Page 92 of Her Last Walk Home

‘Dumped whatever looked like crap. I must have packed the rest into her suitcase and stored it in lost and found.’

‘Where is this lost and found?’

‘A room behind my office. It’s cleared out annually.’

‘Are her belongings still there?’

‘Should be.’

‘I need to see them.’

‘And I need to get home for my dinner. I can’t afford a divorce and I’m bloody starving. Come back tomorrow.’

‘Please, Nick. I believe Aneta was murdered. It’s imperative that I get access to anything belonging to her right this minute.’

‘Murdered? Holy God. What is this town coming to at all?’ He glanced at his car, apparently debating which was the easier option. An irate detective or an angry wife. With Lottie standing in front of him scowling, he made the right choice.

‘Come on then, but you can talk to the wife and tell her why I’m going to be late.’

The caretaker opened the office and walked to a door located behind a steel-legged desk. No computer, only an old-fashioned ledger. He searched for a key on a clanging bunch he’d taken from his pocket. The light came on automatically when the door opened.

‘Should be in here someplace,’ he muttered.

She was astounded at the array of belongings stacked to the ceiling. ‘I thought you said you cleared out the room annually?’

‘I do. This lot accumulated over the last twelve months. Some people won’t pay for removers, recycling or refuse. They leave behind what they don’t want to bring with them. Pain in the hole for me, excuse the expression.’ He made his way through the narrow space, checking the boxes on either side.

‘Aha, here we are. One suitcase belonging to Miss Kobza.’

Lottie was amazed he’d found it so quickly. ‘You said you dumped other things she left behind. Would you have a record of what that consisted of?’

‘No way. Sure haven’t I enough to be doing. It wouldn’t have been much anyway – probably tatty ornaments. As far as I know she arrived with only this suitcase.’

‘Okay. I’ll need to take it with me.’

‘Be my guest.’

The case was made of red material, with wheels. Good. As she went to drag it, she realised it was missing one wheel. Shit.

‘Hold your horses,’ Nick said. ‘This box seems to be hers too.’

The cardboard box showed signs of nibbles, and Lottie shivered. Her phobia of those four-legged creatures caused the hairs to shoot up on the back of her neck. ‘Would you mind carrying it out to my car?’

‘You’ll be wanting to come home with me and eat my dinner next,’ he said with a grin. But he took the box and followed her out. She wouldn’t mind some of his dinner, come to think of it.

After they’d loaded the case and box into the boot, she shook hands with Nick. ‘Thank you for your help.’

‘No bother at all. Glad to help the force.’

‘Why didn’t you report Aneta missing?’

‘Inspector, people do a runner all the time. You’d be mired in paperwork if I was to report all the goings-on here.’

‘What was she like?’

‘Haven’t much memory of her. Saw her the day she arrived. Handed her the keys and Bob’s your uncle – not that I know if you have an Uncle Bob or not. She didn’t come to my attention at all.’

‘If you think of anything, call me.’ She handed him her card.

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