Uncertain Calm (Uncertain Suspense Series Book 1) by Scott Jamie Lee

Author:Scott, Jamie Lee [Scott, Jamie Lee]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Ryan Lee Inc.
Published: 2015-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

I was on my way back to the station when I got a call on my cell phone.

“Harper? It’s Maria. She’s home.” All of this was said before I even said, “Hello.”

“Who’s home?” I asked.

“Tina,” she whispered, like Tina might hear her. “She must have come home for lunch or something. If you hurry, you can talk to her.”

I looked at my watch. I was about twenty minutes from Uncertain. “How long has she been there?”

“I just heard her jalopy pull into the driveway and called. Maybe five minutes?” Still whispering.

“Maria, is someone there with you?”

“No, why you ask?”

“You’re whispering,” I said.

In a normal tone, she said, “Was I?” and laughed. “I don’t know why. No one is here. But you should hurry. You can talk to her now, and not have to wait until tonight. Who knows? She might decide to stop at the bar after work, and come home late.”

“Does she usually do that?”

“How should I know?” Maria sounded insulted.

I had a feeling Maria knew a lot about what went on in her neighborhood, but didn’t let on.

I’d looked up the address next door to Maria’s and it was owned by Ralph Bennett, who rented it to Tina Yaunt. She was a receptionist for a small time ambulance chaser. The slimy lawyer’s name was Ben Ruby, and I knew him well. I hoped I wouldn’t have to deal with him as well.

Tina had been married twice, by the age of thirty-five, and her latest ex-husband was Eric Yaunt. Eric, a parolee, was five years younger than Tina, and working as a truck driver. Of course, Tina didn’t need to know I knew this.

I stepped a little harder on the gas, and made it to the East Side in just under fifteen minutes. When I pulled in behind Tina’s “jalopy,” I understood what Maria meant. It was an early 1980s Toyota Corolla with a faded red, totally washed out paint job, and a missing front quarter panel. As I got out of my car and tapped the trunk, I noticed the tires were bald. I’d run the plates when I was finished chatting with Tina.

I walked up to the front door of the two-tone brown tract home, and stood to the side as I knocked. I waited and listened, hearing what sounded like high heels clicking on tile, then I heard nothing.

“Who is it?” The voice sounded like a little girl.

“Officer Harper Leigh. I’d like to talk to you.” I hated speaking through closed doors.

“About what?” She sounded less like a little girl now.

“Open the door and I’ll tell you,” I said, trying my best to remain friendly.

“Tell me what it’s about, and I’ll open the door. How do I know you’re really a cop?”

I unclipped my badge and put it in front of the peephole. “We can play this cat and mouse game, or I can run your name and license plates through the system, then we’ll see what else we have to talk about, Tina.”

I heard the lock on the door handle turn, and a chain clink.

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