Page 49 - Labelle Gramercy, On the Case

Thrown for a Loss

were always clean and pressed, sporting a pocket protector with lots
of pens and pencils stuck in it. I guess that showed he knew how to
read and write.
“Louella. I’m glad to see you’re involved in this.”
He meant that he enjoyed having two females towering over him,
and maybe that he wasn’t going to be impressed by Ms. Gramercy.
No way for me to warn him.
“Has this escalator received regular maintenance?”
Waylon put a serious expression on his pudgy face.
“Certainly, Lieutenant.” He welcomed the chance to show off his
insider’s knowledge. “The manufacturer sends a team of inspectors
and technicians according to a regular schedule. The records are
available in the office of the building. Cumbaya Mall has learned the
hard way how to win lawsuits based on claims of negligence.”
“How recently has it been stopped with the emergency button—
not in a test?”
“This one? The down escalator? I’d have to consult my incident
log back in the office, but I seem to recollect it happening a few
weeks ago.”
“Was there a real emergency? Did you find the person
responsible?”
I saved Waylon the trouble of making up some nonsense about his
area of expertise. “I can tell you that, Lieutenant. I was on duty.
Nobody was on it at the time, and nobody came forward to admit
pushing the button.”
“So it was on the weekend?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Sachs, I will need your records—all of them—concerning
this escalator. When you have completed your work here, please
prepare copies for the police. I will send an officer to collect them
later today.”
Then I knew for certain she didn’t think this was a random piece
of mischief. Those documents could be evidence in a trial for
manslaughter, or worse. The mall had itself covered, but I had the
feeling she was already on the track of someone with criminal intent.
“Certainly, Lieutenant. Some of them are very technical, you
know.”

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