Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“What are you doing back here?” Mildred asked.
“I—uh—wanted to tell you that your building is absolutely lovely. I meant to say so before. And I’d love to hear the history of it, the building,” Natalie prompted.
Mildred frowned. “I don’t go for stuff like history. My husband, Ralph, God rest his soul, he was into all that stuff.”
“Yes, I remember you telling us about your husband Ralph,” Natalie said in an unnaturally loud voice.
Her hope was that if Ralph were anywhere in the vicinity, he’d hear and come to them. It earned her an amused glance from Liam but Mildred just nodded. “Thank you. It has been a burden handling this all without him.”
“Handling what, woman?” Ralph said from behind Mildred before walking through the wall to stand in the hallway and face his wife head on.
“You hire out everything. Kids to hang and take down the wreaths? You trying to squander what little money you have left? Good thing she smokes like a chimney. Probably won’t outlive her money but she’s spending like she’s trying to. ”
“I’m really sorry we never met your husband. I would have loved to speak with him. I’m sure he was very knowledgeable. I bet he could have answered all our questions.” She widened her eyes and stared at Ralph, tipping her head ever so slightly toward the front door.
Liam glanced down at her questioningly. She raised her eyebrows while squeezing his hand.
Ralph laughed. A deep hearty bellow. “I take it you want me to come outside and talk.”
“Yes. I sure would have liked to talk to him,” Natalie told Mildred who was starting to look at her like she was nuts. “But we’ve taken up enough of your time. I guess we should head outside, sweetie,” Natalie said with another squeeze of Liam’s hand.
“Yes. I agree, dear.” Liam turned his attention and his charm on the landlady. “Mildred. Thank you for your help. We really appreciate you taking the time.”
“Anytime.” She smiled, flashing yellow teeth.
“Bye. Have a good day. We’re heading outside now,” Natalie said with one more meaningful glance at Ralph before dragging Liam out by the hand.
Once they were outside, Liam shook his head. “That was real subtle.”
“I’m sorry. But I had to make sure Ralph knew we needed to talk to him.”
“Is he here?” Liam asked.
“Yes.”
Ralph was standing off to the side, admiring Liam’s black Jeep. Natalie grabbed Liam by the arms and angled him so he stood closer to Ralph, facing her.
“Stand right there.”
“Why?”
“So it looks like I’m talking to you and not thin air,” she explained before looking at Ralph. “Thanks for coming outside to talk to us.”
“No problem. It’s not like I have anything else to do.”
“We had a few questions.”
He grinned. “I expect nothing less. What have you got?” he asked, rubbing his hands together.
Liam did a quick run-down of what they’d discovered in the pills they’d taken from Lionel’s apartment and how it had led to the new police investigation of his murder.
Ralph shook his head. “Now it makes more sense. I didn’t think those two buffoons who came knocking on our door asking questions could come up with the evidence themselves. It was the doc, here.”
“Yes, it was. And you’re right, I’m still not at all confident the New Haven police can find the killer on their own. But I’m hoping I just found a lead that will help them. The problem is, based on what your wife told us the only student visiting Lionel recently was female…” Natalie began.
“Now there’s your mistake right there. Listening to Mildred. Yeah, there was a girl here a lot. But she wasn’t always alone. Sometimes her boyfriend came with her.”
Natalie’s eyes flew wide. “Yes. That’s exactly what I heard. The girl has a boyfriend. Did Mildred ever see the boy and did she mention that to the police or the detective?”
“Nah. She definitely told them about the girl, but I’m not sure she ever mentioned the boy. She was so annoyed with the detective for making her miss her stories, she barely told him anything before she hustled him out the door.”
“Do you think she ever saw the boy coming and going with the girl?” Natalie asked.
It would be really convenient if Mildred did see them together. And more importantly, if she actually remembered seeing them. Because Liam was right, what Ralph told her was not going to hold up on its own. She needed a living witness.
“I don’t know. Maybe. She doesn’t do much except watch who’s coming and going, unless her stories are on.” Ralph shrugged.
“Okay, next question. The boy apparently hates Lionel. He was calling Lionel a thief at some party. Do you know what he could be talking about?”
“Nah. Sorry. No clue. But hey, maybe ask Lionel since you’re the ghost whisperer and all.” Ralph laughed until he coughed.
Oh my God. Ralph was right. She was and she could. “Ralph. You’re a genius. I wish I could kiss you right now.”
“Believe me, kid. I wish you could too.” That sent him into another fit of laughing that led to hacking.
“You wanna fill me in on what has you so excited?” Liam asked. He stood with his arms folded patiently waiting for her to explain.
“I need to make a phone call.”
“To who?”
“Lionel.”
“Graves?” Liam frowned. “How? Will that even work?”
“I guess we’ll find out.” She’d heard Gabe. She should be able to hear Lionel too. And if she couldn’t she’d just have to get Gabe to help.
“Okay, next question. Why are we calling Graves?” Liam asked.
“I need to ask him why this former student hates him enough to want to kill him. And if he can think of any reason why this boy would accuse him of being a thief. It could be the motive. In fact, I know it is. I can feel it.”
Liam’s brows rose. “All right. Go ahead. Make the call. This should be interesting.”
Natalie sniffed out a laugh. He wasn’t wrong.