Sniper's Nest by C. M. Sutter

Author:C. M. Sutter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.M. Sutter
Published: 2019-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

Tommy and I entered the liquor store in what looked to be a less-than-desirable neighborhood, and the name A&M Cut Rate Liquor hinted at such. The cashier and register were secured behind a wall of shatterproof glass immediately to our right as we passed through the doors. A large walk-in beer cooler stood to our left, and shelves of booze and wine were directly in front of us. Racks of chips and jerky filled the spaces at the end of the aisles, and three shelves of gum, candy bars, small packets of antacids, and aspirin stood just below and outside the glassed-in checkout counter. Cigarettes, cigars, tins of chew, and small bottles of booze sat on shelves on the cashier’s side of the glass. I mentally calculated how many customers were inside as they stared our way.

I pulled out my badge and took note of the cameras as I walked to the cashier. Tommy kept his eye on everything else.

“I’m Detective McCord”—I pointed my thumb over my shoulder—“and this is Sanders. Are you the owner of this fine establishment?”

The man snickered. “I am. So, what do you want?”

“We need to see your security footage from three days ago.”

The cashier grumbled as his eyes darted from customer to customer. “The cameras don’t work.”

I looked at each camera. “Those flashing lights tell me otherwise. Of course, we can subpoena all the footage you have for the date in question, but looking at some of these code violations means we’d have to shut you down until that subpoena comes in.” I pointed at the beer cooler with half the lights burned out and held up an expired candy bar. The dead mouse lying in the trap near the front door looked as though it had been there for days.

He huffed, clearly irritated by our presence. “What day, what time, what camera?”

I pointed at the camera on the far wall, which faced the cashier, and the one behind the glass, which faced the customer. “Both of these.” I pulled the phone from my pocket and opened the picture of the receipt. “Looks like we need Wednesday at ten after four. That would be p.m.”

“Obviously, but as you can see, I have customers and can’t leave the counter.”

Tommy ushered out the people who were loitering.

“Hey! You can’t do that. Those are paying customers.”

“Right. Other than what they just dropped in their pockets, I didn’t see one person at the counter with their wallet out. Consider that our favor to you, and the sooner you show us the footage, the sooner you can get back to giving away your merchandise.”

Tommy turned the dead bolt on the front door, spun the sign to the Closed side, and joined me. I jerked my chin toward the back of the liquor store. “Let’s go.”

A small room at the rear of the building contained the security system. Dark warped paneling, likely from the seventies, covered the walls, and a hint of mildew filled the space. I chalked up the rippled paneling to high summer humidity and a lack of air-conditioning.

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