Page 66 of Little Dark Deeds

CHAPTER 24

As I drove to my office, I thought about the conversation I’d just had with Everett.I considered the fact that Landon may have hired a private investigator to follow Tiffany around, gathering information about her private life.If so, I imagined he was pleased to know he had the upper hand at last, a way to strip away the illusion—the man she loved wasn’t who he seemed.

If Landon had learned of Tyler’s affair, I didn’t believe he would have left the photos on Jana’s windshield for her to find.It seemed too petty for a man who thought so much of himself.I believe he would have gone straight to Tiffany to deliver the news himself, relishing the look on her face when he did it.

And then there was Tiffany’s threat, which Landon could have brushed off as nothing more than a lie, a way for her to appear tough and connected when she wasn’t.

I had too many questions and not enough answers.

I needed an audience with him right away.

I arrived at the office and walked inside, finding Hunter and Simone hunched over the computer, giggling.Hunter was dressed in a pair of brown corduroy overalls, which matched the color of her braids.Simone was wearing a black blazer over an Erasure T-shirt and dark jeans.

“I could use a good laugh today,” I said.“What’s so funny?”

“We’re watching cat videos,” Simone said.

“Montages of cats who knock things off countertops on purpose,” Hunter added.

“Sounds like a far more relaxing way to spend the day than what my day has been like,” I said.“Shall we talk about the case?”

Simone shot me a wink.“We shall.”

We gathered around the sofa, and for the next several minutes, I filled them in on where I’d been and who I’d seen since the last time we spoke.

After I finished, Simone said, “Having met Queenie yesterday, I’m not surprised to hear that she showed up at the coffee shop this morning.”

“I feel like she’s everywhere.”

“I think I know why,” Simone said.“Most of the people I talked to in Tiffany’s neighborhood think Queenie’s taken on an amateur sleuth role, doing a little investigating on her own.She’s been to all their houses, taking notes, asking questions.She’s even telling people she’s going to solve the investigation before anyone else.”

“Is she now?She didn’t mention that to me.What else did the neighbors have to say?”

“Aside from Queenie, Martha, and Janice, most of them didn’t know Tiffany well.They saw her at a few of the neighborhood block parties, which Queenie puts together.Well, shewasputting them together.Not sure they’ll be well attended in the future.”

“Has something happened?”

“Many of the neighbors are convinced Queenie hosts the block parties to call them out on things.”

“Like what?”

“Having weedy lawns, keeping the trash can out days after trash day, making too much noise after the sun’s gone down.They’re getting tired of it.”

“Tired or not, I bet she gets her way most of the time.She seems relentless.Did you learn anything useful when you met with Tiffany’s neighbors?”

Simone pulled out her notebook and flipped a few pages, looking over her notes.“There was only one person who may have heard something around the time of the murder, a little girl.She lives in the house to the right of Tiffany’s.”