In perfect timing, a siren whined in the distance. The man flinched. It might be the ambulance, but the man didn’t know that.
A few moments passed, no words spoken, the man reached for the door handle, opened the door, and stepped out as Jake jumped from the back of the truck.
“You’re under arrest,” Jake said. “Put your hands behind your back.”
The man dropped his head and did as he was told.
Jake held the man’s wrists together, gripped in one large fist, and marched him to the rear of the building.
Shaft was sitting up, leaning against his vehicle, a hand holding his ribs.
Jake turned his head as the ambulance pulled up, a police car not far behind.
Shaft looked up at Jake. “Thanks,” he said grudgingly. “You might’ve saved my life.”
Chapter 38
Thursday, 11:44 a.m.
ANNIE GLANCED at her watch. She had an appointment with Sharon Stipple at noon and didn’t want to be late. Sharon was a cashier at Mortino’s, and Annie knew the manager of the large foodmart was a stickler when it came to employees taking extended breaks.
She selected a leather satchel from a shelf behind the desk, slipped in the folder she would need, and snapped it closed. She hung it on her shoulder, and on her way through to the front door, grabbed her keys along with a small handbag from the kitchen counter.
On the phone, Sharon Stipple had seemed like a nice person, loved to talk, and though Annie had a few questions lined up, she planned to see where the conversation led and follow it.
When she pulled into Mortino’s, the large plaza was as busy as usual, but she managed to get a spot close by the doors. She got out of the car and looked at her watch. It was 12:04. Sharon would be on her lunch break now.
She opened the front door of the foodmart and headed toward the back of the store. She knew where the break room was. She shopped here often, and when she spied the manager coming toward her from the far end of the aisle, she paused and smiled.
“Good afternoon, Mr. MacKay.”
Somewhat bow-legged with a slight limp, he favored his right leg as he walked toward her and stopped. “Afternoon Annie,” he said. He pushed his butcher cap back and rubbed his prematurely bald head. “How’s Jake?”
“Jake is well.” She paused. “I’m here to talk to Sharon Stipple for a few minutes.” She smiled again. “She should be on break now. I hope you don’t mind?”
MacKay glanced toward the rear of the store, then back at Annie, a barely perceptible frown on his forehead. “I guess a few minutes won’t hurt.”
“Thanks. I won’t be long.”
“Okay, take care,” MacKay said, and waddled off.
Annie went to the rear of the store and stopped at an “Employees Only” sign taped securely to a swinging metal door. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Three people sat at a long table near the side wall. They leaned back, munching their meal, their eyes glued to a television hung in the corner. One was a young man, two were women. One of the women, a pleasantly plump young girl, waved a hand and sported an attractive smile. That must be Sharon Stipple.
“Sharon?” Annie asked, as she approached her. The girl nodded, the smile remaining, and motioned toward the vacant end of the table.
Annie shook her hand, moved down the table, and introduced herself as they sat. Sharon laid her lunch on the table and ate while they chatted about the weather, Sharon’s job, and the high price of groceries. The girl certainly loved to talk.
Finally, Annie moved the conversation toward the reason for her visit. “Sharon, I’d like to ask you about the Nortons. As you probably know, Michael Norton was found murdered yesterday and I’m investigating his death.” She paused. “How well do you know them?”
The smile on the girl’s pudgy face drooped. “So sad to hear about Mr. Norton. I’ve known him for a few years. They’ve lived there as long as I can remember. I didn’t know him real well. We said hello sometimes, maybe chatted a bit, but he always seemed like a great guy.”
“And Mrs. Norton?” Annie asked.
Sharon’s eyes narrowed in thought. “Don’t know her very well. I’ve seen her out the back, gardening, cleaning up, but we never really talked. Seems to keep to herself most of the time.”
“Did you ever notice them together? How did they get along?”
Sharon shrugged. “I never noticed anything unusual.”
“Never heard them argue?”
“No,” Sharon said. She cupped her hands in her lap and cocked her head. “I talked to the police about this already. They asked me the same question, but as far as I know, they got along okay.” She shrugged. “I’ve never been inside their house, so I have no real idea about their relationship.”
“I realize the police have talked to you,” Annie said with a smile. “But if you don’t mind, I prefer to go over it again.”
Sharon smiled wide. “I don’t mind. If you can find out who killed him, I’ll do whatever I can.” Her smile disappeared. “It’s a real shame.”
“Thanks, Sharon. I’m sure you realize how important this is.”
“Absolutely.”
Annie took a deep breath. “Michael Norton was last seen by his wife on Monday morning,” she said. “Can you remember when you saw him last?”
Sharon thought a moment, her green eyes far away. Finally, “I think it was Sunday afternoon. He was mowing the front lawn. I was on my way to work.”
“Did you talk to him?”
She shook her head. “Just waved. He waved back and that was it.”
“And you haven’t seen him since then?” Annie asked.
“No. That was the last time, as far as I can remember. I know I didn’t see him after work that day.”
Annie opened the satchel, removed a file folder, and laid it on the table top. She slipped out a photo and turned it around for Sharon to see. It was a red Ford pickup, the same as the truck Rocky Shaft drove.
“Have you ever seen a vehicle like this in their driveway?”
Sharon looked at the picture and shook her head dubiously. “I can’t be sure. It doesn’t look familiar.”
Annie removed another photo. It was of Rocky Shaft. She held it up. “Have you ever seen this man at their house?”
Sharon leaned in and squinted. “I don’t think so.” She looked at Annie and giggled. “I don’t usually pay a lot of attention, but sometimes they have guests over for a barbecue in the back yard.” She looked at the photo again. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen him, though.”
Annie put the photo back in the folder and slipped out a shot of Werner Shaft. “What about him?”
Sharon’s eyes brightened. “I recognize him. He’s been there before.”
“Can you remember the last time you saw him?”
“Not sure. Maybe a couple of weeks ago. He was in the back yard having a beer with Mr. Norton and one other man.”
“Was Mrs. Norton there?”
“No. Just the three guys.” She paused and pointed at the photo. “Who’s he? Is he important?”
“He’s Werner Shaft. The man who was murdered Monday evening. Did you hear about that?”
Sharon caught her breath. “Oh. I heard about that. Did they find out who did it yet?”
“Not yet,” Annie said. “The police are still investigating and so are we.”
“So that’s what this is all about,” Sharon said.
Annie nodded, and then asked, “The other man in the back yard that day—do you know who he was?”
Sharon pursed her lips, shook her head, and spoke slowly. “No. That might be the only time I saw him there.” She tilted her head slightly. “I hope you don’t think I’m a nosy neighbor. I’m really not, but sometimes it’s easy to notice little things like that.”