The Last Straw (The Jigsaw Files #4) - Sharon Sala Page 0,50
to Jordy Gooch, telling him verification is in progress. I’ll be back in the kitchen in a sec. Don’t eat my PBGJ.”
“As if,” Charlie said. He looked long and hard at the photo again and then left.
Wyrick paused, pulled up one of her apps, entered Jessup Wallis’s cell number, then waited for a cell tower to pick up on it. It took a few minutes, but when it did she relaxed and logged out.
Once she got back to the kitchen to finish breakfast, they talked about the pending search, but neither mentioned Rachel’s name. The days since she’d gone missing were passing, and neither they nor the police had a clue as to what had happened to her. Charlie had promised Millie he’d find Rachel, but he didn’t want to find her dead.
As Wyrick carried their cups and plates to the sink, Charlie reached for his phone.
“I’m giving the manager a heads-up that we’re coming back this morning, so he’ll be there to give us a key.”
“Good idea,” Wyrick said and loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. “I’m going to get my laptop. I’ll be right back.”
She hurried away as Charlie made the call, and then waited for it to be answered.
Ten
Wayne was in the office calling a plumber when the door opened. One of the residents walked in, and Wayne held up a hand then pointed to a chair while he finished his call. As soon as he hung up, he turned and smiled.
“Sorry about that, Sonny. What’s up?”
“I have an Amazon delivery that’s supposed to arrive today. If you’ll text me when it arrives, I’ll come pick it up.”
“I’ll keep an eye out for it,” Wayne said and then looked a little closer at him. “You don’t look so good. Have you been sick?”
“No...nothing like that. But I fell the other day and haven’t been sleeping well. I’m getting better, but you know when your back goes out, it hurts like hell no matter how you stand or sit, right?”
Wayne frowned. “I’m so—” Then his cell phone rang. When he saw who was calling, he grabbed it. “Hang on a second. I need to answer this.”
Sonny nodded, then picked up a magazine as Wayne answered.
“Detter House. Wayne Dyer speaking.”
“Wayne, it’s Charlie Dodge.”
“Yes, hello, Charlie. What can I do for you?” he said.
“Wyrick and I need access to the apartment again. Can we pick up the key at your office?”
“Sure. Are you coming this morning?” Wayne asked.
“Yes. We’ll be there within the hour.”
“See you then,” Wayne said and hung up, then glanced at Sonny. “Sorry. That was Charlie Dodge again. He and his assistant are working for Rachel Dean’s family, you know...trying to help the police find her.”
Sonny frowned. “It’s so awful. Do they have any leads?”
“I have no idea,” Wayne said.
Sonny leaned forward, resting his elbows on the arms of the chair. “His assistant is that Wyrick woman, right?”
Wayne nodded. “Yes. They were here yesterday morning, but not for long. I guess they want to take a closer look or something...who knows?”
“Is she as stunning as she looked on TV?” Sonny asked.
Wayne shrugged. “She’s very tall and quite striking. A most unusual woman, would be a better way to describe her.”
“I see...well, I’m going to be running some errands in a bit, so I may miss seeing her. Just my luck. Anyway...thanks for holding my delivery for me. I’ll be waiting for your text.”
“Of course,” Wayne said and waved as Sonny left the office, then got the passkey so he’d have it ready.
Sonny left the office in a panic. He’d had no idea the famous duo was on the case. If she was as psychic as they claimed, she might see guilt all over him, maybe even without needing his presence. He couldn’t let that happen. But he needed to set up an alibi, showing him leaving the property before Charlie and Wyrick ever arrived.
He made a point of waving at staff as he took the back way out of the building to the parking garage, then got in his car and drove out the front gate, making sure the security cameras would pick him up leaving the grounds.
But as soon as he was out of sight of the building, he circled the area, came back to the house through the alley behind it and parked next to the dumpster.
He came in the back gate, making a point to stay behind the old-growth crape myrtle concealing a brick garden shed that was original to the property. He