The Girl in Area One by Eva Blue

Author:Eva Blue [Blue, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

Clint and I stepped into Apollo’s Famous Diner, a bustling hive of activity in the heart of Seattle. The place was alive with the clanging of dishes, the chatter of patrons. The crowd was a mix of old-timers hunched over their newspapers and young professionals grabbing a quick lunch, all seeking warmth and comfort.

We were there to speak with the owner.

I turned to Clint. “Should we show him the picture of Jared first?” I asked.

"Your instincts are spot on," Clint replied. "However, it's best not to influence a potential witness too early. In a court, a witness confidently stating, 'I know exactly who made that phone call,' holds more weight than if we were to show him a picture and inquire if it matches the caller's identity. Besides, who knows, it might have been the owner who made the call. We just have to see what he has to say first."

“That makes sense,” I said.

And it did. Police interviews and nurse interviews were similar: sking open ended questions got you more accurate answers than asking leading ones.

A waitress with a name tag that read "Sandy" caught our eye and gestured for us to follow her towards the back when Clint introduced us. We wove our way through the maze of tables, and constant hum of conversation.

She led us to the owner, a bearded man who introduced himself as Apollo. He stood unusually upright, as though he had a steel bar holding him up and tethering him to the ceiling. Or maybe I was just slouching.

Following Apollo through the kitchen, we stopped in a cramped storage room stacked high with bags of rice, jars of sauce, and various dry goods. I let the scent of the bacon, oregano, and caramelized garlic fill my nostrils as I surveyed the organized chaos around us.

I glanced at Clint, who wasted no time in getting to the point. "Apollo, we’re looking for a man believed to be a murderer who may have used your phone a few nights ago."

"I let lots of people use my phone.” Apollo frowned, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Every Tuesday and Friday, between noon and two, I routinely give away meals. You know, just before we get the new shipments in, to make space in the fridge. Homeless come around then and other times too.”

“Do they use the phone?” Clint pressed.

“Sure. Sure. I let them use the cordless phone anytime out back in the alley under the awning.” Apollo pointed toward the back of the building. “I keep the charger just inside the back door. They pass the phone around until the battery runs out, then switch it with one that’s fully charged. Not like they’ve got a payphone they can use anymore, am I right?”

I glanced at Clint. “Well, there are still a few.”

“Still, sometimes they’re out there making calls late into the evening,” Apollo continued. “They take messages if someone calls, and tell people what’s on the menu. They know what to say. ‘Thank you for calling Apollo’s Famous Diner, how can I help you?’ Just like that.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.