good thing then, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know about that. When the police chief bails out on you, it can’t be good.”
“How about Grady? Have you spoken with him?”
“Nobody knows where he is, either. He told his assistant that he was taking the day off. Who knows, maybe the two of them are off somewhere conspiring.”
“Slow down, Zach. Don’t let the paranoia get to you.”
He sighed. “I know. I’m just whipped.”
“I am, too. I found a photo of Cindy and a man in her lingerie drawer.”
“Really? I looked there, but I didn’t see anything.”
I kept my comment about my husband going through a woman’s lingerie drawer to myself. He didn’t need to hear me teasing him at the moment. “It was in the back, wedged in. I’m not sure it means anything. The guy’s face has been ripped out of the picture.”
“Wrap it up in your handkerchief and don’t touch it any more than you have to. I’ll get it from you tonight. What else did you find?”
“It’s what I didn’t find that’s bothering me. Do you know if the investigating officers collected any personal correspondence from her place?”
“Sure, I don’t even have to look. There’s a box of letters she kept, along with some photos that might be significant, and a few other things. Why?”
“Did they find a silver chain with a cow pendant on it?”
He paused, and then said, “I don’t think so. Hang on; let me grab the inventory list.” I could hear him pull out some papers, and then he said, “No, nothing here about that. They took some photos of her jewelry box, but they didn’t take it as evidence. Does it matter?”
“It must to Barton. It’s the main reason he wanted to come here tonight.”
“Well, we don’t have it,” Zach said. “How much longer are you going to be?”
“I’m just about finished. Why? Are you ready to come back to the hotel?”
“I wish I were, but I’m afraid I’ll be here half the night.”
“Should I come join you?” I asked.
“No, I’m not going to be very good company. Why don’t you go back to the hotel, and I’ll see you sometime later?”
I thought about telling him about the box Uncle Thomas had given me, but if I did that, I knew Zach would insist on being by my side when I opened it, and he was needed right where he was. I’d deal with it—or not—by myself, one way or the other.
“Don’t stay there too late,” I said.
“I’ll try not to fall asleep on the table, but I’m not making any promises. Call me later, okay?”
“You know I will.”
After I got off the telephone with Zach, I took one last look around the apartment. There might be something there that had value to Barton, but without knowing what it was, I couldn’t say. I was certain he’d have a crew come in after me and bag, tag, and catalogue the apartment’s contents, so I didn’t worry too much about missing anything.
That wasn’t why I’d been there.
I looked at the paltry selection and frowned. What was I missing? Cindy hadn’t been all that sentimental, if the limited personalized things before me were any indication.
I hated to go back to Barton so empty-handed, but I didn’t have much choice. I couldn’t manufacture sentiment out of thin air.
I finally picked up my cell phone and called the hotel.
“Garrett, it’s Savannah Stone. I’m ready for my ride back to the hotel.”
“Yes, ma’am. The driver is waiting for you outside.”
I hadn’t expected that. “Barton’s not still here, is he?”
“No, he’s in his penthouse suite here. As soon as you arrive, I’ll escort you there.”
“I thought we had the top floor.”
“Of the public rooms, yes, but there is one more floor above you.”
“Then I’ll see you in a few minutes,” I said.
I found the driver out front, but before I walked to the limousine, I locked the door to Cindy’s apartment behind me.
“I’ll take the key, if you don’t mind,” the driver said.
“Oh. Of course,” I answered as I handed it to him. “I’m Savannah.”
“I’m Henry,” he replied, and then he smiled brightly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Don’t tell me you’re a puzzle fan, too.”
He looked surprised by the question. “No, ma’am, I’m not exactly sure what that is, but you’ve done a service for my employer, and I greatly appreciate it. He hasn’t asked anyone for help as long as I’ve known him. You should feel honored.”
“I do, but I’m not sure I did much good.” I had collected