Cold Heart (Ellie Kline Cold Case Mystery Series Book 10) by Mary Stone

Author:Mary Stone [Stone, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

21

The fast-food bags on Ellie’s arm shifted as she knocked on the door to the IT offices of the Charleston Police Department. The door opened to reveal Carl on the other side. He broke into a sweetly surprised smile. “Ellie, hey! Is that food?” He inhaled the spicy aroma of chili and cinnamon wafting from the bag. “Wait, is that good food? Get in here!”

“Are you talking to me or the food?” Ellie followed Carl into the sanctuary of the IT office. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got the Supreme Special. It has a little of everything.” Ellie poked her nose into the bags. “Tacos, beans, rice, flautas, a burrito, and churros for dessert.”

“Awesome!” Carl took the bags with greedy fingers. “I’m assuming you have an ulterior motive for buying me lunch.”

“Can’t a girl buy lunch for her coworker?” She batted her eyelashes at him.

“Not if that girl is Ellie Kline. No.” He led her to a room in the back. Black and gray cables swarmed across the left half of his desk. He pushed the cables into a box on the floor near the desk, then set the food on a file cabinet and pulled paper plates from a drawer. A mini fridge sat in the corner on a nearby table. Carl swung the door open and grabbed a bottled water. He held another up, offering the drink to Ellie.

Ellie shook her head and clicked her tongue. “Okay, you got me. I need some help with my case.”

Some? More like a ton.

She wasn’t an expert at navigating her way around techie stuff. Without Carl’s expertise, she might not be able to solve her case. His help was worth a decent lunch. More, actually.

“The lonely hearts guy?” Carl picked up a bag and sniffed it. “Come to papa.” Ellie couldn’t be certain, but he appeared to hug the bag like a favorite doll.

“Cupid Killer.” Ellie rubbed her elbow. How much should she tell Carl? She needed his cyber sleuthing skills, but she also didn’t want him to get in trouble for helping her. “I’m interested in a dating app called Soul Mates. Heard of it?”

Carl snorted. “Are you sure this is for your case and not because you’re in the market for a new man? Having problems in Clay-land?”

Ellie playfully punched his shoulder. “It’s for the case. Stop being ridiculous.”

Laughing, Carl pulled his lunch from the takeout bags and eagerly unwrapped the food onto the paper plates. He placed the food on the left side of his desk and swiveled his chair toward his computer station. “All right, let’s see what magic good ole Carl can perform here.” The keys of his keyboard clicked and clacked as he typed commands. “Abracadabra!” He pointed to the screen. “The registrar is some company called ByngeLink. Ever heard of ‘em?”

“You know I haven’t.” Ellie’s eyes wandered over the multiple monitors and doodads with blinking lights scattered around the room. She could barely get her cell phone to do more than set an alarm and answer a call.

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