Laina Turner - Presley Thurman 05 - Gems & Gunshots (4 page)

“Jill said she didn’t know for sure if Greg was or wasn’t having an affair, but it sure seemed that Amelia thought he was, and Jill didn’t doubt it either. Jill said Amelia didn’t come to the store very often, and that Greg was an overly flirtatious kind of guy with the sales staff and there had always been a lot of gossip about Greg and some of the girls who worked there.”

“Was he overly flirtatious with any one certain sales girl?”

“I asked that, and Jill said not that she noticed. But she was only part–time so she wasn’t there as much as the other full–time girls.”

The door chimed signaling someone had walked in. While Haley jumped up to take care of the customer, I thought about what I had just heard. If Greg was having an affair, how did that relate to the murder or the robbery? Was the murder just an accident, a robbery gone wrong? Could it be he was having an affair with the girl named Nicole, who was murdered,?

“So there you have it. All the gossip I have,” said Haley, sitting back down.

“What do you think was meant when Amelia accused Greg of hanging around with the wrong element?”

“Jill didn’t say. Probably because she doesn’t have a clue. Who knows? To someone as wealthy as Amelia the wrong element could mean people who shop at Old Navy,” Haley said in a wry tone.

I laughed. “True. Hey, do you think I could talk to Jill? You know, get the firsthand account?”

“I don’t see why not. The police told her not to talk to anyone, but she didn’t have an issue talking to me, and frankly, she loves to gossip. Let me call her. My phone is in the backroom. Give me a sec.” She left the table and disappeared through the door behind the counter. She reappeared a few minutes later. “She has to work in a couple hours and said she would stop by here before she went in, so I hope you were planning on hanging out.”

“That’s perfect. I need to do something productive today, so hanging out here won’t be a problem.”

“Good. I need to get back to the customers. Just holler if you need anything.”

After about twenty minutes of procrastination, I finally starting writing and felt like I was accomplishing something. Even if it wasn’t much, it was a start. Jared had set up a blog for me a few months ago, telling me I needed to use it to promote my writing and myself. Considering I hadn’t written anything to promote, I thought it was kind of a dumb idea, but he had been relentless, sending me links to blog posts of other authors, and finally convincing me to try it. I usually ended up wondering why I was even trying to do this and wasting my time playing on Facebook. But today I must have been more inspired than usual because the ideas started flowing after a short time of staring at the paper, despite having the previously mentioned negative banter in my head. Must be the caffeine.

I became so engrossed in writing a blog post about my trip to San Diego, I was startled when Haley tapped me on the shoulder. Standing next to her was a tall, skinny blonde. The kind of girl I loved to hate. She was dressed in a tight but not trashy electric blue sheath dress with simple silver accessories and silver platform heels. Her platinum blonde hair—surely not natural by the color of her eyebrows but a quality enough dye job to look natural—was swept up in an elaborate twist. She looked like she would be great at selling high–end jewelry, assuming this was Jill. Seeing her made me wish I had thought to wear something a little nicer than black capris and a purple burnout T–shirt with a white cami underneath.

“Hi,” I said, standing up and smoothing down my shirt. After Haley introduced us, I said, “I appreciate you coming here to speak with me.”

“No problem. Haley tells me you two saw the whole thing?”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Haley said. “I need to get back to the customers. Jill, I’ll bring over your drink in just a few.”

“Thanks, Haley,” said Jill.

We both sat down and I started speaking. “We didn’t see everything. I mean, we couldn’t see into the building. We just heard a couple loud bangs, the gunshots I assume, and then a guy running out.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t tell you much because I don’t know much. I wasn’t there when it happened and none of the girls who work there are talking because the police said not to. Normally, that wouldn’t stop them, but the owner’s wife also said if they talked and she found out, they would be fired.”

“What actually happened? I know the basic robbery and murder intel, but how did it go down?”

“You sound like you’ve done this before?”

I looked at Jill quizzically.

“The lingo.”

I laughed. “I just watch a lot of
Law & Order
.”

