Free MURDER AT THE PIER (A Sister Sleuths Mystery Book 1) by Rayna Morgan Page B

it came to crime.
    "Yes, it was, wasn't it?" Amanda lowered her head,
deep in thought.
    Tom gave her a moment to consider what she had told him,
wondering if she would see the connection in the sequence of events.
    "Let's get to
the purpose of my visit." Tom pulled a picture from his shirt pocket.
"This appears to be a picture of Neal taken at a local event. First, can
you tell me where this picture was taken?
    "It's the annual ‘Protect Our Marine Life’ charity
event. They hold it at the Fairgrounds by the Boardwalk to bring attention to
the whales, dolphins, and other aquatic life dying or being killed because of
the pollution in the ocean. This picture was taken in front of Santa Rosa Hall,
the big hall equipped with a full kitchen. They can fit more than three hundred
tables in the main room and they fill all the tables every year. It's a very
successful event."
    "There are six facilities at the Fairgrounds. How do
you know this is Santa Rosa Hall and that event?"
    "Neal's standing in front of his car. Look closely.
Directly behind him is the entrance to the building. Attached to the large
window above the door is a dolphin, the signature banner for the event."
    "Good eye, Amanda. Now for a tougher question. Can you
guess who the other person in the picture might be? It could have been someone
saying hello, or it could have been someone he took to the event. Would his
calendar indicate who he was with?"
    "I don't need his calendar. I can tell you he attended
the event alone. He had purchased a higher priced ticket to sit at the table
with some of the city bigwigs: the Mayor, the Planning Director, and a member
of the City Council. He told me he wasn't taking a date because he wouldn't
have time to mix pleasure with business. Knowing Neal, he had his own agenda
that night," she suggested coyly. "It wouldn't have included any
concern for dolphins."
    "One last question." Tom handed the folded scrap
of paper to Amanda. "Any idea what these numbers are? Did Neal have an
office safe, locker, or a room he kept padlocked?"
    "These numbers look familiar. Give me a minute while I
go check something."
    Tom waited impatiently, tapping his fingers on the
conference table. He knew his chances of catching the murderer decreased with
each passing day. He badly needed a breakthrough in this case.
    Amanda returned to the conference room beaming. "We're
in luck. Those numbers are the combination for a locker in the employee gym. Neal
asked me to make a note of his number in case he lost or forgot it."
    Tom's jaw gaped: "The employees have a gym?"
    "The entire sixth floor of this office building is a fitness
center for employees and their families. Mr. Carson is a strong advocate of the
theory a healthier person is a happier, more productive person. He maintains a
vigorous exercise program himself and wants all of his employees to have access
to the level of fitness he enjoys. The center offers free weights and machines,
aerobics classes, even a kids club to entertain children while their parents
work out."
    "Very generous of him."
    "His generosity reaps benefits. Our company has a
remarkably low rate of sick days and on-the-job accidents."
    "I need to see Neal's locker."
    "I can take you down to the
sixth floor and help you find it. You can stay for a workout if you like,”
she added with a coquettish grin. “Tone your six-pack, not that it needs
toning."
    "Maybe another time," he smiled. Following her from
the conference room, Tom unconsciously sucked in his stomach.
    He was quiet on the
elevator, deep in thought. It seems unlikely Neal's gym locker is going to
reveal the incriminating evidence whoever vandalized Neal's condo seemed intent
on destroying. On the other hand, there’s little likelihood of that person
knowing of the existence of the locker. It may, indeed, have provided safe
storage.
    The weight room was deserted this time of day. Amanda
informed him by six o'clock, all of the equipment would be in use and the
classes