THE REAL GYRO (Food Truck Mysteries Book 4) by Chloe Kendrick Page B
Authors: Chloe Kendrick
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groaned. “I’m his boss at the food truck, but I’m not the boss who has been working him so hard. He’s been freelancing for the police, and they’ve had him working nights. I’m concerned about his safety. He didn’t show for work today, and he’s not answering texts from me.” I stopped talking, because I could hear my voice getting shriller. In another minute, I’d be having a panic attack.
“I don’t have a key, but there’s a way into his place. He showed me one time, in case I ever had need to get in there.” She set down her coffee on a table inside of her place and came back out. We walked around to the side of what had to be Land’s unit.
The woman took a fingernail and popped out the screen. She put it down on the ground and tilted it against the wall. Then she grabbed hold of the window’s handle and shook it violently. For a second it held, and then it popped open. So much for the security system here.
I was younger and more nimble, but I didn’t need to tell the woman that. I pushed the window open enough to shimmy into the unit. The bedroom, where I had landed, was empty. There was no sign that Land had slept here last night—or ever. It was spotless with the bed made using real corners. Part of me wanted to snoop around for details about Land’s life, but that wouldn’t be now.
I checked the bathroom, but nothing was there except for a few men’s products on the counter. I sighed, thinking that he had his life much more together than I did.
However, those thoughts stopped when I got to the living room. The room looked like a tornado had run through it. Books were off the shelves and cushions had been cut open. Whoever had done this had been looking for something very specific.
I moved around the coffee table, trying not to step in the torn cushions and shredded paper. On the far side of the coffee table was Land, lying face down and not moving.
Chapter 9
I called 911, Detective Danvers and Carter in that order. I had enough wits about me to know that he had a pulse and was breathing. I propped open the front door for help to arrive, but I stepped out onto the flagstone walk to his unit. The older woman came back around at the sound of my voice and joined me.
Danvers was on the scene nearly as quickly as the first responders were. They placed Land on a gurney and supplied him with an oxygen mask. I’d never seen Land look less formidable. Danvers walked over to the EMTs and then returned to me. “They say he was hit pretty hard on the head, but that he’ll come around with time. They’re guessing that he’d regained consciousness a couple of times because there’s vomit a few feet away from where you found him. So he hasn’t been out all night. His prognosis is good.” The EMTs were still checking his vitals, and they didn’t seem to be in a huge hurry to rush Land to the hospital. So I thought that counted as a win.
I sighed deeply. I hadn’t realized exactly how worried I’d been about him until I saw him like this. He’d been so out of character lately with the late nights and the lack of dedication to work. I wondered if he’d know how dangerous the work with Danvers could be. I couldn’t see our investigation into a locked truck murder as something worth being killing for.
Danvers continued. “Where’s the woman who saw the people leaving his apartment last night?” He must have been upset, because other than me, there was only one other person milling about on the flagstone tiles. Her presence could barely be missed, even by Danvers.
I introduced him to the neighbor. “This is Mrs. Abbott. She lives next door. She saw some people leave Land’s apartment last night. She didn’t see Land though.”
Danvers held up a hand. “Let her speak for herself. I don’t need anyone leading witnesses. So you saw some people leaving Land’s place last night?”
She nodded and told her story again. She added a few details like it had been two men, one younger
“I don’t have a key, but there’s a way into his place. He showed me one time, in case I ever had need to get in there.” She set down her coffee on a table inside of her place and came back out. We walked around to the side of what had to be Land’s unit.
The woman took a fingernail and popped out the screen. She put it down on the ground and tilted it against the wall. Then she grabbed hold of the window’s handle and shook it violently. For a second it held, and then it popped open. So much for the security system here.
I was younger and more nimble, but I didn’t need to tell the woman that. I pushed the window open enough to shimmy into the unit. The bedroom, where I had landed, was empty. There was no sign that Land had slept here last night—or ever. It was spotless with the bed made using real corners. Part of me wanted to snoop around for details about Land’s life, but that wouldn’t be now.
I checked the bathroom, but nothing was there except for a few men’s products on the counter. I sighed, thinking that he had his life much more together than I did.
However, those thoughts stopped when I got to the living room. The room looked like a tornado had run through it. Books were off the shelves and cushions had been cut open. Whoever had done this had been looking for something very specific.
I moved around the coffee table, trying not to step in the torn cushions and shredded paper. On the far side of the coffee table was Land, lying face down and not moving.
Chapter 9
I called 911, Detective Danvers and Carter in that order. I had enough wits about me to know that he had a pulse and was breathing. I propped open the front door for help to arrive, but I stepped out onto the flagstone walk to his unit. The older woman came back around at the sound of my voice and joined me.
Danvers was on the scene nearly as quickly as the first responders were. They placed Land on a gurney and supplied him with an oxygen mask. I’d never seen Land look less formidable. Danvers walked over to the EMTs and then returned to me. “They say he was hit pretty hard on the head, but that he’ll come around with time. They’re guessing that he’d regained consciousness a couple of times because there’s vomit a few feet away from where you found him. So he hasn’t been out all night. His prognosis is good.” The EMTs were still checking his vitals, and they didn’t seem to be in a huge hurry to rush Land to the hospital. So I thought that counted as a win.
I sighed deeply. I hadn’t realized exactly how worried I’d been about him until I saw him like this. He’d been so out of character lately with the late nights and the lack of dedication to work. I wondered if he’d know how dangerous the work with Danvers could be. I couldn’t see our investigation into a locked truck murder as something worth being killing for.
Danvers continued. “Where’s the woman who saw the people leaving his apartment last night?” He must have been upset, because other than me, there was only one other person milling about on the flagstone tiles. Her presence could barely be missed, even by Danvers.
I introduced him to the neighbor. “This is Mrs. Abbott. She lives next door. She saw some people leave Land’s apartment last night. She didn’t see Land though.”
Danvers held up a hand. “Let her speak for herself. I don’t need anyone leading witnesses. So you saw some people leaving Land’s place last night?”
She nodded and told her story again. She added a few details like it had been two men, one younger
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