Page 39 of In the Line of Ire

"Thanks," I said. "I'll pick up a card and come back. Arethey local?"

"Herparents lived in West Montgomery but she didn't live withthem."

"Did shelive nearby?"

"In EastHarbridge. Wait, you were friends with her?"

"I knewher but not very well," I said, sensing my time was up. If theyasked any more pressing questions about my relationship with theircolleague, I would be stumped since I didn't know anything abouther. "I'll come back later with the card. I'm so sorry for yourloss."

Ihurried away, reviewing in my mind what I heard. Far too many womenwere murdered after leaving their partners but it seemed strangethat an ex-boyfriend would allow himself to be witnessed at herworkplace only to return later. If he wanted to get away with it,why let people to know he came there at all? If he didn't care whathappened to him, why not kill her right in front of multiplewitnesses? It didn't make any sense. Why would he sneak back tokill her later? And furthermore, why would he lock the store behindhim? The actions of the murderer seemed too methodical somehow, notlike someone who killed in a moment of passion. The counterfeitpurses were being sold from the store where I found her with onelodged over her head. That didn't fit in with her colleague'stheory of it being an intimate partner murder. The two theoriescollided but failed to fit.

"I hopeyou got all that," I told my concealed mic as I headed for thedepartment store. "We need to look into the ex-boyfriend but Ithink it's another dead end. That's not a pun. Or is it? It wasuninte-"

"Hi,Lexi," said Oliver as I entered the department store's employeedoor. I was preparing to stash my bag in the employee breakroom. Hefrowned at me. "Are you talking to yourself?"

"Peptalk. Psyching myself up for the day," I said quickly beforefist-pumping the air. "Go team!"

Olivercopied the fist-pump, adding, "Yeah!"

Igrinned at him as I hurried up the stairs to the breakroom. I’dhave to make up something if anyone asked what I could possibly bepsyched for because it sure as hell wasn't another day of dusting.Maddox was in the breakroom when I got there, sitting at the tabledrinking coffee from a chipped white mug bearing Page's logo. Iwaited as Curtis stashed his jacket in a locker and hurried out,with a wave to me.

"Goodmorning," said Maddox.

"Hello."I found an empty locker and shoved my bag inside. "Did you knowAlison Shore had just broken up with her boyfriend and he wanted toget back together?"

"Who'sAlison Shore?"

"Thewoman who was killed at Heavenly Handbags."

"Ahh.I'm pretty sure her decision was final," quipped Maddox.

"Ha-ha,yes, dead funny."

Maddoxraised his eyebrows.

"Ididn't mean that! I meant... never mind. What do you know about herboyfriend?"

"Nothing. What does he have to do with anything?"

"Probably nothing. Only that he was mad at her right beforeshe was killed. It sounds like he might have threatened hertoo."

"Acoincidence? Or somehow connected to her death?"

"Hard tosay without knowing more facts. I think one of us should take acloser look at him."

"It'sbeyond the scope of my investigation," said Maddox, "but since youalready identified Heavenly Handbags’ possible involvement in mycounterfeiting op, I'd like to know what you find out. When doesyour shift end?"

"Fourhours from now. Apparently, today is a half day for me. Andyou?"

"A fullday. Managerial responsibilities are mostly nine-to-five although Isometimes find reasons to linger after hours."

Westopped talking as the door opened and both of us turned to see whoentered. Magda smiled prettily as she walked towards the coffeestation. "Hi, Adam," she purred, giving him a little finger wave.Then she checked her watch and tapped it while glaring at me with apointed look. "Don't be late, Lexi," she said. "I would hate towrite you up so soon!"

I betshe would have loved that. I lifted my eyebrows at Maddox as Magdaturned away, closing the locker and locking it before depositingthe small key in my pants. "On my way, Magda," I said, just asfaux-friendly. "Adam?"

"Oh, Ithink I'll finish my coffee break up here," said Maddox. "Magdawill keep me company, won't you, Magda?"

"Ofcourse, Adam!"

---