Having been in the police station multiple times over the years, Carlita discovered nothing had changed. Drab gray walls. Gray concrete floors. Dull fluorescent lighting. Gloomy summed it up perfectly.
She couldn’t imagine how depressing it would be to work inside the building day in and day out, meeting with people who were in trouble, whose outlook was bleak and chaotic. Just walking down the hall made her grateful she wasn’t behind bars.
He led them to a cramped office. A desk, an office chair, and two straight-back chairs sat in the center of the room. On top of a four-drawer filing cabinet was a photo of the cop, smiling at a woman. A young boy stood next to him.
Carlita perched on the edge of the chair closest to the door while Mercedes took the one next to her.
Flipping through the file folders on his desk, the officer asked basic questions—how long she’d been in business, if she’d ever had issues with tainted food, and then he asked specifically about the party.
Carlita, brief and to the point, told him everything that had transpired. “Do you need a copy of the guest list?”
The cop flipped through his notes. “Arnie Knox, your manager, gave me a copy when we were there. During the event, did you notice any of the guests arguing or seeming disgruntled?”
“No. In fact, it went smoothly. The guests all seemed to be having a good time.”
He asked several more questions, took Carlita’s cell phone number and abruptly stood, his sign the questioning was over. “I appreciate you coming in and seeing me. Like I said, I planned to stop by today so you saved me a trip.”
“For the record, I want to stress Mr. Skidz didn’t die from food poisoning. I visited him in the hospital not long after he was admitted, and he seemed to be recovering.”
“I’m aware of the fact. We have some leads and appreciate your opinion. However, he became ill while at your restaurant.”
Carlita started to say something and thought better of it. Judging by the look on the cop’s face, he wasn’t interested in what she had to say, so she might as well save her breath.
He escorted mother and daughter back to the lobby and left them at the door.
“It could’ve been worse.” Mercedes stepped out onto the sidewalk. “At least you tried.”
“I did. The good news is I’m nowhere near the top of his list of suspects. If I was, he would’ve already tracked me down.”
“Are you still planning on visiting Sonny’s brother?”
“Absolutely. The police have already spoken to him, but maybe Dernice and I will be able to uncover a clue they overlooked.”
“For all we know, the investigators might be close to figuring out how Sonny died and who killed him.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice? Based on the line of questioning, I don’t think so.”
*****
“How well do you know Rocky?” Carlita hustled to keep up with Dernice’s power walking.
“About as well as I knew Sonny. He’s a good guy, a little on the shy side unlike his brother who was everyone’s friend and a lady’s man.”
“He looked like your average Joe. I wonder what women were attracted to.”
“He had…” Dernice slowed. “Charisma? Chicks were drawn to him like a magnet.”
“Including Elvira.”
“Elvira, Courtney. Most of the women in the club flirted with him.”
“Except for you.”
“Yeah. Luigi’s my man,” Dernice said. “I still pinch myself. Can you believe it? I’m gonna get married.”
“Luigi is a great guy. Have you picked a wedding date?”
“Not yet. It’ll be sometime next year.”
