Chapter 19
Ray just couldn't help himself. "I swear to God, if I see that son-of-a-bitch, he's a dead man."
"You don't say.”
"I do say. That prick kicked me and my family out on the street like it was nothing. I begged him. He wouldn't give an inch. I was one day late on the rent. One day.”
"That's not exactly the story I heard,” I said.
Ray’s cheeks reddened with anger. "Who'd you hear that from? Nick?” Ray shook his head in disgust. "I told him I was going to be a little late on the rent. Circumstances beyond my control. He assured me it would be okay. Some unforeseen expenses came up, and I was a little short. Then I lost my job, found another one, but there was a little gap in between. Could happen to anybody.”
"You lost two jobs,” I said. “You don't work at Randy’s Garage anymore."
Ray’s face twisted. "Well, look who’s got the big brain? If I had a job, I wouldn’t be out here. Why are you digging into my background anyway?”
"Where are your wife and kids?”
He looked at me like it was a stupid question.
"My wife left. You think she was going to stick around and live in that car?” He scoffed.
“Hell no. She’s got a new boyfriend. My son is 18.
He's on his own. My daughter is 16. Want to know what she's doing? She’s selling her ass online on one of those fan sites. "
It was a shocking admission.
"You realize that’s illegal.”
"Well, you can tell her that when you find her. She don't listen to me none. My whole family fell apart because of Nick. Forgive me if I’m not a fan of the guy."
"Nick's dead.”
Ray's eyes rounded with surprise. "Dead as in he ain't breathing no more?"
I nodded.
Ray couldn't help but smile. "Well, the Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn’t he?"
"Are you in possession of a firearm?"
"I'm a convicted felon," Ray said. "That would be illegal."
"You mind if we take a look around your vehicle?”
"You got a warrant?"
"I can get one," I said, even though I knew I didn't have probable cause.
"Then get one. If that's all, would you mind leaving me alone? You’re scaring off business.”
Ray moved to the crosswalk and waited for the light.
“You still running with a gang, Ray?” I called after him.
He shot me an annoyed look.
"Do I look like I'm still running with a gang?"
I shrugged.
"If I were, I wouldn't be hustling on the street corner, begging for change. I'd be making real money. But I ain't doing that shit no more.”
The light turned green, and Ray crossed the street, walking back to the boardwalk.
JD and I followed, making our way back to the Porsche.
Ray kept glancing at us over his shoulder with annoyed eyes.
We paced him for a bit, then hopped into the Porsche. Jack fired up the engine. "What do you make of that guy?"
I shrugged. "You’d have to be pretty stupid to mow down a bunch of Christmas carolers in your own car.”
"Maybe he tapped some of his old crew to help him out," Jack said.
I certainly couldn’t rule Ray out.
Jack pulled away from the curb, and we headed across town to the Delphine. Sheila Morris had lived with her roommate, Erica Bell. Sheila was the only victim who didn't live in Stingray Bay.
We parked in the visitors’ lot, hopped out, and made our way to the entrance. I buzzed the unit from the call box.
A soft voice answered a moment later. "Can I help you?"
"Deputy Wild with Coconut County. Is this Erica?”
“Yes," she said in a tentative voice.
“We just need to ask a few questions about your roommate."
"Okay, but I'm getting ready to walk out the door."
“This will only take a minute.”
She buzzed us in, and Jack grabbed the door.
We hurried through the lobby and took the elevators up to the fifth floor, then ambled down the hallway to #514.
I knocked on the door, and Erica answered a moment later.
She was a cute blonde with short hair that hung just above her ears.
Her big brown eyes and adorable features had an enchanting quality.
I introduced Jack, and we exchanged pleasantries.
She said, "Please, come in."
Erica stepped aside and escorted us down the foyer and into the living room. She offered us a seat on the sofa.
The Delphine was an upscale midrise, popular with young professionals.
The unit had light gray hardwoods and was decorated with coastal furniture and beachy accents.
The balcony offered a view of the neighboring complex.
