Lost Souls by J. Bishop (the giving tree read aloud txt) 📗

as someone who would do that.” She waved her hands. “I mean, come on. It’s crazy. Course, I once pulled a knife on Dickless, but unfortunately he’s still alive.” She chewed a nail.

“Right,” said Mikey, disappointed that this interview was going nowhere. “Did she ever say anything to you about Chad cheating on her?”

“Chad? Cheating?” She snorted. “Figures. Just like Dickless.” She messed with her spiky pink hair. “I guess they’re all alike.” She pointed at Mikey. “I like your pink highlights, and your piercing. I didn’t think cops could do that.”

Mikey touched the post in her left nostril. “Yeah, well. Regulations have been relaxed recently.”

“That’s cool. I wish I had the guts to do my nose. I’m a wimp though, when it comes to pain.”

Mikey tapped the pencil on her paper. “Yeah.” She tried to think of anything else to ask. “So, nothing about Cissy made you think she’d hurt Chad or could have something to do with his death?”

She leaned back against the counter, looking more relaxed. “I like Cissy. She was always nice to me. I guess she was the same with others, too. But if he cheated on her, then who knows?” She scraped her foot over the carpet. “Sometimes, we can do stupid things.”

Something about her tone caught Mikey’s attention. “I know. I’ve been there. I’ve had a few dickless men in my life.” She straightened, thinking back. “And I’ve done a few stupid things.”

“Yeah,” said Carla, still looking down.

Mikey spoke softly. “Did Cissy do anything stupid? I mean, outside of maybe killing Chad?”

Carla went back to nibbling her lip.

“Carla?”

Carla looked up. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

Mikey’s heart picked up its pace. “What?” Carla hesitated and Mikey had a thought and took a chance. “How about I take care of that parking ticket for you?”

Carla sucked in a breath. “You serious?”

“You bet.” Mikey asked for forgiveness in her head. “It never existed.”

“Okay. Well…” Carla sighed and fiddled with her fingers. “I can’t be sure about what I saw, I mean, it was from a distance.”

Mikey gripped her pencil. “What did you see?”

Carla pursed her lips. “At the reception, I snuck out, you know, to get a smoke. I’m tryin to quit, but it’s hard.”

“I’m sure.”

“I stepped out into some trees, trying not to be too close. Everyone gets so pissy nowadays if they smell cigarette smoke. People are uptight.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I was smoking, and I heard talking. It was distant, but I walked deeper into the woods, and I saw Cissy.”

Mikey held her breath. “Wasn’t she at the reception?”

“I guess she snuck out for a minute. There was a storage shed or something, and she was behind it. She was talking to some guy.”

“Guy? What guy?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t recognize him. And I only looked for a second, because it seemed private.”

“Were they just talking?”

“Yes, but…” Carla groaned. “I finished my cigarette, and was about to leave, and then I peeked one more time, and…and…they were kissing.”

Mikey almost dropped her notebook. “Kissing? Like on the cheek?”

Carla shook her head. “No, Detective.” Her eyes told Mikey it was much more.

“What’d he look like?” Mikey’s fingers trembled as she held the pencil.

“I don’t know. It was so fast, and then I freaked out, and left.” She hugged herself. “It was just a glance.”

“Tall? Short? Fat? Thin?” asked Mikey.

“Tall, and slim with brown hair. Handsome.”

“Would you know him if you saw him again?”

“Probably not. Like I said. It was from a distance. If he was wearin’ that cowboy hat, though, then maybe.”

Mikey froze. “Excuse me?”

“That I remember.” Carla pointed at her head. “He was wearing a cowboy hat. You know, like those rodeo guys from Texas.”

Chapter Sixteen

Mason sat at the bar and nursed his second drink. After a completely worthless day, he debated ordering a third, but knew he had to get home. Trick would be making tacos, and Mikey, Daniels and Remalla would be arriving soon.

He reviewed their pointless afternoon again in his head. After the ugly meeting with Bevins and Winkler, they’d returned to their car and argued–Mason about Trick not telling him about his past and getting kicked off the force, and Trick about how Mason played too nice with Bevins and Winkler.

They stopped only because Trick’s phone had rung, and he’d answered. It had been Monica, and Trick had stepped out of the car, leaving Mason to ponder whether or not he should drive off.

A few minutes later, Trick had returned with a grin, saying Monica had called to let them know that she’d talked to Kyle and he’d be working late that day, but he’d be happy to talk to him and Mason in the morning, and she’d asked Trick to have a drink with her after she got off work.

Feeling a headache coming on, Mason recalled the conversation.

“Drinks?” he’d asked. “You’re supposed to be making dinner tonight.”

“I told her that,” said Trick. “I won’t stay long, but it’s worth it to talk to her about Kyle, don’t you think? Would you rather I wait, and drag this case out longer?”

Mason had to agree. “Just be back in time for our guests. You embarrass me again, and I’ll put ketchup in your tacos.”

“I’ll be back in plenty of time. Why don’t you go get a drink yourself, and then meet me back at the house? You look like you could use it.”

“You want another drink?”

Mason startled and jumped to the present, seeing Charlie behind the bar. He held up a hand. “No, thanks. I can’t stay much longer. Got to be somewhere.”

Charlie nodded. “This is your second time in this week. Must be a helluva week.”

“You could say that,” said Mason, with a huff. “Could I get some water?”

“Sure thing,” said Charlie. He stepped away and grabbed a glass.

Mason checked the time, reached for his wallet, and felt a hand on his shoulder. A woman spoke in his ear. “You mind if I sit?”

Mason turned and stilled. It was the beautiful woman with the bronze skin from