Death Before Dawn by William Coleman

Author:William Coleman [Coleman, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

34

Jackrabbit Shipping claimed to be able to ship anything. Catering mostly to a higher-class clientele, they picked up the item, packed it, shipped it almost anywhere, unpacked it, and delivered it. The shipper and receiver never had to deal with shipping materials inside their home. It was a premium service that came at an equally premium price. Housed in a warehouse on the edge of the retail district, the entry looked more like a furniture showroom than a shipping company.

Maureen felt underdressed when she walked through the front door. The employees must have had the same feeling as they gave her time to retreat before acknowledging her presence.

“Can I help you?” The man, in a fitted suit, sounded skeptical.

“Are you the manager?” Maureen looked past the man to the similarly dressed man and woman standing behind the counter.

“No, ma’am,” he answered. “But …”

“You can help me by telling your manager I need to see him.”

“I assure you, I can help you with…”

Maureen pulled the shield from her belt and held it in front of his face. “Manager. Now.”

The man took a couple of steps back before rushing through a door. Maureen looked again at the two employees behind the counter, who lowered their eyes. She smirked and turned back to the door just as it opened again. The employee stepped into the room, followed by a tall, thick woman in a blouse, pencil skirt, and sneakers.

The woman looked at Maureen from head to toe as she approached. “You’re the cop?”

“Detective Weatherby.” She showed her shield and clipped it back on her belt.

“Detective?” The woman frowned. “What’s this about?”

“I need some information about one of your employees,” Maureen said. “An Ian Fielding.”

“Ian?” The woman shifted her weight from one leg to the other. “What do you need to know?”

“Our understanding is that he was working a shift that ended at seven yesterday morning,” Maureen said. “Is that what your records show?”

“Yesterday morning?” The woman repeated. “I don’t need to check the records, I was here. Ian left early.”

“He did?” Maureen pulled out her notepad. “Do you remember what time?”

“Six,” she said. “He said he needed to run an errand.”

“At six in the morning?” Maureen said. “Did he mention what the errand was?”

“I thought it was strange too, but I didn’t ask,” she said. “We were almost done for the day, so I let him leave.”

“Is Ian here now?” Maureen asked. “I’d like to speak to him.”

“Today is his day off,” the woman said.

“Is Ian close to any of his co-workers?” Maureen asked. “Anyone he would talk to? Confide in?”

“I don’t think so,” she answered. “Unless, maybe Jo.”

“Jo?” Maureen wrote in her pad. “Is he here?”

“She is,” the woman said. “It’s short for Joanne. Joanne Pinehurst.”

“I’m going to need to speak to her.”

The woman turned to the employee who was still standing next to her. “Go tell Jo we need her on the floor.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he ran through the door to the back.

Detective and manager stood side by side in silence while they waited.

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