Plastic patio furniture provided a place to sit, and a 10-speed bike took up most of the terrace.
Erica shook her head in dismay as she sat. "I can't believe she's gone."
"Were you two close?" I asked.
Erica nodded. "We met in nursing school. We've been friends ever since. Sheila used to work with me in the ER, but then went private, doing end-of-life care."
“Were you working last night?”
“Yes. 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM,” she said in an exhale, the grind apparent in her voice. "I’m on again tonight, then I’ve got a couple of days off.”
"How do you like working nights?"
"I don't mind it so much. Sheila and I were hardly ever here at the same time. It kept us out of each other's hair. It almost felt like I didn't have a roommate at times. Made the bills a lot easier." She frowned. “I don’t know what I’m going to do now.”
"Can you think of anybody who may have wanted to harm her?"
Erica looked confused. "I thought this was just random gang violence. That's what they're saying on the news.”
"We're still looking for the shooters and a motive. We don’t know who the target was or why.”
Erica thought for a long moment. "You know, I can't really think of anybody who wanted to hurt Sheila.
She was such a kind and compassionate person.
" Erica cringed. "I guess she did have a pretty nasty breakup with her boyfriend.
But I don't think Wade would mow her down, taking out a bunch of innocent people. "
"Wade?"
"Wade Donnelly. They’d been dating about nine months, I'd say. I guess you could call it dating. I thought it might get serious there for a minute, but Sheila was a hard one to nail down.”
"Commitment issues?"
"You could say. She liked being light and unencumbered.
She liked the idea that she could pick up and go at any time.
Nursing is the kind of job where you can travel and work in different settings.
Meet new people." Erica hesitated, then said, "Sheila liked to meet new people, if you know what I mean. "
I knew what she meant. "I take it that didn't sit well with Wade.”
"Wade wanted a commitment. I think he was looking to settle down and start a family. But Sheila was getting a little long in the tooth for that. I don't think that was ever in her plan.”
“It’s a pretty massive commitment," JD said.
“I don't want to speak badly about my friend, but if Sheila met somebody she liked and was attracted to, she would indulge in that."
"Did Wade ever catch her indulging?"
"I guess Wade was under the impression they were dating exclusively. Sheila didn’t see it that way. There sure were fireworks when he found out.”
“Did he get violent?”
“I wasn’t there when it went down, but Wade wasn’t happy about it.
There was a lot of screaming and yelling.
Some pretty harsh words were exchanged, from what Sheila told me.
” Her brow wrinkled as she thought about it for a moment.
“You know, somebody did slash her tires after that.” Erica shook her head.
“She couldn’t prove it was Wade.” She frowned, not totally unsympathetic to Wade’s plight.
“I don't know if she ever made it clear to him that she still considered their relationship open. After a certain amount of time, especially nine months, I think a certain degree of monogamy is expected. Or at least implied. I mean, what are you doing dating that long if it’s not moving in a direction?
" She paused. "Usually it’s the other way around.
The guy doesn't want to commit. But Sheila liked to consider herself a free spirit.”
"What about you? Are you seeing anyone now?" JD asked, not entirely for professional reasons.
Erica looked him up and down, considering it for a moment. "I happen to be in between Mr. Wrongs at the moment.”
Jack tried to contain his grin, possibilities in the air. Erica was an attractive woman.
She looked at her watch. "I really need to run."
I dug into my pocket and handed her a card. "If you think of anything else that might be relevant, please get in touch."
"I will."
We stood up and started for the door. JD said, "It was a pleasure to meet you. I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances."
"Me too.” A frown tugged Erica's pretty lips. "What are the odds of catching these guys?”
Jack shrugged. "No promises, but we have a pretty good track record.”
She nodded and walked us to the door. We thanked her again, then stepped outside and strolled back down the hallway.
"She was cute.”
"Do not use that as an excuse to go to the ER just because you want to see her again," I said.
"Trust me, I've had my fill of that place.”
We took the elevator back down to the lobby and hurried out to the visitor lot. We hopped in the Porsche and set out to find Wade Donnelly.