Free Paint It Black by P.J. Parrish Page B

Officer Candy picked up the newspaper, scanned the story, then put it down.
    â€œChief,” Candy said, “what are you going to do?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Wainwright turned to look out the window.
    Candy stood up. “Anything else you want me to do before I sign out?”
    Wainwright turned and picked up the case folder. “Yeah, get Louis Kincaid on the phone.”
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    â€œMove, damn it.”
    Louis pushed Issy off the bed, but the cat jumped back up, strolling across his open suitcase.
    â€œAre you taking her back with you?”
    Louis looked back over his shoulder at Margaret Dodie standing at the door.
    â€œUnfortunately.”
    â€œYou could leave her, you know.”
    Louis stood up, stretching his back. The cat was sprawled across his shirts, looking up at him with calm green eyes.
    â€œNo, I can’t do that.”
    Margaret came into the bedroom and walked over to Issy, petting her gently. “How’d you end up with her? It’s obvious you don’t like her very much.”
    Louis frowned. He had tried to be nice to it. “She was abandoned. A friend of mine left suddenly. I took her until . . .” Louis paused.
    Until what? Until he saw Zoe again? Until she came back? Until he went back?
    Margaret smiled and sat on the corner of the bed. Louis kept his eyes down, folding his things, hoping Margaret would leave, wishing she didn’t seem to know everything.
    â€œWe’ll miss you, Louis,” she said. “Sam especially.”
    Louis busied himself rolling socks. “He’s a good man. I’m glad he’s happy down here.” Louis shoved his socks down the side of the suitcase.
    â€œHe likes you, Louis. He likes you a lot.”
    â€œWell, I like him, too, Margaret.”
    A screen door banged shut and Margaret rose as Dodie came to the bedroom door.
    â€œAll packed, eh?”
    Louis scanned the room. There was nothing else to pack, but it was easier than beginning the good-byes. “I guess so.” He closed the suitcase and finally looked over at Dodie, who was scratching the cat’s head. Margaret was looking at her husband.
    â€œSo. What time is your plane?” Dodie asked finally.
    Louis glanced at his watch. “Two hours. Guess we’d better get going.”
    â€œI’ll make you a sandwich,” Margaret said, setting the cat aside. “They only give you crackers now, you know. Me, I’ve never been on a plane, but that’s what I heard.”
    â€œPeanuts,” Dodie said.
    Margaret looked confused.
    â€œPeanuts. On the plane,” Dodie said. “They give you peanuts, Margie, not crackers.”
    â€œPeanuts, crackers. Still not enough for a man to eat. You still need a sandwich.”
    â€œIt’s okay—” Louis said, but Margaret was gone. Issy jumped down after her. Dodie came into the room and handed Louis the newspaper.
    â€œStill no suspects,” he said. “Or any sign of Levon. And the black folk are asking for answers.”
    Louis looked at the headline and then tossed the paper aside. “They’ll catch him.”
    â€œNot interested?”
    â€œIt would only drive me nuts.”
    Dodie sat down on the bed. “You could get work down here, Louis. You don’t have to go back up North.”
    â€œSam, we both know I can’t work down here, not at what I want to do.”
    â€œCan’t work up there at what you want to do, neither, Louis.”
    â€œSam . . . please.”
    Dodie nodded and started for the door. “I reckon I overstepped. Sorry.”
    â€œYou didn’t overstep—”
    But Dodie was gone. Damn it.
    Louis grabbed the suitcase and the cat carrier and walked to the living room. Dodie was nowhere to be seen, but Louis could pick up the smell of his cigar coming from the patio. He called for Issy and heard her meow from the kitchen. He went to the kitchen. The cat looked at him from between