High Risk by G.K. Parks (books for 10th graders TXT) 📕

hadn’t been ransacked. “Did you happen to notice if anything’s missing?”

Lee pursed his lips while he rummaged through the drawer. “Like I told the sergeant, the office was locked when I got here. The cash drawer had two hundred and fifty dollars in it. That’s gone. But that’s all I can say for certain. I haven’t had time to inventory the chemicals in the storeroom, but at first glance, everything appears to be there. Unless they filled the jugs with water or something.”

“DeMarco,” Fennel called, “do you have a minute?”

“Hold that thought, Mr. Lee. I’ll be right back.”

Chambliss gave me a look as I came out the door. “The guy’s a little off his rocker, but he’s pretty damn shaken. CSU tested his hands for GSR, but it came back negative. Same with blood. He doesn’t own a gun or have any priors. I don’t think he killed the security guard.”

Lee had given me the same impression, but I’d learned long ago not to be quick to pass judgment, at least at work. “Did he explain to you why he has a night watchman?”

“He got a discount or freebie. It has something to do with the new security system he installed.”

“What did the security company say?”

“Moonlight didn’t have anything to say. The alarm was never tripped. The disarm code was entered around four. Your partner has the details.” Chambliss glanced into the office. “All right, I’ll finish up with Mr. Lee and take him down to the station to fill out a report, unless you need more time to ask questions.”

“I think he’s given us enough for now. We can always follow up.” I poked my head back into the office. “Mr. Lee, is there anything else you wanted to tell me?”

Lee thought for a moment. “No, but if you need dry cleaning, I have a uniform discount. Twenty percent off.”

“Okay.” I kept my face neutral in the professional manner I had practiced in the mirror, “just get us that paperwork as soon as you can. If you need anything or remember anything else, here’s my card. Don’t hesitate.” I placed it on his desk. “Sgt. Chambliss will finish taking your statement.” I passed Chambliss in the doorway and went back into the cavernous dry cleaning area to meet Fennel.

He rubbed a hand over his mouth and stared at the endless row of hanging garments. They were attached to a conveyor belt that circled, making it easier to find a customer’s order for pickup. He glanced back at the office, listening to Chambliss’ voice drift into the hallway.

“The ME’s here. He placed time of death between 3 and 5 a.m. I’d wager it was around 4:12,” Fennel said as he led the way back to the front of the building.

“That’s precise. Are you clairvoyant now?”

“Only when it comes to reading your mind.” He held the curtain to the side so I could walk through. “But the security system logged an entry at 4:12.”

“The alarms never went off,” I said. “That’s when the system was disarmed?”

“Yeah.” Fennel glanced down at Gardner as we carefully maneuvered around the medical examiner and his assistant as they photographed the body. Simmons crouched beside them, gathering evidence and taking more photos as they prepared the slain guard for transport. “Someone knew the disarm code.” He handed me a sheet of paper with a list of names. “Those are Star Cleaners’ employees and previous employees who knew the code.”

“Inside job?”

“It reads like it. I just don’t understand the point. Why break in just to kill a guard and empty a register? Did Lee say anything?”

“He might be crazy, but he’s under the impression drug addicts want to steal the dry cleaning chemicals.”

“That’d be a first.” Fennel exited the shop and took a moment to stare up into the bright morning sky. He took a few deep breaths, the color slowly returning to his face. “Then again, anything’s possible. We should check with narcotics and see if they’ve heard anything about this. It could be the newest craze.”

“Perhaps.”

“This isn’t the safest neighborhood. According to dispatch, they get about a dozen calls a day for the area. Mr. Lee could be on to something. Or the killer broke in just to kill Gardner, and the money was a bonus.”

I didn’t like that theory, but it made the most sense. “No one reported gunfire?”

“Not according to dispatch.”

That didn’t sit right with me.

“It was one shot, Liv. The bastard didn’t miss. He fired point blank. He couldn’t have been any farther from his victim than I am from you.”

“So why’d Gardner let some asshole with a gun get that close to him?” I tried to think, but it was too early in the morning for this. I hadn’t even had my coffee yet. “It reads almost like a mugging gone wrong.”

“Maybe it was.” Fennel scanned the perimeter, following the crime scene tape that blocked off the front of the dry cleaner’s from the rest of the sidewalk. “Gardner could have gone to grab lunch or take a smoke break. He stepped outside, met the killer, and promised to hand over his wallet and the register in exchange for his life. At least, that’s what the sergeant thinks might have happened.”

“It’s a possibility.” I called to the nearest uniformed officer, “We’re going to need copies of the surveillance footage. Everything Star Cleaners caught and whatever we can get from nearby shops. I was told Chambliss sent officers to perform a canvass.”

“We’re already on it, Detective DeMarco.”

“All right, good.”

Fennel quietly snickered. “You know, I took care of that while you were inside chatting with Mr. Lee.”

“How would I know that?”

“Because you know me.”

“Yeah, well, I also thought you were going to blow chunks all over Gardner. Maybe I really don’t know you that well.” I nudged