SC 03 Organized Grime by Barritt Christy

Author:Barritt, Christy [Barritt, Christy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy Mystery
Published: 2011-12-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Wednesday morning was getting me nowhere.

I’d spent a majority of my time doing an Internet search for mouth-breather Clifford Reynolds. I’d finally found someone with his name who worked in zoning and permits for the City of Chesapeake. I’d left a message for him. When that didn’t work, I drove down to City Hall. His bulldog of a secretary had insisted he was busy and couldn’t see me. I’d waited outside the office for him to emerge for two hours, but never saw him.

As I’d waited, I’d begun to sketch a timeline for Sierra last week.

Thursday—meeting with Bruce.

Friday morning—Sierra argues heatedly with contractor.

Friday at four—left to meet Henry, but never showed up.

Friday at five—development set fire.

Friday evening—Harrison Developers bombed.

Sierra disappears

Saturday morning—climbs through window into her apartment. Why?

Finally, I couldn’t wait any longer. My dad and his girlfriend, Teddi, were coming over this afternoon for an early dinner. It had been Riley’s idea, and I’d offered the invitation last week, before this whole fiasco with Sierra had started. I’d wanted to cancel, but Riley insisted I should keep this date, that restoring my relationship with my dad was the right thing to do.

And so I hadn’t canceled.

And now everyone would be gathering at my house in an hour. Riley’s friend had given him a recipe for a shrimp boil, and he’d volunteered to cook. Who was I to turn down a man cooking for me?

As I walked back to my van, I spotted someone familiar leaning against it.

Henry.

How did that man always know where to find me?

I scowled at him as I approached my van, thinking of Henry as a fly that wouldn’t go away. He didn’t seem to notice. In fact, his face lit up with a smile when he saw me.

I didn’t slow down to greet him, but went to the door and stuck my key in. “How’d you find me? Are you the one following me?” I called over my shoulder.

He appeared at my side, his smell coming with him. “Someone’s following you?”

“Don’t sound so innocent.” I looked beyond him, wondering how he got here. A maroon sedan perhaps? “Did you give up on your grease-powered car and get an economic one the color of flowers in the autumn instead?”

“What?” He stared at me a moment before shaking his head. “That would be dastardly of me. Of course not. I’ve been riding my bike lately anyway.”

I opened my door before I turned toward him and crossed my arms over my chest. “How’d you find me then?”

“I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but I frequent the library across the street. I saw your van pull up—at least, I thought it was your van. When I saw you hop out, I decided I should say hello.”

“The library, huh? I suppose checking out books is free, so it makes more sense than buying them.”

“Now you’re coming around to my way of thinking, Gabby.”

“But waiting around for me for two hours? That’s strange. You must really want to talk to me.

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