A Crust to Die For by T.C. LoTempio

Author:T.C. LoTempio [LoTempio, T.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2023-10-09T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

Parking was at a premium, but fortunately I found a space just across from the police station, a large gray edifice that always seemed to evoke images of Rikers Island in my mind. I parked and hurried across the street, up the short flight of stone steps and pushed through the double glass doors. A quick glance around assured me the police station hadn’t changed much since my last visit. The biggest difference was the walls. Instead of the horrible grayish-green I remembered, now they were a light eggshell color – still dull but a tad more inviting. There was a small cluster of chairs on the far left side of the room, and I saw Hilary hunched in one of them, cell phone at her ear. She jumped up as I approached and jammed the phone into her jacket pocket before enveloping me in a bear hug. ‘Thank God you’re here,’ she mumbled into my chest. ‘I’m going nuts.’

I gently pushed her back into her chair and sat down beside her. ‘What happened? I take it Arleen didn’t get in touch with Bartell like I told her to.’

‘I don’t think so. I got home a little after six and she was slumped in front of the TV, eating a bag of Cheetos. I started to ask her about her conversation with you, and she said she didn’t want to talk about it, she had a lot on her mind. Then the front doorbell rang. It was that Detective Hoffman. He said that Detective Bartell wanted him to bring Arleen in for questioning. Arleen got upset, wanted to call a lawyer, but Hoffman told her that wasn’t necessary, she wasn’t under arrest, Bartell just needed to ask her a few questions. I pulled her aside and told her it would look bad if she refused to go, so she went. I texted you and then came straight here.’ Hilary looked almost ready to cry. ‘They won’t let me see her.’

I gave my BFF’s arm a comforting squeeze. ‘That’s standard,’ I reassured her. ‘I’ll bet Bartell has identified the apron. It would have been so much better if Arleen had gotten to him first and told him what happened.’

Hilary looked at me anxiously. ‘Do you think you could find out what’s going on? Maybe do some damage control?’

I knew the chances of Bartell telling me anything were slim to none, but Hilary looked so woebegone that I didn’t have the heart to disappoint her. Besides, I still had to hand over the fabric I’d found at the crime scene. I put on a game face and gave my friend’s arm a squeeze. ‘I can’t promise anything, but I’ll do my best.’

Hilary slumped back in her chair and I walked up to the wide, walnut-wood reception desk where a bored-looking woman sat. She wore a starched denim blue shirt, and her long blonde hair was pulled into a braid that hung over one shoulder. She eyed me warily as I approached. ‘Can I help you?’ she asked in none too friendly a tone.

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