“I will be.”
“I’ve got Advil.” Marie dropped a couple of pills in her hand, then gave her the bottled water she always carried.
“Thanks.” After she took the pills, she closed her eyes once again. Gradually, conversations faded as she blocked out everything and tried to relax.
She had no idea how much time had passed when Marie shouted, “Look at that!”
Casey sat up slowly as they turned into Mainland’s yard. She didn’t notice anything unusual until the bus was facing the garage at the back of the depot. Someone had spray painted “Remember Jasmine” in large red letters across the top of the building.
Lou helped her off the bus. When they reached her Tercel, he stopped to examine the back of her head. “You’re growing one hell of a goose egg. Are you sure you don’t need a doctor?”
“The Advil’s helping.” She had no intention of waiting in an emergency room for god knows how long. “I should go in and write my report. Stan will want it asap.”
“You can do it from home. Didn’t you just buy a laptop so you could send reports from anywhere?”
“Good point. I just need a few more minutes before I get behind the wheel.”
“I’ll get you another cold pack, and then I should drive you home.”
She didn’t want to leave her car here. As Lou hurried toward the admin building, Casey leaned against the Tercel and gazed at the sign. Given everything she’d learned about Jasmine this week, how could she not remember her?
She surveyed the silver compact parked next to her. Didn’t Eisler’s assistant, Jan, drive one? Or was it the new girl? Shit, why was she even thinking this way? The vehicle spotted at the murder scene probably didn’t belong to Mainland staff at all.
“Do you like the sign?”
Casey turned to find Roberto strolling up to her, his lunch pail and apple in hand. A grease streak ran down his right pant leg. “Well, it’s big. Who made it?”
“That’s a mystery.” Roberto’s amused expression faded as he stepped closer to her. “You look hung over.”
“I got caught between two kids fighting. Fell and hit my head.”
“Marie must have had a shitty time too.” He glanced over his shoulder at the admin building. “I passed her a minute ago and said hi, but she wouldn’t even look at me. I wonder if she heard about the pool.” He bit into his apple.
“What pool?”
Roberto chewed a few moments. “After Marie started telling people about the VP being hot for Jasmine and that he didn’t have an alibi, some of the guys started a murder pool.”
“Tacky, Roberto.”
“They’re just trying to help the morale around here. Anyway, Birch is the heavy favorite despite his so-called alibi, though my money’s on Eisler.”
“Why?”
Roberto’s expression became grim. “The night before Jasmine died, she called me around midnight. Said that Eisler had phoned her earlier, while Noel was there. The jerk wanted to meet her for a drink, but she turned him down.”
“Have you told the police?”
“I will when I need to.” He took another bite of apple.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing much.” Roberto shrugged and kept chewing.
“Hey, would you like to take one of Jasmine’s hamsters or guinea pigs off my hands? I can’t keep them.”
“No, you know me; I’m rarely home.”
The smell of diesel fumes from an incoming bus made her feel nauseous. Nearby, three clerical staff stopped walking to look up at the sign.
One of them turned to Roberto and said, “Nice work.”
“It wasn’t me,” he replied.
Casey wasn’t surprised that none of the women spoke to her. Word had gotten around that she was helping Marie find the killer, and staff had started avoiding her. Not everyone wanted their alibis investigated by a colleague. A handful of curious employees kept asking Casey what she knew. Those were the people she’d started to avoid. Still, the truth had to come out. Secrets and lies had a way of piling so high that, sooner or later, they’d topple. The larger the stack, the more harmful the crash. Her parents’ deceptions had taught her that.
“Who else is on the suspect list in your pool?” Casey asked.
“Jasmine’s half sister, Gabrielle. Marie told us some nasty things about her.”
The big mouth had been busy. “Did Jasmine say anything about Gabrielle’s visit the Sunday before she died?”
“I didn’t even know her half sister was in town until Marie told me a couple of days ago.”
“Did you notice any irritability in Jasmine before her death?”
“Jasmine was her usual sweet self.” Roberto watched the clerks head for their cars.
Sweet self? Hadn’t he heard about her and Jasmine’s nasty exchange on the stairwell the day before she died? On the other hand, Jasmine had been friendly with Roberto the same morning.
“Roberto, did you ever take any photos of Jasmine?”
He smirked. “Why, do you want one for your album?”
“Funny; I saw a picture of her recently and was wondering who the photographer was.”
“Maybe it was professionally done.”
“No, she looked asleep in her bed.”
Roberto’s eyebrows shot up. “Freaky.” He took another bite of his apple. “We never talked about her love life. Just went dancing and out for beers.” He glanced at Casey. “You know me. Never serious, always moving on.”
Casey knew about Roberto’s commitment phobia, and how it often clashed with his inability to be alone. Therapists could build careers on Roberto’s relationship issues. She wouldn’t be surprised if he’d slept with Jasmine.
Behind them a familiar voice said, “Miss Holland, why are you interrogating my staff?”
Casey and Roberto turned to find David Eisler standing by the hood of her car. His arms were crossed and his pinched mouth formed a thin line on his perma-tan face. How long had the jerk been eavesdropping?
“We’re just chatting,” Roberto said.
Casey knew Roberto didn’t like the VP. Eisler probably didn’t like him either.
“Are you aware that Miss Holland’s helping Mrs. Crenshaw look for a suspect to replace her brother?”
“Not at Mainland,” Casey replied.
Lou joined them, his expression wary as he looked at Eisler and Roberto.
“I don’t want you asking employees about Jasmine.” Eisler glared. “Understand?”
Was he afraid of the truth? “Yes.” Casey bit back her anger as she accepted the fresh pack from Lou.
“Roberto, I want that sign gone today, is that clear?”
“I didn’t do it.”
“I don’t care. You work in the garage, so get rid of it.” He charged inside the building.
“What flew up his ass?” Roberto asked, turning to Lou. “How’s it going?”
“It’s going.”
Casey wondered why he was staring at Roberto’s apple. Why was Lou avoiding eye contact with him? These two were buddies.
“Do you guys think Noel’s innocent?” Roberto asked.
“Don’t know,” Lou answered.
Roberto moved closer to Casey. “You aren’t really digging for dirt on the guys Jasmine was seeing, are you?”
“No.”
“Then why were you asking me about photos and Jasmine’s mood and stuff?”
“Just curious. You know what I’m like.”
“Don’t start playing games, okay?” Roberto’s voice was quiet.
“I’m not.” Casey placed the cold pack on her bump. “You came up to me, remember?”
“Maybe that was a mistake.” He started to leave, but stopped. “If you want to play detective, then check out Eisler’s alibi. Remember when I got back from the root canal that morning and you wouldn’t tell me what was going on?”
“Yeah.” She still felt bad about that.
“Well, I saw him barrelling into this lot just after you took off, acting all nervous and scoping the place out like he was worried about being seen. He sure didn’t look happy when he saw me watching him.” Roberto tossed his apple on the ground. “Makes you wonder, don’t it?”