Lionel said, “Now that is the first thing I’ve heard all day that makes any sense.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Once again, Natalie and Liam stood in front of the big brick and stone building in New Haven that was once where Lionel Graves lived—and where he died.
It was also the residence of Mildred and Ralph Roth, which was exactly the reason for Natalie’s return.
“I can’t believe we’re back here,” Liam said.
Natalie shot him a sideways glance. “The drive wasn’t so bad.”
“It’s not the drive. It’s Mildred. I’m not sure she’s going to be happy to see us again.”
“It’s not time for her stories and too early for her afternoon nap. So whatever morning ritual we are interrupting, I’m sure she’ll get over it.”
“If you say so.” Liam drew in what looked to be a bracing breath. “Ready to go inside?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Liam opened the front door for her then together, side by side, they made their way to Mildred’s first floor apartment.
“I hope Ralph is around,” she whispered to Liam before raising her fist to knock.
“Where else would he go?”
Natalie lifted her brow. “There are co-ed girls living like a block from here.”
“Oh, right.” Liam cringed. “I try to block out the knowledge the ghosts are always spying on us. If I don’t…well, let’s just say you and I would be living more like brother and sister than girlfriend and boyfriend.”
The sound of more than one lock being disengaged stopped this disturbing conversation in its tracks as Mildred unlocked and then pulled open the door of her apartment.
Natalie forced a bright smile. “Hi. Remember us? We were here a week or two ago getting Lionel Graves’s things.”
“Yeah. I remember. Forget something?” she asked in a voice roughened by many years and countless cigarettes.
“We actually were hoping you could answer some questions for us,” Liam said.
Mildred’s gaze shifted up to Liam. “I suppose I could answer a few things for you.” The old lady’s entire demeanor changed, softened, as she looked at Liam. Good.
She didn’t know what that said about her, but Natalie was fine using Liam’s good looks to get information out of this old woman.
“The police have actually deemed Lionel’s death was murder and we’re helping out with the investigation,” Natalie began.
“I know. The police have already been here. And some detective too. Interrupted me in the middle of my stories, he did.” Mildred scowled.
“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry about that. Some people are so rude,” Natalie said, trying to suck up to the woman. “So, uh, what did the police want to know?”
“Just if Lionel ever had students visit him here. Oh, and if I had one of those doorbell video cameras.”
“And do you?” Natalie asked, excited.
“No.”
“What we really wanted to ask you was if you remember which of Lionel’s students came in and out of the apartment around the time that he died,” Liam asked, taking over the questioning.
“Like I told the coppers. No. No one came in or out of his apartment the day he died. I know because I was watching out the window most of the day. Somebody had to supervise the kids I hired to take down the Christmas decorations on the building or they would just loaf off. If anybody came inside I would have seen them.”
“What about during the weeks before his death? Did you see any students coming and in and out then?” Liam said, following up.
