Milo said, “That sounds below a twelve-year-old’s developmental level.”
“Not necessarily,” said Pamela Buttons. “People can have problems in one area but be okay in others. She can read a bit, do simple arithmetic. But you probablyshouldspeak with David. Want me to text him?”
Milo said, “Please.”
She worked her phone keyboard, put it down on the table. “I can’t believe you’d suspect Lynne in a murder. When did it happen?”
He fudged. “Right around the time Lynne left.”
“Well, that doesn’t mean a thing. If anything, she might have also been victimized.”
Her phone rang and she snatched it up, grateful for the interruption. “David? Thanks for getting back. I’m with the cops…yup, Lynne…no, they haven’t, but it’s complicated. I figured if anyone could tell them about her, you could. Can I hand you over to them? Thanks.”
Milo took her phone and put it on speaker.
“Mr. Le Gallee? Lieutenant Sturgis.”
One of those voices that manages to be buoyant even when faced with a gray day said, “David. No word on Lynne?”
“Would it be possible to talk in person?”
Pam Buttons scowled and shook her head.
David Le Gallee said, “I guess…sure. I’m off in forty-five minutes. If you can meet me in front of Safe, we can do it.”
“Perfect. Thank you, sir.”
Milo returned the phone to Buttons.
She said, “Can you find another place to talk to David? We like to keep things calm for the residents.”
“Ma’am, we’re not talking about a SWAT team charging in, guns blazing. Just chatting with Mr. Le Gallee out front. At some point, if we do need to enter, all we’d do is take a quick look at Lynne’s room. If you’d allow us.”
Pam Buttons said nothing.
Milo said, “Okay, we’ll table that for the time being.”
“A quick look will be unnecessary, Lieutenant. I already checked Lynne’s room after she was gone for two days and trust me you won’t learn anything. Like I said, she keeps it nice. And organized, which seeing how much stuff she has is pretty impressive.”
I said, “She’s a collector.”
“Quite a collector. Dolls, toys, ribbons, hair clips, costume jewelry. And lots of old magazines—teenage stuff, mostly. I’m sure she’s had them for years. In stacks up to here.”
She leveled her arm three feet off the ground. “But neatly arranged and she keeps a little whisk broom to make sure dust doesn’t settle.”
I said, “Any diaries?”
“Nope,” said Buttons. “That’s what I was hoping for. A diary, some sort of personal note that could help me locate her, and believe me, I wanted to. I mean, this has been crazy-stressful. I even went so far as to contact Culver City PD. Guess what they said?”
“Not their jurisdiction.”
She aimed a finger-gun at me. “Bingo. Anything else?”
Milo said, “No, ma’am. Thanks.”
“Let’s hope,” she said and stood.
Chapter
