your residence, especially after your 9-1-1 fiasco the other night. You remember, your husband broke into his own house.”
Jerk.
“How nice. I feel much safer now.” I smiled my best smart-ass smile.
He indicated the abandoned broom, which now lay near the front tires of Galigani’s Honda. “What happened? Did you sweep him to death?”
“I found his car parked here. He was slumped over the steering wheel. The broom was to assist me with the rescue attempt.”
McNearny glared at me. “How?”
“I thought I might have to break a window to get him out of the car.”
“Do you know him? Is he your friend, too?”
I bit my lip. I felt a lie bubbling up. What good would it do? When had I become a liar anyway?
“He’s a PI. His name’s Galigani.”
“He’s my friend,” McNearny said, his eyes settling onto mine. The animosity between us seemed to dissipate.
An ambulance arrived. The firefighters put Galigani onto a stretcher.
“Is he alive?” I asked.
“Barely,” one paramedic responded.
We watched the ambulance screech off, sirens screaming.
“Former cop,” McNearny said. “He was my first partner when I joined the force fourteen years ago. I need to follow them to the hospital. Try and stay out of trouble.”
As soon as Mom left, I lay down on the couch and snuggled Laurie, her little breaths warming my arm. I rubbed her tummy and she made a soft “ah” sound.
My thoughts drifted to Galigani. Was this an attempt at murder? Would he survive? I felt chilled and scared. I double-checked the locks on the doors and windows and returned to my position on the couch, bringing along a throw blanket.
Then I picked up his notebook and devoured it.
• Brad Avery, recovered pier 23 on Sept 19. Body decomposed, coroner puts date of death on or around June 15. Cause of death, bullet wound to the head. 9mm Luger. Survived by G. Avery (mother), S. Avery (ex-wife), and M. Avery (wife).
• Last seen by M. Avery June 15. On the record, reported fight with B. Avery, due to extramarital affair. Unable to locate party who’d been having an affair with B. Avery.
• G. Connolly bags recovered on Sept 19 at pier 23. Last known address—1482 Rivera (March 9), evicted by Sheriff for wielding chainsaw at property owner Roger Connolly. Unable to locate G. Connolly. Connection to B. Avery?
• M. Avery found dead on October 3, by K. Connolly (high school friend). Appears to have alibi for June 15. No apparent motive.
• M. Avery survived by KelliAnn Dupree (half sister) last known address—1878 Haight Street, Apt 304. Cause of death, overdose of diazepam in combination with alcohol. Suicide?
• Interview scheduled October 8: Kiku Ajari 1:00 pm.
Tucked in the back of his notebook was a list of possible gun manufacturers that matched the rifling on the 9mm luger bullet recovered. I examined the list. The only manufacturers I had heard of were Berretta and Smith and Wesson. I’d need to ask Jim about it. Growing up with a father from Montana who’d introduced Jim to hunting, he understood more about guns than I did.
I reread Galigani’s notes. George had threatened Uncle Roger. With a chainsaw no less! That’s why Roger had finally kicked him out. It was also probably the reason he hadn’t come to Jim and me. If George had become violent with Roger, then certainly killing Brad would be in the realm of possibility.
What about Michelle? Suicide? Not likely. She confided to me she had been scared, worried that whoever killed Brad might come after her. Why would she tell me that if it wasn’t true? Unless she killed Brad and said it to cover her guilt. Then ended up killing herself because the guilt was too great? Could she have accidentally overdosed? Maybe KelliAnn could shed light on this.
I reflected on KelliAnn’s address. She lived in the building on Haight Street I’d first followed Galigani to. I thought he’d gone to see Jennifer in Apartment 303, but I was wrong. He had been going there to see KelliAnn. Was it a coincidence that hippie chick Jennifer had worked at El Paraiso?
Laurie stirred next to me, stretching her arms over her head like a kitten. I nuzzled her and she settled back to sleep.
My thoughts returned to Michelle. If she had been poisoned, could Galigani have been poisoned, too? Had someone tried to kill him right in front of my house?
Who was Kiku?
The interview was in a couple days. Could I go in Galigani’s place?
•CHAPTER THIRTEEN•
The Fourth Week—Exploring
When I awoke the next morning, the