Free Caliber Detective Agency - Box Set - Case Files 1-6 by Donald Wells

with her.”
    “Maybe she has a partner, the one who made the phone call,” Jake said.
    Lieutenant Delaney checked his notebook.
    “Smith received a call that lasted twenty-two seconds at 6:47 P.M. from a disposable cell phone, so no luck there, but I got the lab checking the guns, so maybe we’ll get lucky and find a stray print.”
    “Was her gun registered?” Velma said.
    “Yeah, and his too, but they were both registered under her name. She claims her husband must have taken the gun when she was working at her dress shop; he still had keys.”
    “If she’s got a partner, who could it be? She mention any names of friends while you were with her Chris?” Jake said.
    “No, but I did meet a neighbor of hers named Sammy. Sammy may be able to shed some light on what went on in the building.”
    “I remember him,” Velma said. “He seemed shaken when he learned what had happened.”
    Chris stood up.
    “I want to go talk to him; maybe he knows something that can help us.”
    Velma grabbed her purse. “I’ll come with you.”
    “Hey you two, listen up,” The old man said.
    They both turned and looked at him with attentive gazes.
    “If you run into Mira Asher, don’t let on that we’re on to her. Let her think that she’s gotten away with it, right up until the time Tommy here slaps the bracelets on her.”
    Chris and Velma nodded in agreement, and then off they went to see Sammy.
    ***
    T hey left the building and began walking to the parking garage that was half a block away, as they entered, Chris stopped talking in mid-sentence and leaned against the wall.
    “Whoa, I think you should drive; I’m still a little dizzy from that whack on the head.”
    Velma stood close to him, concern clouding her face.
    “Maybe you left the hospital too soon?”
    “I’ll be fine; the doctor said that this might happen, but that it would soon pass.”
    “It scared me, seeing you lying on the floor, bleeding,”
    Chris stared at her. She was blonde, blue-eyed and stunning, and every time he looked at her, he felt a tug at his heart. He reached over and took her in his arms.
    “I still feel a little dizzy, maybe you should hold me up.”
    They gazed at each other, and a moment later, they were kissing. It lasted only a few seconds before Velma ended it.
    She left his arms and sent him an apologetic smile.
    “I’m sorry, that shouldn’t have happened.”
    “Why not? Are you seeing someone... someone I know?”
    “Someone you... no, it’s not that, it’s... Chris, I’m married.”
    “Married?”
    “Yes, and there are complications, but I still love him and I—can we discuss this later?”
    He handed her the keys to the car.
    “Whatever you say, but I’d like to meet him; I’m sure we all would. Have him stop by the office sometime.”
    At those words, Velma sent him a stricken look, and Chris realized that there was more to the story, much more than Velma was willing to share.
    They spent the ride to Mira’s apartment house with the radio playing and no words spoken.
    ***
    S ammy Kaye opened his door with a big smile on his face as he stared at Chris, but when Velma stepped out from behind him, his smile faded.
    “Oh darn, and here I thought that you had come here on pleasure, but since she’s with you, I guess it’s business, you’re playing detective, no?”
    “That’s right Sammy, and we’re hoping you can help.”
    “Well, let’s not stand here in the doorway like savages when I’ve got a perfectly good living room.”
    They entered the apartment and saw a blue, leather sectional sofa, along with a matching recliner and a glass coffee table. In a corner of the room was a desk with a computer and a huge monitor, in an opposite corner was the TV.
    “Would you two like coffee? I don’t have any made, but it won’t take long.” Sammy said.
    They declined his offer of coffee, and then asked him if he had ever known Reuben Smith to be violent.
    “Reuben? No, in fact, he was much nicer than Mira,