“J. Manning,” Patterson repeated. “Is this an extra card you have on his account?”
“No. Actually, I’m not sure why I have it on file,” she admitted. “I can tell 5822 belongs to J. Manning but that 4209 is the card linked to Jeremy’s account.”
Millie drummed her fingers on the counter. “Maybe he thought he was being clever, using a different card to buy the burner phone, thinking we couldn’t link it to him.”
“It’s possible,” Patterson agreed.
“Those are the same four numbers from the card used at the store in Grand Turk. We have confirmed the identity of our bomb threat caller.” Patterson reached for his radio. “I’ll take great pleasure in locking Manning up until we return to Miami, at which point Majestic Cruise Lines fully intends to press charges.”
“Music to my ears,” Millie sing-songed. “There’s only one Manning on board and we can one hundred percent link the credit card to him.”
Cat’s cell phone rang. She glanced at the screen. “It’s Juji.”
She pressed the answer button and put it on speaker. “Hi Juji.”
“Hello, Cat. I have a spot of good news. The store owner was able to retrieve the surveillance footage of the person who purchased the burner phone. Where would you like me to send it?”
“She can send it to me,” Nikki whispered.
Patterson spoke. “I’ll give you an email address.” He motioned to Nikki, who rattled it off.
“It has been sent.”
“Thank you, Juji,” Cat said. “We believe we know who it is but visual evidence will help nail this person, for sure.”
“You are welcome. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Will do.”
“I have it.”
Patterson, Cat and Millie joined Nikki behind the counter. She clicked on the link and pulled up the attachment.
A grainy image of a small store appeared. A man, in his forties if Millie had to guess, stood near a display case. A male wearing cargo shorts and a light-colored button down shirt approached.
With his back to the camera, Millie struggled to make out the man’s features.
“Can you enlarge the screen?” Patterson asked.
“Sure.” Nikki made it larger.
The store employee removed a boxed phone from the cabinet and set it on the counter. For several long seconds, the two discussed the contents. The customer nodded. The store employee rang up the purchase and placed the phone plus a receipt in the bag.
Finally, the man turned.
Millie’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at the screen in disbelief and said the first thing that popped into her head. “Liz was right. Suspect the least suspicious.”
Chapter 35
Liz leaned back in the lounge chair, a small sigh escaping her lips. “It finally feels like I’m on vacation.”
“Maybe playing bingo all the time and trying to win isn’t as relaxing as you think it is,” Gloria teased.
“Hey, I cleared five hundred bucks.”
Millie wagged her finger at her cousin. “You weren’t hosting your own pay-to-play games again, were you?”
“Nope. I won it legit.” Liz lifted her head and shaded her eyes. “At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I called it.Iwas the one who suspected Tohan.”
