Page 78 of Sleigh My Heart

“Well, don’t keep me hanging.” He jumped from the chair and slid into the seat beside her.

“There. See anyone you know?” She pointed to the list of names under Evan Towers’ right-hand person.

Nick’s eyes widened. “Well, I’ll be damned. She’s a better actress than I thought.”

Chapter 20

The coffee shop had been open for five minutes. Michelle and Nick leaned against the wall in the cold, waiting. After they realized how the players connected, Nick lined up a babysitter, and Michelle called Jim.

It didn’t take long before Margarita Smith sauntered out of the cafe with her tall, caffeinated beverage. Michelle pushed off the wall and Nick followed.

Margarita froze. The grip on her coffee tightened. “What happened? Cliff?”

“He’s in the hospital,” Michelle said.

“You said he was coming home yesterday.”

“Things change. You didn’t know he was still there?”

“I had a late shift at the club. I expected him to be there when I got home.”

“Your place, not his?” Nick shoved his hands in his pockets while he waited for her reply.

“Well, technically he didn’t live with me, but he’d been staying there for a while. I just assumed…”

“So, you expected him to be at your apartment, but when he didn’t show up, you didn’t check on him?”

“Hey. I’m a busy woman, and the man blew me off for a week before he was shot. I’m not going to chase him.” She started toward her store. The light dusting of fresh snow muffled the clip of her heels.

Nick and Michelle flanked her.

“You didn’t go by his place?” Michelle found it hard to believe she didn’t know about the explosion.

“No. Like I said, I was working. What’s with all the questions?”

Nick’s expression darkened. “When was the last time you spoke to Junior Silver?”

Margarita frowned. “I don’t know. It’s not like we’re friends. Why?”

“He’s dead.”

She faltered. “Dead? How?”

“I think you know.” Michelle halted her. The woman’s eyes were wide, her jaw slack, but something about her didn’t seem sincere. “I think you should come down to the station with me.”

“Wait. I didn’t… Junior is dead?” Her legs trembled. Michelle didn’t know if it was from the cold or the fact the wrong man was dead.

“Who did you tell that Garmen was going home from the hospital yesterday?”

“I, uh, I didn’t say anything. I gotta get to work.” She stumbled forward, making her way toward the store.

“Nick can call your manager. I think you should come down to the station. We have some more questions.” As they rounded the corner, Officer Jenkins and her brother, Jim, stood outside the glass door to the store. Thank sweet baby Jesus. Michelle didn’t think Margarita would run in those heels, but Michelle didn’t feel like a morning jog.

Michelle said to Jim as she watched Jenkins escort Smith to the patrol vehicle. “You must have found something?”

“Yeah. Thanks for the tip. The judge approved a phone records search warrant about an hour ago. Luckily, he’s an early riser.” Jim pulled his collar up as he continued, “She sent a text to her aunt about Cliff getting out of the hospital and his address. I found a call from Cliff to her minutes before he was shot on his phone.”

“That makes sense. He was talking on the phone when he entered the bar.”