Snowbirds of Prey by Ward Parker

Author:Ward Parker [Parker, Ward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mad Mangrove Media
Published: 2019-12-16T22:00:00+00:00

20

Under Scrutiny

The morning sun slanted between the two buildings of Seaweed Manor when Missy left after completing her werewolf patient appointments. She cut through the gap in the border hedge and entered the Squid Tower visitor lot where she had left her car. And then she saw him.

Affird was prowling around the property, pretending to be ambling casually while constantly glancing around, looking for something. She walked quickly to intercept him.

“Good morning, detective,” she said with a fake smile. “What brings you here today? Any developments in the case?”

He stopped and studied her without a trace of an expression. She observed her reflection in his mirror shades. Her hair looked bad. So did the bags under her eyes.

“I can’t discuss the case,” he said.

“Can I help you with anything here?”

“No. I was here to talk to residents, but no one is answering their door. No one is around anywhere. It’s dead here.”

She studied him. Was his double-entendre intentional? She couldn’t tell; he apparently wore a poker face his entire life. He had probably been the only poker-faced baby in existence.

“There are plenty of cars in the lot and the parking garage,” he said. “Do people here really sleep this late? I thought seniors get up early.”

“Last night was Bingo Night. I’m sure they’re all exhausted.”

“When I’ve come here at night, there were always people around,” he said.

“You’ve heard the slogan, ‘active senior lifestyle’? They really believe in it here. They’re very active and it makes them young at heart. They’re like teenagers—staying up late, sleeping late.”

He stared at her. His expression was illegible, but she didn’t think he was buying her nonsense.

“And the fact is,” Missy said, making it up as she went along, “there really aren’t many people here this season. That’s why so many of the hurricane shutters are closed.”

He glanced up at the tower. “Then why are there so many cars here?”

“Well, the snowbirds fly to Florida and leave a car here to use. The year-round residents, if they’re married, have two cars. And some auto enthusiasts have extras.”

He shook his head. “Excuse me, I want to find a resident to speak with.”

“Let me take you to Agnes, the board president. She’s an early riser.” A night-owl was more like it. “Please follow me.”

“She and I have already met,” he said.

He followed her into the lobby and up the elevator to the eighth floor and Agnes’ unit on the end. Missy pressed the doorbell. She knew the vampire was checking out her visitors through the doorbell camera.

Agnes answered the door wearing her usual outfit of a conservative dark-gray, matching pants suit. It wasn’t exactly typical Florida resort wear. She smiled. Her fangs were retracted and safely out of sight.

“Good morning, Ms. Geberich,” he said.

“Detective Affird, to what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Your bad luck, I guess. I was in the neighborhood and decided to poke around.”

“Come in, please.”

He followed Missy into the apartment. It was dimly lit by a couple of lamps and the heavy curtains were closed.

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