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

Mikey relaxed back in her chair and pulled out her phone. “No. I’ll find my way back. You head out to Serita’s. I’ll call Trick and maybe get another ice cream cone.”

“Another?”

“What? I’m hungry.”

Mason shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’ll call you when I’m done.”

Mikey tapped at the table. “What if I call Shay? See if I can get her to fold like a napkin?”

Mason pointed. “Mikey─”

“Okay. Okay. Just thought I’d ask.”

“You behave, and maybe when I get back, I’ll let you kick down Michelle’s door.”

Mikey’s eyes lighted up. “Seriously?”

“Of course not.”

Mikey made a face at him, and Mason headed out.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Rem sat at his desk with a pencil in his mouth and typed. Across from him, Daniels shuffled through some papers and cursed.

“What are you looking for?” asked Rem, after removing the pencil.

“That receipt for our lunch the other day when we interviewed that guy who thought he saw a body in the river.”

“Oh, yeah. That place served a good hot dog.” He stopped typing. “Did you take it out of your wallet?”

“Yes. It was right here. I just had it.” He checked the papers again.

“Check the desk drawer?”

Daniels offered him an exasperated look. “Yes.”

“The floor? Did it fall off?”

Daniels leaned and looked. “It’s not there.” He sat up. “Did you take it?”

“Yes,” said Rem. “I’m hiding it. I secretly hide receipts to drive you nuts. Having fun yet?”

Daniels did another check of the pile. “Maybe you’re embarrassed because you ate three hot dogs that day, and they’ll probably only approve two.”

“I was hungry. Besides, that guy wouldn’t stop talking. I needed a distraction.”

“No. You just wanted me to talk to him. Not you.”

“You take better notes than me.”

“What notes? His floating woman was a mannequin that had fallen into the water after some photo shoot up river.”

“Good thing we saw the photographer desperately trying to save it. He almost fell in himself.” He patted his stomach. “Those three hot dogs helped me save a life.”

Daniels rolled his eyes. “You pulled a plastic woman out of the water, lectured the photographer on not polluting, and then told him where he could get a new pair of shoes on sale since the ones he wore were drenched.”

“That new discount store has some great deals. You should check it out.”

“Yeah, well. When I’m looking for fake designer shoes, it’ll be my first stop.”

Rem threw out a leg. “Check it out. I got these last month for thirty bucks.” He bounced a sneakered foot.

“There’s already a hole in the toe.”

“That’s why I bought three pairs.”

Daniels narrowed his eyes and stared at Rem.

The squad door opened and Rem looked over to see Bevins and Winkler walk in. He put his foot down and returned to typing. “I think we have some company.”

Daniels swiveled as Bevins and Winkler approached their desks.

“Remalla. Daniels,” said Winkler.

“Winkler,” said Daniels. “Bevins. How are you two today?”

“Going through receipts?” asked Bevins, eyeing Daniels’ desk. “Pain in the ass, isn’t it?”

“You should take a picture, then toss the receipt,” said Winkler. “Works better than the paper system.”

Daniels straightened a pile. “Thanks for the tip. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Rem paused his typing. “You guys need something or is this a social visit?”

Winkler made eye contact with Bevins. “We’re looking for Mason Redstone and his partner, Trick Monroe. You two know where we might find them?” asked Winkler.

Rem tapped at his watch. “I suppose I could check my Redstone locater. I told him to wear it at all times.”

“He did take it off that one time, though,” said Daniels, leaning back.

“Darn it, that’s right,” said Rem. He shrugged. “You may be out of luck.”

Bevins raised the side of his lip. “Funny.”

“Have you tried calling?” asked Daniels.

“We’d rather talk in person,” said Winkler.

Rem didn’t like the looks on their faces. “Any reason why?”

Winkler looked between Rem and Daniels. “We just came from talking to a co-worker of Cissy Howard’s. Claims she saw Trick Monroe and Cissy making out after Chad’s funeral.”

Bevins hitched up his pants. “Doesn’t sound like a grieving widow to me. He smiled. “Nor a grieving friend.”

Daniels sat forward and eyed Rem across the desk.

“We’d love to hear Mr. Monroe’s explanation for this little tryst, but we need to find him,” said Winkler. “We went to Redstone’s place of business and his home, but no luck.”

“You talk to Cissy, yet?” asked Daniels.

“We’re going to this afternoon,” said Bevins. “I can’t wait to hear what she has to say.” He chuckled. “That hole we’re digging for her just got a little deeper. But now, maybe she won’t be in it alone.”

“We have a patrol watching Cissy’s place in case Trick shows.” Winkler leaned over and put a hand on Daniels’ desk. “Something tells me Monroe will find a way to weasel out of this, so the sooner we can find him, the better. You two know Redstone, and Redstone can lead us to Monroe, so if you know something, say something.”

Rem thought back on their dinner at Mason’s, and seeing Trick storm out of Mason’s house. “I have no idea where either of them is.”

“Me, either,” said Daniels. “We haven’t talked to them today, but if we hear from them, we’ll contact you.”

Winkler nodded her head. “Good. Thanks.” She tapped at the desk. “Maybe you could arrange a meeting with Redstone and Monroe, and we can join you. It can be a nice surprise.”

“I love surprises,” said Bevins.

Rem took a breath. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“While you’re at it,” said Winkler. “Think about who may have been impersonating me.”

“Impersonating you?” asked Daniels, raising a brow.

“Carla,” said Winkler, “Cissy’s co-worker, said she’d already talked to me yesterday, and that I’d agreed to take care of an unpaid parking ticket.”

“Our impersonator is petite, with brown hair and pink highlights, wearing all black, and has a nose piercing. She should be easy to find.” said Bevins. “Ring any bells?”

Rem slapped a flat look on his face. “No clue.”

Daniels scratched his jaw. “A piercing, huh?”

“Can you believe that?” asked Bevins. “Carla told this imposter