Read Online Last Whisper by Carlene Thompson - Free Book Online Page A

there?”
    Brooke and Stacy let out pent-up breath. “Harry Dormer,” Stacy said to Vincent. “He’s the combination building superintendent and handyman.”
    She opened the door and Harry strode in, bright yellow polo shirt stretched tightly across his fifty-inch gut, which hung over the waistband of baggy jeans. He wore filthy running shoes, a baseball cap atop gray-brown hair, and some kind of locket on a silver chain. Vincent peered closer. The locket was clear plastic and contained a gigantic black widow spider, hopefully fake. A guy had to be confident to wear that kind of jewelry, Vincent thought, trying not to grin.
    “Mrs. Kelso saw you folks comin’ in the lobby and said Brooke, Miss Yeager, looked kinda shook up and—” Harry’s small, pale blue eyes widened. “Holy shit, Brooke, is that
blood
all over your suit?”
    “Subtle, Harry,” Stacy said.
    “Well, jeez, she looks like she got beat half to death, except her face isn’t hurt. Pretty as ever. That’s a relief.”
    “Better for her to have a broken back than a cut on her pretty face, right, Harry?” Stacy asked acidly.
    Harry feigned amazement. “She has a broken back?”
    “I was in an accident,” Brooke interrupted so smoothly that Vincent was slightly astonished. She sounded completely composed, almost casual. “This isn’t my blood. It’s someone else’s, but I’d rather not discuss the details right now.”
    “Did somebody get killed?” Harry asked avidly.
    “Watch the news tonight,” Stacy quickly intervened.
    “So somebody
did
get killed! Well, gosh, that’s awful.” Harry looked excited, not the least bit concerned. “I just wanted to make sure you’re all right.”
    “I appreciate that,” Brooke said evenly. “I’m fine. But I’ll be spending the night somewhere else, and I need to get a few things together.” She gave him a slightly lopsided smile. “I hope you’ll excuse me . . .”—Vincent could see the search for a name behind her eyes—“. . . Mr. Dormer,” she finally managed, “but I’m in a hurry.”
    “Mr. Dormer!” Harry boomed. “Since when do you call me Mr. Dormer? I can take a hint, but—”
    Stacy put a slim, strong hand on his shoulder. “One question before you leave. Was Robert here a while ago? Robert Eads?”
    “Brooke’s guy that can’t take the brush-off? Not that I saw, but I don’t stand around the lobby all day,” Harry said virtuously. “I have
lots
of work to do.”
    “I know, and you do it very well,” Stacy returned. Everyone in the room except Harry could see that she was just playing up to him for information. “Please think, Harry. This is important. Did you see anyone unusual? Not a tenant? A man who came up here?”
    “No. Why?”
    “It’s not important.”
    “Then why do you keep asking me about it?” Harry peered around the room as if he expected someone to jumpout from behind a drape. “You saying someone’s been up here that shouldn’t be?”
    “We don’t know. Thanks for the information,” Stacy said quickly, and pushed him into the hall. “Good night, Harry. See you tomorrow.” She closed the door behind him.
    “I didn’t know who he was at first,” Brooke said desolately.
    “It would have been better if he could have stayed a blank spot permanently,” Stacy said dryly, then looked at Vincent. “Harry probably saw more than he’s saying. He’s acting like the overworked superintendent who never hangs around the lobby gossiping or just looking over all the guests and visitors. But Jay is the policeman, the one who needs to be asking Harry these questions, not me. He’s intimidated by Jay. Harry doesn’t act like a smart aleck with him.”
    Stacy continued talking to Vincent as if they were old friends, gossiping. “Harry is just sickening. He looks at every woman under fifty like he can see right through her clothes. He’s especially bad about eyeing Brooke and me from head to toe, even when his wife is around. Besides, I think