Page 140 of The 6:20 Man

CHAPTER

61

THE 6:20. RIGHT ON TIME. Devine was really starting to hate this commute.

Actually, there’s nostarting about it.

He looked, but there was no Michelle Montgomery at the pool. He didn’t imagine she would be told to wear the green bikini for a while, if ever.

Later, he walked into the lobby at Cowl and Comely, waved at Sam the guard, and took the elevator up to his floor.

Turning a corner, he nearly tripped over the custodian, Jerry Myers, who was kneeling in front of a door fixing the lock.

“Sorry,” said Devine.

The man looked up, and recognition sprang into his features.

“You were the one asking questions that day.”

“I was.”

Myers stood and put his tools back in the box on the floor. “And now there’s another one, they say. Only she wasn’t killed here, thank God. Couldn’t take finding another body.”

“I’m sure.”

“The police got any leads?” Myers asked.

“Not that I know of, but they’re not keeping me in their confidences.”

Myers hefted his toolbox. “You guys slaving away in this place. I mean, you ask me, it’s not worth it. No sir.”

“Maybe it’s not.”

“So why do it?”

“When I figure it out I’ll let you know. Got a question. I understand that contractors and other service people come in through the rear entrance.”

“That’s right. There’s a phone they have to use. Goes to the security desk. Then they go let the person in, if they’re authorized.”

“Or if they have a security card, they can get in that way.”

“Sure, but contractors don’t have security cards. That’d be a problem. Can’t just let folks waltz in the back door like that.”

“Right. Thanks.”

Later, around two in the afternoon, Devine was working away in his cubicle when the door opened.

“Mr. Devine?”

He looked up and saw the same woman who had previously come to retrieve him motioning to him. He rose, looked around at the Burners watching him suspiciously, and made his way out.

Detectives Ekman and Shoemaker were waiting for him.

“Now what?” he said.

“This way,” barked Shoemaker.

They led him to the same room as before.