There was a moment of silence, and then the woman spoke again."Up and to your right, there is a camera.Can you look that way and both show your IDs, please?"
Alison looked up and saw the small black camera for the first time.It was an unusual request, but they both wanted access to the building and to speak with Linda Ashford, who was presumably the woman on the other side of the door.So, they both complied.
Alison and Moore looked up at the camera together and held up their IDs, one at a time.They waited, and after a few seconds, the voice came back to the door.
"Do you have a warrant?"she asked.
"We don’t," Moore admitted.
"I don't need to let you in if you don't have a warrant."
"I completely understand that," Moore admitted."We only want to speak with Linda Ashford.I presume that’s you?"
"I don't need to identify myself," the woman said."What is this concerning?"
"We’re investigating a double homicide," Moore said."We only need to talk with you, Linda.We can come back with a warrant if that’s what it’ll take, but we really don't want to.A few questions and we’ll leave.We don't need to do anything other than that.If you’ll let us in, you can show us where to go.We don't need to see the whole interior unless we believe there is a reason to do so."
"Give me a second," the woman said.
Alison could hear the distrust in the woman’s voice.She agreed that the woman on the other side of the door was Linda Ashford, and that the distrust stemmed from her advocacy work.She was on the side of the victims, and because they needed to be helped, it put Linda in opposition with the other side, which was the justice system.
Would someone who wanted to protect victims kill victims to prove a point?
The security system attached to the door buzzed, and a click sounded as the door unlocked.The door opened to reveal a woman in her late thirties, beautiful but weathered, with long blonde hair and blue eyes.Her lips were permanently turned down, and as she studied the two people at her door, she frowned at them, saying nothing.
"Linda Ashford?"Moore asked, wanting the confirmation.
The woman took a beat before she nodded."I guess you can both come in."
***
It was a slow day on the lot, but that was nothing new.The last month had been a string of slow days, and some of the other guys had quit, while the ones who remained took second jobs, keeping their jobs at the used-car dealership in case business picked back up.
Michael Rodriguez understood why that was happening.The area of Oakland where the dealership was had never been the best place, and crime had risen recently, driving some businesses away.The ones that remained were either involved in crime themselves or the business owners didn't have the money to relocate.
Michael didn't stay out of loyalty to the owner, though he did feel bad that the family that owned the dealership was struggling.He stayed because he had nothing else to do and no one else to live for except for himself.He had committed to the job, and he needed to follow through on that commitment.
Sometimes, he didn't know why he had such loyalty to the commitment, but it was one of the few things in his life that gave a hint of purpose.
The man who walked down the street immediately caught his eye.He looked out of place.He was dressed far too well in his gray suit, and he held his head high and had his shoulders pushed back.He was the sort of man they might have welcomed onto the lot with open arms a year ago, but now, he looked foreign.
It surprised Michael when the man didn't walk past but walked straight toward the main office building where Michael stood at the window.
Michael’s stomach churned with excitement.If anyone else had been around, they might have cited seniority or longer service, or flat-out threatened him not to make a move, but he was the only one there at that moment.The owner came and went as he pleased, and Carlo was supposed to arrive in half an hour, but he was unlikely to show.
Michael checked himself, straightening his jacket a little, and then donned a welcoming grin as he stepped outside the office to make a sale.As the warm sun and cool breeze hit him, he could feel that it was going to be a good day.
You have this!It doesn’t matter what you sell him, as long as you sell him something.This is your moment to shine.
Michael walked straight for the man with his hand held out, praying that the man wasn’t just looking for a bathroom.
"Michael Rodriguez," he greeted."It’s a beautiful day."
The man shook his hand firmly."Ben Shaw."He looked around the lot with far more excitement than the cars should generate."What’s your newest model?"
Michael held up his hands."We don't have any new cars here, but we do have some fantastic tried and tested vehicles."
"No," the man laughed."Sorry, I didn't mean that at all.I’m looking for something for my daughter, and I’d like to get her something reliable.I know you sell used cars, but what’s the most recent make and model you have?"
