Read Online 03 Murder by Mishap by Suzanne Young - Free Book Online
Authors: Suzanne Young
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that. Being the detective that I am,” at this, he grinned, his hazel eyes twinkling, “I looked up recent sales in town. Surprised the heck out of me when I learned the only home bought by a woman was right across the street from you. I checked with Allen Gammons at the realty company that handled the sale. He told me the place sold to a Joanna Cravendorf , but he never met the woman. Apparently, she’s elderly, lives in Florida. Gammons said the closing was handled by her lawyer.”
Edna shook her head, furrowing her brow. “When my neighbor came by last night, she introduced herself as Jaycee Watkins and she’s definitely not elderly. I’d say she’s in her early thirties, certainly no older. Are you certain about the information you got from Mr. Gammons?” Edna remembered how her visitor had pronounced the name ‘ JAYcee ’ with the emphasis on Jay. “Could she be Joanna Cravendorf and her name is simply a fusion of her initials? Maybe Watkins is a married name.”
Charlie raked both hands through his thick brown hair. It didn’t look very different from when he’d arrived on her doorstep, and Edna wondered, amused, if this were how he normally combed his hair.
“Dietz was in a hurry when he called. Said he didn’t have time to answer questions, but he’d explain when he could.” Charlie stood and began to pace the length of the kitchen, as if motion helped him to think. Settling back in her chair, she watched him and waited.
“About all he said was that a friend had recently moved to this area and would I keep an eye on her. Nothing official, nothing obvious. He said he didn’t want to draw attention to her, but said he gave her my cell number, just in case she needed to get in touch with someone locally. That was all. Said he had to go, he’d call me and explain later, and he hung up.”
“Why not go across the street, knock on her door and introduce yourself? You could ask her how she knows your friend Dietz.”
“That certainly would be the easy way.” Charlie smiled at her before continuing, “But my gut feeling is to find out more about her before I do that.”
She nodded, realizing she had the same instinct when it came to revealing the envelope to him, first find out more about Jaycee. “Do you think Jaycee Watkins is the one you’re looking for? Maybe she isn’t if the homeowner is an elderly woman.”
“From your description, I’d say she’s the one.”
“Does Dietz have a photo of her he can send? That would be the best way to make certain you have the right person. Even if you were to meet her face-to-face, without a picture you can’t be sure.”
Charlie paused in his pacing to study her as he thought about it. “He didn’t mention a picture, and I didn’t have time to ask.”
“I might be able to sketch a fairly accurate portrait from memory. You could send it to him to verify she’s the one he’s asking about.”
Charlie’s face brightened. “Good idea. That’ll help.”
“I don’t have time this morning. Maybe this afternoon. In the meantime, if we assume the woman across the street is the person he’s looking for, why does he want you to watch her?”
“Not ‘watch her’ so much as ‘keep an eye out for her.’ You know, to make sure she’s all right. He said it was nothing official, just a personal favor.”
“But he didn’t tell you why ?”
“No. He was in a hurry. Said he couldn’t talk, but would call later.”
“Could she be an old girlfriend of his? What if this is some sort of long-distance stalking he’s having you do?”
“Nah.” Charlie snorted a laugh. “Dietz is happily married with two kids and another on the way. I think, even if he wanted to, he doesn’t have time to cheat on his wife.”
“Fair enough. So, what do you want me to do?”
“Since you live so close, I thought maybe you could get to know her and be my eyes and ears until I find out a little more about her and the woman who bought the
Edna shook her head, furrowing her brow. “When my neighbor came by last night, she introduced herself as Jaycee Watkins and she’s definitely not elderly. I’d say she’s in her early thirties, certainly no older. Are you certain about the information you got from Mr. Gammons?” Edna remembered how her visitor had pronounced the name ‘ JAYcee ’ with the emphasis on Jay. “Could she be Joanna Cravendorf and her name is simply a fusion of her initials? Maybe Watkins is a married name.”
Charlie raked both hands through his thick brown hair. It didn’t look very different from when he’d arrived on her doorstep, and Edna wondered, amused, if this were how he normally combed his hair.
“Dietz was in a hurry when he called. Said he didn’t have time to answer questions, but he’d explain when he could.” Charlie stood and began to pace the length of the kitchen, as if motion helped him to think. Settling back in her chair, she watched him and waited.
“About all he said was that a friend had recently moved to this area and would I keep an eye on her. Nothing official, nothing obvious. He said he didn’t want to draw attention to her, but said he gave her my cell number, just in case she needed to get in touch with someone locally. That was all. Said he had to go, he’d call me and explain later, and he hung up.”
“Why not go across the street, knock on her door and introduce yourself? You could ask her how she knows your friend Dietz.”
“That certainly would be the easy way.” Charlie smiled at her before continuing, “But my gut feeling is to find out more about her before I do that.”
She nodded, realizing she had the same instinct when it came to revealing the envelope to him, first find out more about Jaycee. “Do you think Jaycee Watkins is the one you’re looking for? Maybe she isn’t if the homeowner is an elderly woman.”
“From your description, I’d say she’s the one.”
“Does Dietz have a photo of her he can send? That would be the best way to make certain you have the right person. Even if you were to meet her face-to-face, without a picture you can’t be sure.”
Charlie paused in his pacing to study her as he thought about it. “He didn’t mention a picture, and I didn’t have time to ask.”
“I might be able to sketch a fairly accurate portrait from memory. You could send it to him to verify she’s the one he’s asking about.”
Charlie’s face brightened. “Good idea. That’ll help.”
“I don’t have time this morning. Maybe this afternoon. In the meantime, if we assume the woman across the street is the person he’s looking for, why does he want you to watch her?”
“Not ‘watch her’ so much as ‘keep an eye out for her.’ You know, to make sure she’s all right. He said it was nothing official, just a personal favor.”
“But he didn’t tell you why ?”
“No. He was in a hurry. Said he couldn’t talk, but would call later.”
“Could she be an old girlfriend of his? What if this is some sort of long-distance stalking he’s having you do?”
“Nah.” Charlie snorted a laugh. “Dietz is happily married with two kids and another on the way. I think, even if he wanted to, he doesn’t have time to cheat on his wife.”
“Fair enough. So, what do you want me to do?”
“Since you live so close, I thought maybe you could get to know her and be my eyes and ears until I find out a little more about her and the woman who bought the
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