Whiskey Beach Part 67

"You win that one." He dragged on his shirt. "And you're naked."

"I'll take care of that."

"Too bad. Naked housekeeping might've been fun."

She grinned as he hurried out, as he called to the dog.

Eli Landon, she thought, was coming back strong.

Downstairs he ordered the dog to stop. She surprised him by doing just that, b.u.t.t sitting right by his side as he opened the door.

He tried to block that first, automatic strike of panic when he saw cops. Pushed back against the dark cloud that habitually followed.

Not Wolfe at least, he thought.

"Detective Corbett, Vinnie."

"Nice dog," Corbett began.

"Hey, is that Barbie?" When the dog immediately reacted with a greeting woof and wagging tail, Vinnie bent down to pet her. "You've got Barbie, Mr. Bridle's dog. He died in his sleep a couple weeks ago. The neighbor came to check on him as she did most days, and found Barbie here guarding the bed. She's a good dog, she is."

As if remembering himself, Vinnie straightened. "Sorry. I'm just glad to see her in a good home. She's a great dog."

"Pretty girl," Corbett commented. "Do you have a few minutes, Mr. Landon?"

"I get that question from cops a lot." But he stepped back to let them in.

"Deputy Hanson told me about the latest break-in so I asked him to come with me to speak to you. Have you had a chance to go through the house thoroughly, check for anything missing or out of place?"

"Things were already out of place from the search. We've been putting it back together, and so far I haven't found anything missing. He's not a thief, not in the cla.s.sic sense anyway."

"I have your statement from last night, but I wonder if you could go over your activities yesterday evening for me."

Corbett looked up as Abra, fully dressed, walked downstairs with a laundry basket. "Ms. Walsh."

"Detective. Hi, Vinnie. Cleaning day. Can I get you coffee? A cold drink?"

"No, but thanks." Corbett shifted his stance. "You were with Mr. Landon when the break-in was discovered?"

"That's right. I work at the Village Pub on most Friday nights. Eli came up-when was that?-nine-thirty or so, I guess. He and Stoney Tribbet hung out at the bar swapping lies."

"Stoney's a local character," Vinnie explained.

"We stayed till closing," Eli continued. "Abra and I walked Stoney home, then walked back here."

"Deputy Hanson logged your call to him at one-forty-three."

"That's right. We went into the kitchen, and I saw the alarm pad smudged, then checked the door and found fresh jimmy marks. And yeah, I've changed the code. Again."

"And added backup," Abra said, giving Barbie a rub.

"Did you see any cars you didn't recognize, anyone either on the beach or on the street?"

"No, but then I wasn't looking for any. I'd been outside earlier, doing some research, reading on the back terrace. I didn't notice anything or anyone. I hadn't planned on going to the bar. I didn't tell anyone I was going. It was impulse."

"Do you tend to go in on Friday nights?"

"I've only been in there once before."

"Did you see anyone in the bar who struck you in any way? Anyone who seemed to be acting unusual?"

"No."

"I'm going to put this load in," Abra began. She took two steps away, turned back. "Tonic and lime."

"I'm sorry."

"It's nothing. I'm sure it's nothing, but I did serve a table of one, a man I didn't recognize. He sat in the back, alone, drank tonic and lime. He ordered three, but he didn't stay for the third."

"Why unusual?" Corbett asked her.

"Most people who come in come with friends or to see them, or if they're just pa.s.sing through, they'd likely have a beer or a gla.s.s of wine. Still, maybe he just doesn't drink, and he just wanted to hear the band. They're good. But ..."

"Go on," Corbett prompted.

"It's just that, now that I'm playing it back, he left right after Eli came in. I'd taken his order, added it to the others and gone to the bar to put it in. I stood there a couple minutes-if that-talking to Stoney. I was facing the main door, so I saw Eli come in. I introduced them, then picked up my orders. And when I went back I saw he'd gone, and just left money on the table."

"I know the bar." Corbett's eyes narrowed as he thought of it. "There's another exit, but you have to go through the kitchen."

"That's right. I don't think I'd have seen him leave if he left after Eli came in because I'd shifted-you know-so I wasn't facing the door. Unless he went through the kitchen, he left between the time Eli got there and I went to take him his drink. Either way, he left about five minutes after he ordered the tonic."

"Do you remember what he looked like?"

"G.o.d. In vague terms. White, late thirties, I think. Brown hair, or dark blond-the light's dim in there-and longish, over the collar. I couldn't tell you his eye color. I don't really know his build as he was sitting. He had wide hands. I might remember more if I just clear my mind."

"Will you work with a police artist?"

"Well, yes, but ... Do you really think that could be the man who broke in here?"

"It's worth pursuing."

"I'm sorry." She looked from Eli to Vinnie. "I didn't think of it last night."

"That's why we do follow-ups," Vinnie told her.

"I don't know how much help I'll be. You know the lighting in there, especially when they have music. And he was sitting in a back corner where it's darker yet."

"What did he say to you, talk about?" Corbett asked.