her apartment and crashed onto the sofa. “She’s not even fat, that’s the stupid thing.”
Death grunted. “Fat in the head, maybe.”
“Speaking of fat, I’m still not hungry after that feast last night.”
Death plugged both ears. “Not listening. La, la, la.”
Casey forced herself up and into the kitchen, where she made herself a salad. She might not be hungry, but she didn’t want to end up on the floor like that dumb woman. She’d just taken a first bite when there was a knock on the door. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes.
“No rest for the suspicious,” Death said cheerfully.
Casey looked out the peephole, and was surprised to see Maria standing there. She opened the door.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” Maria said, “but Sissy said you were looking for a key to the desk in the office.”
“No problem. Come on in.” Casey wiped her mouth with a napkin, and made sure she didn’t have anything on her hands.
Maria hesitated. “I’m interrupting your lunch.”
“It’s all right. I’m not really all that hungry.”
“I know what you mean. Ever since…well, you know, I haven’t been able to eat much.”
“So, about the key?”
“Yes, I’m sorry, but we don’t seem to have it. Mrs. Williams says you looked all over the office?”
“Yup. Not there.”
“And you haven’t been able to find it here?”
“In the apartment? No, but then, I hadn’t looked. Has anyone?”
Maria’s eyes darted around the apartment. “We had the apartment cleaned. And if anyone on staff needed the key and thought it might be here, this apartment has been vacant for a couple of weeks for them to search it. No one’s said anything about finding it. I could help you look, if you would like me to.”
“No, that’s all right. I’m sure it’ll show up somewhere.”
“If you’re certain.”
“Thanks.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later, then.” Maria took one more quick look around the room, and left.
As soon as the door was shut, Death jumped up and down. “Oh, she was so itching to turn this place upside down.”
“But as she said, she had two weeks to come up here and search. She mustn’t have found anything before.”
“But now you’ve brought it up again, and she’s worried. Which means she was most likely yet another of his women, and he has something on her. Maybe financial papers.” Death made a face. “This guy’s really starting to give me the creeps. I’m surprised I haven’t seen him yet. You’d think he’d have died of AIDS or a smackdown ages ago.”
Casey agreed. “You know, if Maria was that worried, she would’ve found a way to open the drawer without a key.”
“Someone did try, remember? And couldn’t get in that way. But if they’d busted the drawer, there would have been some explaining to do.”
“Right.” Casey looked around. “So where do we start?”
She yanked the cushions off the couch to reveal lint, a button, two quarters, and a pencil. She felt around the sides, but found nothing except dust and a few dried up mini Shredded Wheat squares. “Didn’t she say they cleaned this apartment? This is pretty disgusting.”
“Under here, too.” Death lay on the floor, peering underneath the couch. “Can you see anything?”
Casey tipped up the sofa to see underneath. “Nope. Nothing but dust bunnies, stale pretzels, and a rubber band. And there’s nothing taped to the bottom. Let’s check the chair.” Casey pulled off that cushion, too, but faced only the same sort of trash as in the sofa. The floor below was also clear of anything valuable. Casey put the cushion back and looked around the room. “Okay. Let’s think like an unethical, sleazy con man. Where would I hide something?”
“You do realize your salad’s going to wilt.”
“Let it.” Casey went next to the picture on the wall. Nothing behind it or on it, or in-between the picture and the matting. There was also nothing behind the blinds, in the lamp, under the table, or in the cabinets of the kitchen. The bathroom was clean, the bed was free of extras, and the vents, other than her own hiding place, were empty of everything but dust.
“Smoke alarm?” Death said, looking at the bedroom ceiling.
Casey pulled off the cover. And found a key.
Death squealed. “There it is! Let’s go!”
Casey glanced at the clock. “Can’t now. I’ve got BODYPUMP in two minutes.”
“Oh, these women, needing to be all fit and everything.” Death stomped the floor.
“It’s what got me this job, don’t forget. Without people to exercise, we wouldn’t be here. Which I guess would be a good thing.”