Jill nodded her head in understanding. “Well, I heard that the girls working, Nicole and Geena, let in these two guys early. The store wasn’t scheduled to open for thirty more minutes, but one of the guys said he needed to get a gift for his wife, or something to that effect. Because we’re trained to always do whatever we need to in order to make the sale, the girls let them in. The scary thing is that any of us would have done it. Thirty minutes isn’t a big deal, especially when it means a big fat commission.”

“I can certainly see why they let the men in, but if there were two that went in, how come only one came out? Or at least that’s all Haley and I saw.”

“According to Geena, one of the men had pulled out a gun and was pointing it at them. The other man then told them to unlock the cases. Geena started to unlock them while Nicole, I guess, tried to reason with the gunman. He yelled at her to shut up and waved the gun at her. Then the gun went off. Geena said the other man screamed at the gunman, grabbed a few pieces of jewelry, and ran out the front. She said the other man bent down and felt Nicole’s neck, presumably for a pulse, and then ran out the back. Geena said she felt like it was an accident. That they didn’t mean to shoot anyone.”

No wonder I had only seen one person come out the front door. I wondered how the gunman knew there was a back entrance he could get to easily. Made it more convincing to me that this was planned and not some random act. Also interesting that Geena felt the killing was accidental. Did experienced criminals make those kinds of mistakes? Made me wonder. “Haley said you told her that the owner, Greg, had a bit of a wandering eye when it came to some of the girls who work there?” I said, changing the subject.

Jill rolled her eyes. “Does he ever. You wouldn’t know he was married the way he is always on the prowl. Most of the girls are like me: we just ignore him and he eventually gives up. He doesn’t try to force himself on anyone. I guess that’s a positive, but a couple girls seem to like the attention and have done a little more than just flirt, if you know what I mean. At least that’s the gossip.”

“I’ve had the misfortune to know guys like that. Was the girl who was killed one who did a little more than flirt with him?”

“Nicole?” Jill paused wrinkling her brow in thought. “I hadn’t thought about it, but yes. I mean I don’t know for sure, but I kind of have a sixth sense about these things. Do you think that could have had anything to do with her murder?”

“I really don’t know. Could be just a coincidence. Was there anyone else Greg was involved with at the store besides Nicole?”

“No. Kendra was the girl before Nicole, and she quit when Greg broke it off with her and started flirting with Nicole. I don’t know why those girls don’t realize he isn’t going to leave his wife. He’s just going to systematically work through all the girls who will have him. Probably why he has the jewelry store in the first place, so the girls come to him.” She shook her head. “Some people think they’re going to be the ones to change someone. Little do they know people rarely change, and if they do it’s because they want to. Not because someone else wants them to.” Jill looked at her watch. “Sorry to cut this short, but I really need to get to work.”

“Of course. I didn’t mean to take up a bunch of your time. Just one more quick question?”

“Sure.”

“Do you or any of the other employees have any idea who could have done this?”

Jill shook her head. “None at all. The police said it was probably random and we shouldn’t worry about anyone coming back. Some of us were nervous about returning to work. But if something comes up I’ll be sure to let you know. May I?” she said, motioning to my pen.

I nodded. Jill grabbed the pen and my notebook and wrote down some numbers.

“The first number is mine. Call me anytime. The second number is Geena’s. I’m not sure if she would be willing to talk to you, but she was the one there when it happened. The third number is Kendra’s. I’m not sure what you might gain from talking to her, but you might want to. Greg and Kendra had quite the thing going on for a few months.”

“Thanks, Jill. I appreciate it.” I couldn’t have asked for better. Some good information and a few more directions to pursue.

“Oh, and if you’re ever in the market for some jewelry, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks again, Jill.” She gave me a little wave as she walked away.

A few minutes later, Haley popped over to my table. “Was she helpful?” Haley asked.

“Yes, she was. I mean, she didn’t know a whole lot, but I did find out that Greg, the owner, was having an affair with the girl who was killed, Nicole. It probably isn’t relevant but it is interesting, and she gave me the numbers of a couple girls who worked there that I might want to talk to.”

Haley nodded. “I was wondering if you’d want to go shopping or something sometime? Maybe see some more of San Diego?”

