Page 27 - Labelle Gramercy, On the Case

Polished Off

“Yes. I came in to get some tools. That’s when Iris told me about
Mariana and the police investigation. I saw the policeman in front
and decided to leave the way I came in.”
“Why did you remain in the alley, going through the trash?”
Boggs was silent for a moment. I could imagine Labelle’s
unflinching gaze boring into the already nervous man’s face.
“All right. No way to keep this quiet. Iris told me to look for a
book in the dust bin. She said it was worth a hundred dollars to her,
no questions asked. So I started rummaging around. Then somebody
tapped me on the shoulder. I almost jumped out of my skin. It was
that book nut, Wandisi. He offered me two hundred fifty for the
same book if I could find it for him! Then he went into the shop. I
didn’t even get a chance to talk to him about Mariana dying.”
“That book was Again I’ll Explain?”
“Yes. I didn’t find it, honestly. If somebody threw it in there the
past day or so it should have been near the top, and I went down
almost to the bottom. The city hasn’t collected the garbage here since
Thursday, so it was not pleasant fishing around in there.”
“I see. You had better wash your hands. Where do you keep your
equipment?”
“The shop has a sort of broom closet next to the bathroom.
That’s where all the cleaning supplies and tools are kept.”
“Thank you, Mr. Boggs. You may go. If you are needed for
further questioning, we will contact you. Please stay in town for a few
days.”
“Okay. Yes. Thank you, uh, Lieutenant.”
He went out the back door and I heard Labelle clicking the lock.
Then she walked briskly to the front of the shop and went out,
heading for the uniformed officer whose back was sketchily visible
through the grimy shop window. She was already talking into her
wireless telephone, no doubt getting background checks on Wandisi
and Boggs, and ordering a reluctant crime lab to go through the
dumpster with a fine-tooth comb. I remembered Linsey’s presence,
and grinned at her sheepishly.
“I suppose we were eavesdropping, but not intentionally. I didn’t
know that man worked for your aunt.”
Miss Doyle made a pouty purse of her waxy fluorescent lips. “I
don’t know why she kept him on. He was always making a mess,

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