With an annoyed “as if” expression, I marched right on past him to my room. Everything was going great with my getaway until my body slipped forward as my feet stayed stuck on the ground while I tripped on the stupid uneven flooring.
“Mother effer,” I cursed under my breath as Reed’s hand shot out to catch me.
I righted myself, stepped away from him, and continued toward my room in only a very short run. Why the hell did this place have uneven floors? Did they add on the front part of the home at a later time?
Whatever. I’d prove to him I wasn’t incompetent. Delaney wanted me to talk to Casey as much as possible since he wouldn’t agree to an interview. Then that’s exactly what I’d do.
I pointed to the door and mouthed, “I’ll be right back,” to Reed.
His eyes widened, and he shook his head while pointing to his phone. But it was fine. No one was going to rob me in broad daylight as I walked over to Casey’s apartment. I waved away Reed’s concern and held up ten fingers in a silent promise that I’d return quickly.
Before heading to Casey’s, I darted back into my room and grabbed one of the articles from the top of the stack. I needed a plausible reason for my visit.
I passed through the living room and kitchen, heading out the back door toward Casey and Selene’s home. The back gate opened as I made my way across on the narrow stone path.
“Hey, Elenore, was there another filter problem?” Casey asked as he hauled a large black golf bag over his shoulder and shut the gate behind him.
“Oh, hey.” My steps came to a quick stop. Crap, his arrival sent all my plans to the garbage, and I struggled to come up with a new introduction. I held the article in front of me, chin high. “I found this under the bed and it looked like something you’d want. Someone took the time to cut it out, so I figured it might be important.”
Casey took the article from me. The edges of his lips tipped up as he scanned it. “Not important but thank you. It must have fallen out of my mother’s stash.”
And there was the opening I needed. Delaney would be so proud.
Except. Shit. I’d forgotten the recorder. Now she wouldn’t have an official record. Oh well. I’d have to sum it up for her in written form.
“Did your mom follow the progress of the apartments?”
He chuckled. “In a way. She and the garden heritage club tried to sue to get the project stopped.”
“Oh.” The spike of my eyebrows wasn’t faked. No one mentioned a lawsuit. My gaze flitted to the back door. As soon as Reed got off his call, he’d come looking for me, so I had to hurry. “Why did they try to sue?”
Casey’s head turned toward the apartments. “She and the developer had more than a couple of heated arguments. Mom hated how the corporations were buying up pieces of the land to build new modern-looking structures. She even had a few offers on the house here but always rejected them. She hated the idea of tearing the old home down for something boring.”
I let my gaze fall over the beautiful two-story blue building he called home. “She had a point. This place is gorgeous.”
“Mom always said, ‘Casey, Savannah is known for its Southern charm, and there’s nothing charming about straight lines and concrete.’”
I laughed a little. The more I learned about Lisa, the more it felt like we’d have gotten along.
Casey shrugged. “Fighting the modernization of the city kept her busy in retirement.”
“It seems like you and your mom really got along.” I moved a little closer, even though I didn’t have the recorder in my pocket.
Casey’s dark eyebrows narrowed as he whipped his attention back to me. My insides clenched, and I tried to shrink down into myself as he scrutinized me.
Crap. Had I gone too far with my questions? Would he put the pieces together and figure out why Reed and I were here? It would mess up the entire case for Delaney, and I’d go home a failure.
“Why would you think otherwise?” he asked, his eyes half slits from his intense stare.
10
Casey continued to stare at me with an unwavering gaze. His deep blue eyes penetrated right through my lies and kick-started my adrenaline. Were these the accusing eyes of a murderer?
“It’s just… that… sometimes… relationships with moms are hard.” I gave a quick scoff to buy myself another second and then did my best attempt at deflection. Rambling. “My mother thinks everything I do in life has to be run by her first. She’s still trying to pick out my shoes before the first day of school.”
Casey smiled at my ending eye roll. “I’d give anything for one more day with mine. She was pretty supportive.”
“Oh, my mother’s supportive. Just in a serial killer way.”