“That would be great. I would love to see more of this city. The weather already has me hooked.”

“Then meet me here tomorrow at nine and we’ll make a day of it.”

“Sounds good,” I looked at my watch. “I think I’ll head out now. Make it look like I was busy at home before Cooper get’s there.” I actually wanted to get home to try and call Geena and Kendra. I wanted privacy, so calling from here wouldn’t be a good idea, but I also didn’t want Cooper to overhear me.

Chapter 5

C
ooper came home to find me sitting where he’d left me this morning—at the breakfast bar. It was quickly becoming my favorite spot in the house. Except instead of coffee brewing, I had made up a pitcher of mojitos. There was a Whole Foods next to the coffee shop where I had been able to get fresh mint and cane sugar. These were authentic, not just out of a mixer bottle. I was happy I had the foresight to put together a little something for him when he came home that would hopefully soften him up. I knew he wouldn’t be too thrilled when I told him how I had spent my day, and a cool mojito might make all the difference.

“What’s this?” he pointed to the drinks.

“Made from scratch mojitos,” I said smugly, jumping up and pouring him a glass. I gave him a quick kiss before I sat back down. “How was your day, my dear?”

“It was fine,” he said cautiously. “Should I ask about yours and what possessed you to meet me at the proverbial door with a drink? Did you hit something with my car? Did you take one of my credit cards and go on a shopping spree?” He looked around as if to spot telltale shopping bags.

“Oh, stop. Your car is perfectly fine. I just felt like something different than our usual wine for me and scotch for you.”

“Should I be worried that your something different just happens to be my second favorite drink?”

“I don’t know. Should I be offended you think I have an ulterior motive for making these?”

Cooper loosened his tie and sat down, taking a long drink. “Ummm, this is good. You outdid yourself, babe.”

A few minutes of silence went by while we both enjoyed our cocktails. “So, I had a conversation today with Haley’s cousin Jill.”

“Refresh my memory. Haley is…”

“The girl who works at the coffee shop.”

“Okay, and Jill?”

“Is her cousin.” I paused. “Who works at Gemstone’s Unlimited.”

“Dammit, Presley,” Cooper said, setting his glass down a little more firmly than he needed to, causing some of it to slosh over the side. I knew he would be mad, and yes, that was exactly why I made the mojitos. I had been hoping to soften him up a little. It obviously didn’t work as well as I had planned.

“It’s not a big deal, Cooper.”

“It is a big deal, Presley. I know you mean well, but you also know I don’t like it when you get yourself involved in these things. Especially when it involves one of my clients.”

“I’m not involved. I just asked her a few questions. You know I’m a curious person.”

“Nosy is more like it, and asking questions is involving yourself. This is a murder you’re interfering with. It’s not a game,” he said, sounding tired.“Cooper, I realize it’s not a game. You act like this is the first time I’ve ever been involved in something like this. This isn’t my first rodeo with murder, you know.” I was referring to the other few occasions where I had been involved in solving a murder. Once, during my short–lived job as a freelance journalist, I had interviewed a senator who then turned up dead, and then my boss at the boutique was murdered. Actually, if I stopped to think about it, I had been around more than my fair share of murders. “I ended up just fine, if you remember. I would even go so far as to say I was
helpful
in the eyes of the police.”

“Maybe in the case of the one who had a crush on you,” he said, bringing up the fact that when my boss was murdered the detective covering the case had a little more than a professional interest in me. Which of course went nowhere, since he got back with his girlfriend and I was still in love with Cooper. But it had developed into a good friendship; one that I sometimes thought didn’t thrill Cooper. “The fact doesn’t change, Presley, that this is a job for professionals, and you could impede what the professionals are doing, not to mention put yourself in danger.”

“Cooper, you worry too much. Is there something you know that I don’t? Something that makes you think I might be in danger? From what Jill said, the police think it was probably random.”

Cooper sighed. “Presley, murder is always dangerous, random or not.”

“That didn’t answer my question. You know something, don’t you?” It made me wonder again about his relationship, or whatever it was, with Nicole. I guess I shouldn’t be assuming it was a relationship.