Coconut Drop Dead by Olivia Matthews

Author:Olivia Matthews
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

CHAPTER 15

Manny’s tension hovered over us like a duppy as he stood with Bryce and me in the alley between the recording studio and a sandwich shop late Saturday morning. I wanted to offer him encouragement. I wanted to reassure him we were close—so close—to identifying the person who’d killed his friend. But honestly, I’d be lying if I said anything like that.

The humidity wasn’t helping my thought processes. It was the second day of July. The temperature hovered around unbearable. Typically, July’s the hottest month in Brooklyn. I could co-sign that. The asphalt beneath my feet seemed to soak up the heat and spit it back up at me. Sweat pooled in my bra and trailed down my back. I wiped a few beads of perspiration from my forehead.

“How’d it go?” Manny’s eyes swung from me to Bryce and back. His loose-fitting soft lilac short-sleeved jersey looked cool and comfortable.

Bryce stood beside me. His lightweight teal blue suit and navy tie were crisp and fresh. There wasn’t a drop of sweat on him. Did he have a personal air conditioner? “Karlisa denied any involvement in Camille’s death.”

“Do you believe her?” Manny shoved his fists into the front pockets of his cotton khaki pants.

“No.” Bryce shook his head.

“I’m not sure.” I spoke at the same time.

“What d’you mean? She has motive and opportunity. Why’re you hesitating?” Manny’s brow furrowed with impatience and confusion. If we didn’t solve this case soon, that frown would become permanent.

“I don’t know.” Perhaps a glass of ice water would help me think. “She didn’t deny that she’d argued with Camille or downplay her resentment toward her. And she admitted she owed the band money.”

Bryce was more confident in his position. Perhaps overconfident? “She has multiple motives, including the fact Camille was trying to get her fired, but she doesn’t have an alibi for Camille’s time of death.”

I drew a breath, picking up the stench of exhaust fumes from the nearby traffic and asphalt from the alley. “Would she have admitted to those things if she was guilty? I don’t think so. And she said she wore a pink blouse at the festival. The cloth the medical examiner found in Camille’s fist is blue.”

“She could be lying, Lynds.” Manny stroked his chin. The look in his dark eyes was distant as though he was deep in thought.

I pulled my car keys from the front pocket of my navy walking shorts. I had to get out of this heat. “Did Camille say anything about the contract DragonFlyZ had signed with the Caribbean American Heritage Festival Association? Karlisa said Camille and Sheryl Cross had argued about it.”

Manny was shaking his head before I’d finished speaking. I sensed him searching his mind for any hints of memory about the topic. “She didn’t say anything to me about it. I never heard the band discussing it, either.”

“That’s all right.” I held up my hand, palm out. “I’ll check with the other band members.”

Bryce corrected me. “I’ll check with the other band members.

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