Oracles & Obituaries by Amanda M. Lee

Author:Amanda M. Lee [Lee, Amanda M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WinchesterShaw Publications
Published: 2019-09-09T16:00:00+00:00

WE SAT AT THE SAME TABLE I USED as a home base my previous visit. I ordered a huge mocha latte with piles of whipped cream. Eliot went with the more staid plain coffee, which was much cheaper but ridiculously boring. I preferred coffee with pizazz. I also preferred coffee that didn’t taste like coffee because otherwise it’s gross.

“Over there.” I inclined my chin toward a jewelry store when I caught sight of Lance. “He’s one of them.”

“Which one?”

“Lance.”

“Did you get last names?”

“They have names embroidered on their shirts, but I already forgot their last names. Is that a problem?”

“It shouldn’t be. I’ll talk Tom into giving me his employee records before we go.” Eliot was thoughtful as he sipped his coffee and reclined in his chair. “That’s not the one who showed up outside the pet store.”

“No. That’s his buddy ... although not the buddy he’s with right now. I don’t know what this dude’s name is. I don’t know if it’s even important to know what this dude’s name is.”

“Yeah, I’m right there with you.” Eliot’s eyes were hard to read as he moved them between storefronts. “I guess it’s been a long time since I was in here. I didn’t realize the mall was in such trouble.”

“Trouble? Have you even been reading The Monitor? The closure of the mall is a foregone conclusion.”

“It is?” He looked surprised. “I didn’t know that. When?”

“They haven’t set a date, but look around. Online shopping has changed the retail world and it’s never going back. The outdoor mall up the way is still doing okay. That has another gimmick.”

“What gimmick?”

“It’s dog-friendly and there’s a bunch of stuff for kids to do there when it’s nice out. There’s a theater and they have flat-screen televisions and comfortable chairs for men to hang out in if they’re bored. They always have games on.”

“Huh. Why don’t we spend more time at the outdoor mall?”

“Because I don’t like people.”

His grin was sly. “Good point. Still, I didn’t know this mall was in trouble. I just assumed it was rocking right along like it always did.”

“Even though we haven’t been in it for almost a year.”

“I ... huh.” He stroked his chin. “You’re right. I stop in the occasional store here and there, but it’s usually a Target ... or Meijer ... or Walmart. I don’t really visit the mall. If I need clothes or something, I buy them online.”

“Christina said it’s not just the stores that are changing here. It used to be that the security guards skewed older. We’re talking forties and fifties. That all changed when the stores started closing.”

“Probably because the management firm couldn’t afford to pay as much. Without stores coming in, there’s less rent. I’ll bet they’ve lowered the rent for a lot of these places to keep them here. What are they going to do with the building?” He lifted his eyes to the second floor. It was as depressing and stark as the first. “I mean ... it’s not as if there’s a lot that can be done with this space.

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