when Shields spoke again. “Hey, what wasthat all about, anyway?”
“Read the papers or listen to the news. You’ll find out soon enough,” Ella said. Stepping into the front room, she glanced around, searching for Sue Ann, and found her with a customer.
Ella caught her attention, then nodded and held up a hand, signaling that she’d wait until the customer had been served.
As she sat on a concrete bench to wait, Al came out, ostensiblylooking for his boss. Seeing them, he immediately went back into the workroom.
“Think he was about to coach his alibi?” Justine whispered.
“Or excuse his behavior. Abusers are usually great at coming up with reasons that’ll explain their outbursts,” Ella said quietly as Sue Ann came up.
“I’m sorry Al gave you a hard time. He’s got anger issues, as you saw,” the woman said, her eyes on the workroomentrance.
“We noticed,” Ella said. “Before we go, I’d like to verify Al’s work schedule this past week.”
“He works from eight to five thirty Monday and Tuesday, is off Wednesday and Thursday, then comes back Friday and Saturday. We’re closed on Sundays. He gets an hour off at lunch beginning at twelve thirty. There’s no clock to punch, but he’s supposed to let me know when he arrives or leaves.”
“Does he do any deliveries?” Ella asked.
“Oh, yeah. Several per day, as a matter of fact. Would you like to see his schedule for last week?” Sue Ann asked, and saw Ella nod.
“We keep a paper copy, just in case the electricity goes out,” Sue Ellen explained as she picked up a large ledger beside the computer terminal behind the counter. Placing it on the counter, she turned the pages back toMonday. “Which days do you want to look at?”
“Monday to Wednesday, this week,” Ella said, refusing to give her specifics in case the woman decided to protect Shields.
“Al had to deliver a wedding tent to Beclabito late Tuesday morning. He returned at around one thirty, took lunch, then came back to work around two thirty.”
“Anyone go with him to make the delivery?” Justine asked.
Sue Ann shookher head. “Not Tuesday morning. We have a teenager who helps part-time from four to six in the afternoons and all day on Saturdays. During school hours, Al makes the deliveries by himself.”
“Okay,” Ella said, taking notes, including the Beclabito address and phone number.
They had what they needed now. Though Ella had looked over toward the workroom a few times, there was no indication Al hadbeen eavesdropping. “Is that the delivery van parked out there?” Ella asked Sue Ann, gesturing to the white van with a business logo on the side parked to the left of the entrance.
“Yeah, that’s it. Al drives the black Mustang parked beside it, in case you’re interested,” Sue Ann added.
“Thanks again for all your help, Sue Ann…,” Ella said, letting her words trail off as she waited for the woman’slast name.
“Quigley,” Sue Ann answered. “Glad to help. Could you tell me what this was all about, Detective Clah?”
“We’re looking for possible witnesses to a crime, and someone suggested that Mr. Shields might have seen something.”
“I hope Al isn’t involved in some way. He’s actually a very hard worker, but from what I can tell, his personal life is a disaster.”
“We’ll be in touch,” Ella said,handing the woman her card.
They were back on the road within five minutes. “That guy has anger issues and ego issues, too. So what do you think? Is he a viable suspect?” Justine said as they headed north toward Highway 64.
“He’s a bully and a coward and Harry bruised his ego. He also has no conclusive alibi to cover the time of death. It’s possible he drove down the highway, took the turn offat Rattlesnake, tracked Harry down, shot him, then came back to Kirtland for lunch,” Ella said, then paused before speaking again.
“I just thought of something else. Turn around and go back to the rental store. I
“Read the papers or listen to the news. You’ll find out soon enough,” Ella said. Stepping into the front room, she glanced around, searching for Sue Ann, and found her with a customer.
Ella caught her attention, then nodded and held up a hand, signaling that she’d wait until the customer had been served.
As she sat on a concrete bench to wait, Al came out, ostensiblylooking for his boss. Seeing them, he immediately went back into the workroom.
“Think he was about to coach his alibi?” Justine whispered.
“Or excuse his behavior. Abusers are usually great at coming up with reasons that’ll explain their outbursts,” Ella said quietly as Sue Ann came up.
“I’m sorry Al gave you a hard time. He’s got anger issues, as you saw,” the woman said, her eyes on the workroomentrance.
“We noticed,” Ella said. “Before we go, I’d like to verify Al’s work schedule this past week.”
“He works from eight to five thirty Monday and Tuesday, is off Wednesday and Thursday, then comes back Friday and Saturday. We’re closed on Sundays. He gets an hour off at lunch beginning at twelve thirty. There’s no clock to punch, but he’s supposed to let me know when he arrives or leaves.”
“Does he do any deliveries?” Ella asked.
“Oh, yeah. Several per day, as a matter of fact. Would you like to see his schedule for last week?” Sue Ann asked, and saw Ella nod.
“We keep a paper copy, just in case the electricity goes out,” Sue Ellen explained as she picked up a large ledger beside the computer terminal behind the counter. Placing it on the counter, she turned the pages back toMonday. “Which days do you want to look at?”
“Monday to Wednesday, this week,” Ella said, refusing to give her specifics in case the woman decided to protect Shields.
“Al had to deliver a wedding tent to Beclabito late Tuesday morning. He returned at around one thirty, took lunch, then came back to work around two thirty.”
“Anyone go with him to make the delivery?” Justine asked.
Sue Ann shookher head. “Not Tuesday morning. We have a teenager who helps part-time from four to six in the afternoons and all day on Saturdays. During school hours, Al makes the deliveries by himself.”
“Okay,” Ella said, taking notes, including the Beclabito address and phone number.
They had what they needed now. Though Ella had looked over toward the workroom a few times, there was no indication Al hadbeen eavesdropping. “Is that the delivery van parked out there?” Ella asked Sue Ann, gesturing to the white van with a business logo on the side parked to the left of the entrance.
“Yeah, that’s it. Al drives the black Mustang parked beside it, in case you’re interested,” Sue Ann added.
“Thanks again for all your help, Sue Ann…,” Ella said, letting her words trail off as she waited for the woman’slast name.
“Quigley,” Sue Ann answered. “Glad to help. Could you tell me what this was all about, Detective Clah?”
“We’re looking for possible witnesses to a crime, and someone suggested that Mr. Shields might have seen something.”
“I hope Al isn’t involved in some way. He’s actually a very hard worker, but from what I can tell, his personal life is a disaster.”
“We’ll be in touch,” Ella said,handing the woman her card.
They were back on the road within five minutes. “That guy has anger issues and ego issues, too. So what do you think? Is he a viable suspect?” Justine said as they headed north toward Highway 64.
“He’s a bully and a coward and Harry bruised his ego. He also has no conclusive alibi to cover the time of death. It’s possible he drove down the highway, took the turn offat Rattlesnake, tracked Harry down, shot him, then came back to Kirtland for lunch,” Ella said, then paused before speaking again.
“I just thought of something else. Turn around and go back to the rental store. I
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