Page 32 of Defender
“Why?”
“He had to cut costs, and one of the workers was into drugs.” Stephanie fiddled with the tissue in her hand.
“Do you know if those employees held that against him?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t. For the most part, Isaac didn’t talk about the business.” Stephanie rocked slightly forward and back. Probably growing agitated.
Time for a new tactic. “How did his wife die?”
She finally made eye contact again. “She had a rare congenital heart condition. She seemed to be doing well, but then her health declined rapidly, and she was gone before she could get a transplant. It devastated us all. Especially Eddie.”
Michael’s own heart squeezed. He looked over at the swings. Poor kid. Finn said something to Eddie, but the boy only shook his head and hopped down from the swing. He moved to the bottom of the slide and sat there hugging his knees and watching the cars go by.
Stephanie’s brows pinched. “Can we go now? I should get Eddie back.”
“I just have a few more questions.” Michael tried to find a reassuring smile, but it fell flat. He glanced over at Finn, who gave Eddie some space but stood close by, leaning against a pole on the playground equipment. “Finn is watching him. He’s great with kids.”
“I really don’t know what else to tell you, Detective. I know noth?—”
Her words were cut off by a cry. Eddie scrambled off the slide and ran to his aunt, burying his face in her shirt, sobbing. What in the world…?
Michael stood and quickly scanned the perimeter. Nothing stood out from the steady stream of traffic on the road or the people on the sidewalks, strolling past the stores and businesses across the street. A mail carrier stopped to throw away a banana peel just as a garbage truck rumbled past. The scene couldn’t be a more boring snapshot of city life. Nothing obvious that a little boy would find dangerous or frightening, for sure.
Michael scanned the view again, watching for shadows or movement behind the trees by the hospital entrance down the street.
Finn jogged over, also scanning the area. “You see anything?”
Michael shook his head and continued to search, slowly and deliberately.
Finn knelt by Eddie. “Can you tell us what gave you a fright, lad? We can help.”
But Eddie wouldn’t look up. His aunt picked him up, murmuring in his ear. “It’s all right. You’re safe here. Can you tell the policemen what you saw?”
He refused, shaking his head and never looking up from his aunt’s hold.
Michael stepped closer. “Is there anything?—”
“That’s enough.” Stephanie wrapped a protective arm around her nephew. “I’m taking Eddie home.”
There wasn’t anything they could do, but Michael refused to give up. “We’ll leave for now. Thank you for your time.”
But he had plenty more questions for Mr. Carter when he woke.
They were nowhere near done.
The afternoon dragged on. Dani read down the list of accounts.
Finally!
If she was correct, she now had a good reason for a foray into the shop building. She walked around Van and Owen, the dispatchers, and over to Shirley.
“Do you know why there are payments going out to five different waste management companies?” How much garbage did one trucking company produce?
Shirley swiveled in her chair to face Dani. “That’s a question for Richard Campos. He’s the manager out in the shop and in charge of all those accounts. Do you want me to introduce you?”
“That’s okay. I know you’re busy.” She would rather meet people on her own and get their initial reactions.
Grateful for the reprieve from her beige-and-tan torture chamber, she practically skipped across the blacktop to the huge warehouse building. Sure, a deep breath smelled more like oil and truck exhaust than fresh air, but at least the sun shone and a brisk breeze from the mountains to the west helped shake the fatigue from her limbs. She would have to fit in a good run this evening.
