“What other things?” Ida asked, her usual cheerfulness replaced with something sharper.
Eddie exhaled, the breath shaky. “He implied I took money last year. From the toy drive. He said he ‘knew.’ He said if I didn’t ‘make it right,’ he’d tell the mayor and get me fired.”
Ruth’s fingers moved slightly on her iPad, taking notes. “Did you take it?”
Eddie’s face went pale. “No. I didn’t take anything.”
“Then who did?” Helen asked softly.
“I don’t know!” Eddie’s voice cracked, and he caught himself, lowering his volume. “I don’t know. But Stanley thought I did because I have keys to everything. He thought I had access, so I must be guilty.”
Nans let the silence settle for a moment, then asked quietly, “Eddie. Where were you this morning when Stanley died?”
Eddie looked away, staring down the hallway toward the lobby. “Here. I came in at five. I checked the furnace room first—made sure the heat was running. Then I went outside to salt the steps. Front and back.”
“Who can confirm that?” Ruth asked.
Eddie’s laugh was hollow and bitter. “Nobody. It was five in the morning. I was alone.”
“What time did you come back inside?” Nans asked.
Eddie’s eyes flicked toward the hallway, then back. “Maybe five-twenty? Five-thirty? I’m not sure. I wasn’t watching the clock.”
Helen leaned in slightly. “Did you see anyone when you came back in?”
Eddie swallowed hard. “I heard someone. Running. In the lobby. Footsteps, fast, like they were in a hurry. But when I got there, nobody was around.”
The ladies exchanged glances.
“Did you check the storage room?” Ida asked.
Eddie’s face went ashen. “No. I didn’t know... I didn’t know anything was wrong until later. Until the police showed up.”
Nans nodded slowly. “Thank you, Eddie.”
Eddie stared at them like he wanted to say more, like there was something pressing against the back of his teeth, but he just picked up the box and walked away.
As they walked back toward the lobby, Ruth whispered, “He’s nervous.”
“Very nervous,” Helen agreed, glancing back over her shoulder.
Ida pulled her purse closer. “And he was here when it happened.”
“So was Vivian,” Nans said quietly. “The question is: what did Eddie do when he heard someone running?”
Ruth’s eyes narrowed. “And why didn’t he check on it?”
“Because he was scared,” Helen said softly. “Or because he already knew what he’d find.”
Nans didn’t answer. She just kept walking, her mind already piecing together timelines and motives.
CHAPTER NINE
Back at Nans’ apartment, Ruth was already typing, her fingers moving rapidly across her iPad screen.
“What are you doing?” Helen asked, setting down her teacup.
“Calling in a favor.”
