Page 53 of Little Dark Deeds

“Is there anything else I should know?”I asked.

They looked at one another and shook their heads.“Not that we can think of right now.”

I reached into my bag, pulling out a few business cards and handing them out.“Here’s my contact information.If you can think of anything else, or if you see or hear anything suspicious, give me a call.”

CHAPTER 20

“Iwas wondering whenI’d see you,” Chad said.“It’s been a while.”

He’d aged well since the last time I saw him, looking a lot more muscular and well-dressed than I remembered.As I looked him over, I noticed a gash on his right hand, and I wondered how he got it.

“I was just at Tiffany’s house,” I said, “and a few of the older women who live on the same street described a man who was dating Tiffany several months ago.The man they described reminded me of you.”

“Uh, yeah, it was me.Tiffany didn’t tell you?”

“She didn’t, and I’m trying to figure out why.”

Chad glanced around the furniture showroom, lowering his voice.“Can we talk somewhere else?”

“Sure, when do you get off work?”

“Not for another four hours.I haven’t taken my break yet today, though.Let me speak to the manager.I’ll meet you out front in a few minutes.”

I nodded and walked to my car, leaning against it as I waited.

Six minutes later, Chad exited the store, his hands shoved into his pockets as he approached me.“I have fifteen minutes.”

“Not a long break.”

“We’re short-staffed today.I was lucky to get anything.”

“You have a sizable cut on your hand.What happened?”

“I was in a hurry the other day when I was opening boxes in the back room of the store, and ...well, I lost a fight with a boxcutter.”

It seemed like a logical explanation.