No, she really didn’t. But Binns wasn’t going to let it drop. Casey tried to think of something else she could share that wouldn’t compromise someone. Maria was in the country illegally. Bernie had given away most of her money. Sissy was being blackmailed and having an affair with the unscrupulous Brandon, who was possibly engaged to Andrea, and she’d had a bad end at her old job that was documented on letterhead. Laurie was going just a bit off the deep end.
There. That might be good.
“Have you seen Laurie Kilmer lately?”
“No. Should I have?”
“She accosted me last night outside the Flamingo.”
Gomez swung around, his eyes searching Casey’s face, and her bare shoulders. Casey went suddenly hot, but managed a little smile. “I’m fine. Really. I saw her coming. But something’s not right there. She says she was jealous of Andrea being involved with Brandon, the last fitness instructor, but also says Andrea assured her it wasn’t true. I’m not convinced she’s handling it all very well.”
“So you think that’s who Andrea was engaged to?”
“Probably. But I don’t have anything concrete on that.”
“We’ll check it out. But why didn’t you just tell me about Ms. Kilmer this morning?”
“Didn’t want to make something out of nothing. I haven’t seen her today, though, and I’m wondering what’s become of her.”
“What about Ms. Patterson? Has she been after you today?”
“I’m not worried about her anymore. At least as far as my own well-being.” She told Binns and Gomez what had happened that morning.
“That’s a big turnaround,” Binns said.
“Grief,” Casey said. “It does weird things.” She glanced at Gomez, who colored slightly and looked away. “On another subject, have you checked out the banking angle?”
“In what way?”
“People Andrea may have been working with. Loans she didn’t approve.”
“We have someone working on it. Nothing jumps out at us, but sometimes what seems small to the rest of us is a mountain to somebody else.”
Like Del.
“Did you have someone in particular in mind?”
Casey kept her face neutral. “No. I just thought it might be a good place to check, and I certainly don’t have the authority to be asking.”
“So you recognize that? That’s interesting.” Binns gave her a blank look. “Don’t worry. We’ve got it under control.” She waved a hand toward the pool and the women gathering there. “Class waiting for you?”
“It is time.”
“We’ll let you go, then. But Ms. Gray, next time just tell me what you’re thinking. I’m not going to rush off and arrest people without cause.”
“Sure. Of course.”
“Come on, Gomez.” Binns clicked across the concrete in her sensible pumps. Gomez hesitated, meeting Casey’s eyes for one last look before following the detective.
“Oh, he’s caving.” Death’s hands rubbed together. “He’ll be ripe for the picking, soon.”
“I’m not harvesting anything,” Casey said from behind her towel. “And I’m certainly not going after a cop. Okay, class!” She clapped her hands. “Ready to get started?”
The class was fun, and the women ended with a splashing contest, ultimately ganging up on Casey and giving her a good dousing. When they’d dispersed, giggling, Casey pushed herself out of the pool.
She was getting water out of her ear with her towel when she felt a presence at her elbow. It was Sissy. “The Parkers want to talk to you some more.”
“Why?”
“They won’t say. They’ll only tell me they have something they need to ask you.”
“I have personal training in twenty minutes.”
“Then you can just tell the Parkers it has to be quick.”
Casey let out a big breath. “All right. Are they in her apartment?”
“They haven’t left it all day.”
“I’ll change and go up.”
“Thank you, Daisy.”
Casey got into dry clothes and went up to the fourth floor. She knocked on Andrea’s door, which had yet another bundle of flowers leaning against it. And then she knocked again. No response. She picked up the flowers and opened the door.
“Hello? Mr. and Mrs. Parker?”
It was dark in the apartment, just like Krystal’s had been that morning. Casey pushed the door open far enough she could see Andrea’s parents sitting in the living room, her mom on the sofa, her dad in the easy chair. Casey wondered if they’d moved at all since she’d left them, because it looked like they were still wearing the same clothes as the day before. She stepped in and turned on the light. Mrs. Parker swiveled toward her, squinting.
Casey set the flowers on the table. “It’s me. Daisy Gray. You wanted to see me?”