Page 95 of Midnight Secrets

Mina nodded.

“But after just a couple of meetings, he was carrying her around like a stuffed animal. She’s his best buddy now.” My face contorted with false anger. “Sometimes even more than me.” I smiled.

“Check his pockets for treats.”

A laugh bubbled free. “For sure.” Sobering some, I thought about her question and the emotions that had been tumbling around in my brain and my heart for the last several days. “I know it’s early, but he could be the one.” The words felt strange to say, but also right. Ozzie had made an impression. He wasn’t the gruff, standoffish man I first met who’d told me to keep my dog on a leash. Instead, I’d discovered he had a kind heart and just wanted to make the world a better place.

I looked down, concentrating on chopping the carrots. “You know, I wasn’t looking for love, either.” I lifted my head. “But if it’s meant to find you, it will.”

Mina shoved a bag of potatoes toward me. “Well, even if that’s the case, it needs to wait untilafterI open the café portion of my business. I don’t have time for love.”

CHAPTER 33

Ozzie

The scents of old wood, new clothing, and gun powder greeted me as I stepped inside Parker Supply. I held the door for Chief Riggs, then offered Kent Morrison, the owner, a friendly smile when he greeted us.

“What can I do for you boys?” The old man, hands hooked under his bright red suspenders, came out from behind the glass counter that housed an array of knives and other hunting and fishing equipment.

My smile widened. He reminded me of Santa Claus. In more than just appearance. The man never met a stranger from what I could tell. From what others had said, he also put a lot of time and money into the community, working to make it a better place. Especially for the local youth.

“We were wondering if we could take a look at your surveillance footage,” Riggs said.

The smile on Mr. Morrison’s face dimmed and his bushy white eyebrows drew together. “My surveillance footage? What happened?”

“It’s in connection to Marie Hammond’s murder. We’re hoping you caught someone we’re looking for on camera,” I said.

His frown only deepened. “Here? She was murdered at home, though, right? That’s what the local gossip says, anyway.”

“That’s correct.” Riggs nodded once. “But we have a lead that might help us identify a person of interest. On December eighteenth, this individual was here, and he was talking to Mrs. Hammond. Do you keep footage back that far?”

Mr. Morrison’s expression opened. He nodded. “I do. I know the wheels of justice turn at a slower pace up here, so I keep twelve months of footage. Pay a pretty penny for it, but it’s worth it.” He motioned us forward. “Let’s go up to the office.”

Turning, he looked out at the store. “Kim! I’ll be in the office!”

From the distant corner a female voice replied, “Okay!”

I glanced that direction, but didn’t see anyone through the maze of racks and shelves. It was no wonder he had surveillance. It couldn’t be easy to catch thieves in a place like this.

The old man led us upstairs and unlocked a door, waving us inside. He rounded the desk and sat in the creaky leather seat, then woke up the computer monitor. “December eighteenth, you said?”

“Yes,” Riggs answered.

Morrison’s arthritic hands poked at the keyboard. “Do you have a ballpark on the time? That’s a lot of video to go through.”

“Late afternoon,” I said. “Between three and five.” Kaya said after school, but she didn’t say after dinner.

Finding the timestamp, Mr. Morrison left it paused, then got up from his chair. “You can do your thing.” He waved me into the seat.

I glanced at Riggs, who nodded, so I sat down.

“She said lingerie.” Riggs leaned in beside me and pointed at the screen.

The video footage was broken into sections by camera, so I clicked on the camera covering that part of the store, then hit fast-forward.

At the three-twenty-two mark, I spotted Marie. “Got her.” Slowing the video down, I let it play. She walked into the lingerie section and lightly touched a few things, but her gaze was focused elsewhere. She kept glancing through the racks.

It took another minute before a dark-haired man appeared. I paused and zoomed in, but the video distorted too much to see his face and as he got closer to the camera, he tipped his head down, then turned away.

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