The Marked Witness by Vicki Hinze

Author:Vicki Hinze [Hinze, Vicki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Magnolia Leaf Press

Chapter Eight

December 22, 5:30 AM

* * *

“Two sips first, then we start.”

Sam nodded at Lizzie. A two-sip request was fair. He wanted her clear-headed for the review.

Jaycee kept watching the door, as if she expected someone to burst through it. Sam assured her the property was clear. No one was around. When she nodded and some of the tension in her eased, Sam retrieved a notebook, then turned to a fresh page.

“I’m ready,” Lizzie said, no longer leaning her head on her hand. “Where do you want to start?”

Sam noted the date and time. “GDO.”

Jaycee opened her mouth, but Lizzie held up a hand. “Sorry, Mom. I’m not awake enough to take the scenic tour. May I?”

Biting a half-smile from her lips, Jaycee nodded.

Sam sent Lizzie a look of gratitude she pretended not to see.

“We drove up to Scottsboro in Jackson County, went shopping—which wasn’t totally awful—then had lunch, which was great. Afterward, we went to Jackson County Park, but it was too busy, so we didn’t stop. Mom drove down to the park near Camden. The incident happened and we came home. That’s pretty much it for GDO.”

Sam opened his phone and cycled to the photo he and Jaycee wanted Lizzie with the steel-trap mind to view. “Do you know this man?”

“I don’t know him.”

“Does he look at all familiar?” Sam asked, recalling he had to Jaycee, though she couldn’t peg why.

“I haven’t seen that photo,” Lizzie said, “But I have seen the man.”

Jayce gasped. “Where, Lizzie?”

She swung her gaze from Sam to her mother. “At Unclaimed Baggage. He was in the store.” Lizzie narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you remember, Mom? It was when that baby was crying so loud.”

“You’re right. I remember now. He was fussing with the salesclerk about something, but I couldn’t hear him over the crying baby.”

“He wanted the laptop you just bought from the other salesclerk,” Lizzie said. “The clerk told him you’d already paid for it and tried to show him another one, but he wanted yours.” Lizzie frowned, snapped a glance at Sam. “He was a real jerk.”

“What is Unclaimed Baggage?” Sam asked, sipping at his coffee.

“It’s the only store like it in the country,” Jaycee told him. “All the airlines send their unclaimed baggage there. They hold it for ninety days, then if it goes unclaimed, they sell it.”

“As shopping goes,” Lizzie said, “it’s a pretty cool place. They have stuff there you’d never find anywhere else.”

“I can’t believe he was giving that clerk fits over my laptop.”

“He didn’t want another one.” Lizzie glanced at Sam. “They had a whole bunch of them, but this guy was rabid. He wanted that one.”

Jaycee wore her surprise all over her face. “I had no idea that’s what he was angry about.”

“The woman with the baby stood right next to you, Mom. I’d be shocked if you heard anything but the wailing.” Lizzie’s face turned serious. “The clerk who’d helped us motioned to the door, like he wanted us out of there before this guy left the counter.

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