that surprised.
“Elwood Scarrow.” She nodded. “Yes. I knew something was going on. I didn’t know what. That’s awful.”
“Do you have a minute to chat?” Tallus asked.
“Sure, but why me?”
“We believe you might have interacted with the person responsible.”
“Oh. Oh my. Um… Okay. Let me take this cart back to the supply room. I’ll log a break, and we can talk in the dining hall. It should be relatively empty at this time.”
I’d brought the company iPad with our illicitly obtained footage of Evergreen security downloaded into a file. Once Marcy was settled at a far table, across the room from the three women sharing coffee and conversation, we began. Marcy nervously twined her fingers on her lap like she thought we might accuse her of being the money thief.
I drew up the correct video and turned the screen, hitting play on the final day of Faux Kael’s visit, specifically, his departure.
“There’s not a lot to see,” I explained. “This video was taken back in December, but we would love it if you could tell us what you remember of this man.”
Marcy watched the brief exchange with a furrowed brow. The sharing of a cigarette. The request for a lighter. When the two exited the frame, I switched to the outdoor camera. She handed the man the lighter, and they smoked for a moment before heading off across the parking lot and turning right at the sidewalk.
I stopped the video once they were gone.
Marcy continued to stare at the iPad, her face a picture of concentration.
“Do you remember that at all, Mrs. Daily?” Tallus asked.
“Yes. Why, yes. He said his name was Ka-el.” She made a point of pronouncing it as two syllables. “I remember because I thought he said kale at first, and what a silly name that would be. Kale is about the worst vegetable I can think of.” She made a face. “Awful. Simply awful. I told him about my son. Aaron makes smoothies with kale all the time. He’s been trying to get me to drink them for years, claiming they’re healthy.”
She shook her head. A few strands of loose hair stuck to her cheeks and forehead. “They’re not for me. Even with honey. Too earthy.”
“Did this man say anything else?” I asked, redirecting her attention. It was wishful thinking. Most people couldn’t regurgitate a conversation they’d had with a stranger three days ago, let alone three months.
“I can’t recall what we talked about. Just chitchat like you do with someone you don’t know. I probably mentioned the weather. Might have asked if he liked sports. The boys always like sports.”
“Do you walk to work and home, Mrs. Daily?” Tallus asked.
“Oh gracious no. I take the bus.” She tipped her head to the side, still staring at the still image on the screen. “He rode with me. We ended up at the same bus stop and had a good laugh when we discovered we were going in the same direction. I remember that. Does that help?”
I glanced at Tallus, who sat straighter. “Possibly. What bus do you take? Do you remember where he got off?”
“I do… sort of.” Marcy’s gaze drifted inward, no longer staring at the screen. She narrowed her eyes as though forcing a memory to materialize. “I take the bus all the way to Islington Station, but he got off before. Now, where was it?”
Her gaze shifted side-to-side like she was referencing the layout of a map or seeing the streets from a bus window as they passed her by. “I… I can’t remember the intersection. I’m not familiar with the area, but when he got off, he said goodbye. I watched him hop down the steps and head directly inside a townhouse… or is it a brownstone? One of those buildings with multiple apartments inside. Is that what you call it? A brownstone? He went to the basement, down concrete steps at the side, to a lower door. It was a dirty area. One of those sketchy neighborhoods where drug deals happen in the open. Gosh, he seemed so young. The mother in me worried.”
Tallus snagged the iPad. “Is there a Wi-Fi password in this building?”
“Um—” Marcy glanced at me.
“Never mind.” Tallus dug his phone from a pocket. “I’ll use a hotspot. Which bus do you take?”
Marcy relayed the information and stared at Tallus as he pulled up routes for the area in question. While he searched, I continued to get as much information as possible.
