Page 38 - Labelle Gramercy, On the Case

Thrown for a Loss

up here. One of the fancier wristwatch shops had its own armed
guard, in fact. The kids on the second floor knew me, because I
worked Saturdays and Sundays most weeks. You reach a kind of
truce with potential troublemakers when you’re a security guard,
establishing boundaries neither side will cross without making the
situation unpleasant for everyone. I had no immediate problem with
the mall rats by the escalator.
“Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please.” I had this speech
down pat. “An incident has occurred at Cumbaya Mall to which
some of you may be witnesses. If you will come forward and leave
your name and telephone number, the management would appreciate
it.”
Nobody moved.
“And I would appreciate it if anybody here who saw who pushed
the emergency stop button on that escalator would come see me
immediately.”
A few people looked around like hunted animals. Others looked at
the floor. Nobody moved, except backward, putting a little more
distance between them and me.
“All right. Then please continue enjoying Cumbaya Mall. The
management hopes this will not affect your shopping experience,
and—”
“Just a minute, please!”
It was the lady cop. I hadn’t heard her come up behind me. That’s
not good. My hearing is very sharp. I can tune out the constant
background noise of the mall and pick out individual sounds, so I like
to think nobody can sneak up on me. I glanced at her shoes. They
were new Klipspringers, now spotted with blood. I looked at the
shopping bag she had abandoned on her way to the accident scene. It
was from Unijock, athletic shoes and accessories, just two doors
down on the south side. She must have just come out of there, with
her old shoes in a new box in the bag. See, I can put two and two
together if it’s in front of my face as well as any police detective.
“I am Lieutenant Gramercy, metropolitan police. We will need to
question everyone who was near this spot when the emergency stop
was pushed and the buzzer sounded. Your cooperation is necessary.
Please do not leave the area if you were present—or if anyone else
can identify you as being present.”

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