Read Online BLACK in the Box by Russell Blake - Free Book Online

“Everyone should be here in another fifteen minutes or so.”
    Black nodded appreciatively at the Rolex. “I really have to get one of those. How much did it cost?”
    “Few hundred bucks. I don’t remember. It was a while ago.”
    “Yeah? Where did you pick it up?”
    “From a guy I know.”
    Black switched back to business and took him through a series of softball questions before returning to the murder and the security monitors. “Did the cops go through the footage last night?”
    “Of course. I burned them a DVD. Not much on it, with the store closed.”
    “Does everyone know where the cameras are mounted?”
    “Beats me. But I’d think so. I mean, it’s not like they’re super stealth or anything. They’re out in the open, mounted to the beams.”
    “But nothing that catches the entrance to the front office?”
    “Nope. No reason to, like I said.”
    “Then whoever killed Alec would have known how to avoid the cameras.”
    “Obviously, since there’s nobody on the tape carrying an axe.”
    “Back to Alec. Was he especially friendly with anyone here?”
    “He mainly kept to his little hole. And of course, I mean, I’m sure Mary told you he was dating Nancy, right?”
    Black didn’t blink. “She mentioned it.”
    “Other than that, he just did his job and kept his head down.”
    “Did he have much interaction with Bethany?”
    “Not really. I mean, I’m not that involved with the day-to-day, you know? We’re all just serving our time here.”
    “You mentioned Nancy. What can you tell me about her?”
    “Not a ton. She’s nice, polite, local chick. Pretty vanilla. So’s Bethany, for that matter.”
    “Did she meet Alec here?”
    “Who – Nancy or Bethany?”
    “Nancy.”
    “Nah. They’d been going out for a while. I think she was the one that got him the gig.”
    “What about Bethany? How well did he know her?”
    “Like I said. As far as I could tell, just work-related.”
    “Anybody here you can think of who’d have a reason to bury an axe in Alec’s back?” Black asked casually, as if he were asking Henry’s favorite color.
    “Not really. That’s why this is a mystery, right? I told the cops the same thing.”
    “Right.” Motion caught Black’s eye on one of the monitors. Two women were strolling past a cash register. “Looks like they’re arriving.”
    “Yeah. That’s Paulina and Tanika. Always early. Not like Bethany…”
    “Oh, she’s usually late?”
    Henry rewarded Black with another shrug. “None of my business.”
    “I gather there are time cards?”
    “Yeah. Cops took ’em. But everyone was already here, if that’s your question.”
    “That was it.” A thought occurred to Black. “Is Alec’s car still in the lot?”
    Henry glanced at the darkened monitor. “I suppose so. I mean, unless Nancy picked it up or something.”
    Black shook his head as he stood. “That’s pretty messed up, Nancy having to find Bethany and Alec, huh? Can you imagine?”
    “Not really. But yeah, it’s hella messed up. Bethany took tonight off. I’m surprised Nancy showed.”
    “People react differently.” Black sighed. “Any chance you can point me to Alec’s car?”
    “I’m not supposed to leave my station.”
    “I think you can make an exception.”
    “It’s a piece of crap red Hyundai. Shouldn’t be that hard to find.”
    Black nodded. “I’ll circle back around if I have any more questions.”
    “Fair enough.”
    Black retraced his steps to Mary’s area, where most of the staff was now gathered. Tanika and Paulina appeared a few seconds later, making the group complete. Matt Dresslin, the other supervisor, stood beside Mary expectantly.
    Mary cleared her throat, obviously uncomfortable speaking to an assembly, and gestured toward Black.
    “Everyone? This is Mr. Black. He’s working for Mr. Jacobs. He’ll be here for a little while tonight, asking questions. You’re to cooperate fully with him. He’s a private investigator.”
    A tall