Lost Souls by J. T. Bishop

Author:J. T. Bishop [Bishop, J. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ghost, Crime Fiction, Detectives Daniels and Remalla, Second Slice, strong female character, JT Bishop, private investigator fiction, supernatural suspense, Daniels and Remalla spin-off series, Third Blow, PI fiction, ghost suspense story, paranormal investigator, female protagonist, First Cut, detectives and ghost story, Fourth Strike, PI partners, Murder mystery
Publisher: Eudoran Press LLC
Published: 2021-05-10T22:00:00+00:00

**

Mikey stepped inside the bookstore and looked around. It was small, the main area filled with rows of books, and a smaller area in the back that looked to be a children’s section. A large table at the front displayed the latest bestsellers, and Mikey picked up a book and flipped through it. One customer stood at the register, while a woman with short, spiky pink hair, skin-tight jeans, and a chunky sweater checked him out.

The purchase made, the customer took his bag and left, and the woman at the counter studied a nail.

Mikey approached, and the woman looked up from her fingers. “Can I help you?”

Mikey nodded. “Yes. I hope so.” She thought about what to say, and assuming this was the woman who’d worked with Cissy, she just dove in. “I’m investigating the murder of Chad Howard. Did Cissy Howard work here?”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Yes. She did.”

“You’re a friend of hers?” asked Mikey. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”

“Oh, dear.” The woman put a hand to her face. “Am I in trouble?”

Mikey raised a hand. “No. Of course not. I’m just─”

“Oh, God. You’re that detective, aren’t you?”

Mikey frowned. “Detec─”

“Detective Winkler, right? I’m so sorry. You called a few times, and I didn’t call you back.” She came around the counter, looking like she’d stolen a book and was terrified she’d been caught. “I meant to call. Really.” She wrung her hands.

Mikey tried to keep up. “Listen, I’m not─”

“Please don’t bring me in. I know I have that unpaid parking ticket. I’ll pay it. I swear.” She held her head. “What do you need to know? I’ll answer any questions. And I won’t lie.”

Mikey went quiet, trying to think. This woman thought she was Detective Winkler. Her mind raced, and she spied the woman’s name tag. “Carla, right?”

“Yes. Carla Bellaveena. I was going to call yesterday, but it just got busy, you know?” She laughed, but her eyes didn’t show any humor, and Mikey didn’t think for a second that the bookstore had been busy recently.

Mikey debated, and making a decision, hoped Mason wouldn’t yell at her later. “What can you tell me about Cissy, Carla? How well did you know her?” She pulled out her small notepad and a pencil.

Carla bit her lip. “Not that well. We just worked together. But we were friends. Sort of.” She crossed her arms. “I mean, not best friends, but friends.”

Mikey scribbled on her paper. “When did you last see her?”

“Uhm, well, her husband’s funeral, and then after, at the reception. Didn’t really talk to her though. She was pretty upset.”

“What about before then? When was the last time you saw her before Chad died?”

Carla chewed on her lip. “Uhm, the day before. She came in as I was leaving.”

“How did she seem?”

“Seem?”

Mikey nodded. “How was her mood? Anything that stuck out? Was she her normal self?”

“I…I think so. I didn’t notice anything different.”

“And what about before then? Did you know Chad?”

“No. Not really. He came in once or twice.

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