Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Once again, Natalie and Liam stood in front of the big brick and stone building in New Haven that was once where Lionel Graves lived—and where he died.
It was also the residence of Mildred and Ralph Roth, which was exactly the reason for Natalie’s return.
“I can’t believe we’re back here,” Liam said.
Natalie shot him a sideways glance. “The drive wasn’t so bad.”
“It’s not the drive. It’s Mildred. I’m not sure she’s going to be happy to see us again.”
“It’s not time for her stories and too early for her afternoon nap. So whatever morning ritual we are interrupting, I’m sure she’ll get over it.”
“If you say so.” Liam drew in what looked to be a bracing breath. “Ready to go inside?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Liam opened the front door for her then together, side by side, they made their way to Mildred’s first floor apartment.
“I hope Ralph is around,” she whispered to Liam before raising her fist to knock.
“Where else would he go?”
Natalie lifted her brow. “There are co-ed girls living like a block from here.”
“Oh, right.” Liam cringed. “I try to block out the knowledge the ghosts are always spying on us. If I don’t…well, let’s just say you and I would be living more like brother and sister than girlfriend and boyfriend.”
The sound of more than one lock being disengaged stopped this disturbing conversation in its tracks as Mildred unlocked and then pulled open the door of her apartment.
Natalie forced a bright smile. “Hi. Remember us? We were here a week or two ago getting Lionel Graves’s things.”
“Yeah. I remember. Forget something?” she asked in a voice roughened by many years and countless cigarettes.
“We actually were hoping you could answer some questions for us,” Liam said.
Mildred’s gaze shifted up to Liam. “I suppose I could answer a few things for you.” The old lady’s entire demeanor changed, softened, as she looked at Liam. Good.
She didn’t know what that said about her, but Natalie was fine using Liam’s good looks to get information out of this old woman.
“The police have actually deemed Lionel’s death was murder and we’re helping out with the investigation,” Natalie began.
“I know. The police have already been here. And some detective too. Interrupted me in the middle of my stories, he did.” Mildred scowled.
“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry about that. Some people are so rude,” Natalie said, trying to suck up to the woman. “So, uh, what did the police want to know?”
“Just if Lionel ever had students visit him here. Oh, and if I had one of those doorbell video cameras.”
“And do you?” Natalie asked, excited.
“No.”
“What we really wanted to ask you was if you remember which of Lionel’s students came in and out of the apartment around the time that he died,” Liam asked, taking over the questioning.
“Like I told the coppers. No. No one came in or out of his apartment the day he died. I know because I was watching out the window most of the day. Somebody had to supervise the kids I hired to take down the Christmas decorations on the building or they would just loaf off. If anybody came inside I would have seen them.”
“What about during the weeks before his death? Did you see any students coming and in and out then?” Liam said, following up.
Natalie knew what he was thinking. Those pills could have been switched out in the bottles weeks ahead of his death. Lionel himself could have refilled his daily pill case with the potassium without even knowing it.
“Yeah. Like I told the coppers, he had kids coming in a lot, all the time.”
Mildred reinforcing that Lionel had his TAs in his apartment was helpful, but it still didn’t narrow down which of the four had opportunity.
“There was one I remember in particular,” Mildred continued.
Natalie perked up. “Why is that?”
“Because she was such a pretty little thing. I remember thinking what an old dog he was, having her come to his apartment.”
“And when did she come by last?” Liam asked.
“Oh, she was in and out a bunch of times that week before he died, now that I think about it.”
Natalie’s eyes widened. From what Lionel had told them, he had three male TAs and only one female.
Heart pounding, Natalie reached to squeeze Liam’s arm. He shot her a glance and a slight nod. He realized the importance of the information they’d gleaned too.
The only thing they hadn’t accomplished was speaking with Ralph. As a ghost, he had access to see things Mildred wouldn’t. But maybe they, and the police, had all they needed. A real suspect. Someone who had means and opportunity.
But they still didn’t have motive…
“Is that all?” Mildred asked, looking like she was starting to get annoyed. Or maybe she was just tired of standing when her easy chair, her cigarettes and the television awaited.
“Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Roth. You’ve been really helpful,” Liam said with a smile which seemed to appease the old lady.
“Sure. Anytime.” Mildred slammed the door, leaving them standing alone in the dimly lit hallway, but they weren’t coming away completely empty handed.
Natalie spun to Liam and whispered, “I don’t think Mildred told the police about the girl. We might be the only people who know it was the female TA who was here most during the right time frame to swap out Lionel’s pills. We need to go to the police station.”
Liam drew in a breath as they walked out the front door of the building. “I hate to say this, but I think you’re right. Next stop, the New Haven Police Department.”
“I’ll search for the address.” Excited, Natalie dug her cell phone out of her purse.