“Thanks,” said Milo. “Great work finding the dumpster footage.”
“Sacrificed my eyesight but if it turns out to be major, it’s worthwhile.”
I said, “I asked Robin what someone would use to make those birdhouses. She said it’s pretty crude work that would likely entail hand tools including smaller saws. Jigs and the like.”
More note-taking.
Alicia said, “Wow.”
Sean said, “How does Sophie Barlow fit in with all this?”
Milo said, “Her murder doesn’t rely on a years-of-rage scenario. Mike Heck dumped Tiana unceremoniously and took up with Sophie,so if Tiana’s as volatile as she sounds, there’s big-time insult added to injury. And in terms of the DNA staging, Tiana knew where Heck lived so no problem going through his trash and finding his cigarettes.”
I said, “Something else to consider: A woman ringing Sophie’s doorbell might have seemed less threatening than a man.”
Moe said, “Excuse me, looking for apartment six, or my car broke down, can I use your phone.”
“Or your bathroom,” said Alicia. “A woman might be sympathetic to that.”
I said, “Even if Sophie was careful and only cracked the door, Tiana could’ve taken her with a surprise blitz. Hand around the neck, propelling her inward and holding on until she’s choked Sophie out. Then she staged the scene.”
Another silence. Moe said, “So what’s next?”
Milo said, “Find the Highlander and tear it apart. If Tiana used it to move Lynne’s body, there’s a high probability of transfer evidence. I talked to Nguyen and he said the right judge might go for it but we’d do better with more.”
“Big surprise,” said Moe.
Milo said, “We know where she keeps the car so let’s watch her for a few and see what turns up.”
He smiled. “Time to talk scheduling. The romantic side of ace detection.”
Chapter
41
He came by to catch me up two days later but began by assembling a sandwich from the contents of our fridge.
Inch-thick, hand-cut slabs of rye-bread-encased roast beef, smoked turkey, Genoa salami, coleslaw, provolone, purple onion, red bell pepper. An anemic bit of romaine lettuce included as an afterthought “to keep it healthy.”
I said, “Peppers have vitaminC.”
“Whatever.”
Blanche watched the construction project with slavering fascination and steadily quickening breathing. I took some roast beef, dropped a dried dog treat into my pocket, and carried her to Robin’s studio.
What’s a little drool on your shirt when you’re in love?
—
Robin said, “Hi, babe. What’s up?”
I bent and gave Blanche the beef. “Milo’s feasting and she was working herself up.”
She laughed, came over and kissed me. “The Humane Society is proud of you and so am I. Is he feasting out of joy or frustration?”
“He’s not looking too joyful.”
“Aw, too bad,” she said. “Well, your timing’s perfect, I was just about to bring you something.”
