The Pawnbroker

The Pawnbroker by Aimée Thurlo Page B

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Authors: Aimée Thurlo
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dyes.”
    â€œYou know more about that than me,” Gordon said. “On another matter, do you think that whoever killed Baza and shot Gina just might be the same person who tried to take you out last night?”
    â€œThat’s what my gut says, which suggests he’ll probably strike again because I managed to screw up his plans. We need to be ready. Our best strategy has always been to take the offensive—get to him first,” Charlie said.
    Charlie walked back over to the coffeemaker to top off his mug. “We need to track down Eddie Henderson and maybe lean on him some more and see where that leads. He admitted having an interest in Baza and the woman employee, Ruth. Otherwise, why ask if she’d been coming around?”
    â€œYeah, and Eddie admitted knowing our routine, something he may live to regret now. That plumber’s truck was waiting in just the right spot because the driver knew the route you usually took home,” Gordon said. “Put Eddie at the top of the list. Hell, he may have even followed us to the Baza meet yesterday and done the shooting. You suppose we should ask Nancy to request an ATL on Eddie’s vehicle and maybe have someone drive by his home and workplace?”
    â€œDoesn’t hurt to bring it up. I’ll try her cell. Since she works the evening shift, she’s probably getting out of bed right now, and will be heading for the hospital after that,” Charlie said. “But maybe she can make some calls on the way.”
    â€œMeanwhile I’ll get hold of Travis and check where we’re at on his work schedule. Until we get that entry point neutralized there’s at least one person who already knows how to get in,” Gordon said.
    *   *   *
    Charlie put the cell phone back in his pocket as he climbed into the loaner car his insurance agent had arranged. The Charger was going to be in the body shop for several days, but at least it wasn’t totaled, and the insurance would cover all but a thousand for repairs. He had the money, but it would be tight for a while. They were barely making enough now to pay the bills—forget about profit. Gordo said not to worry, they could always set an accidental fire and get their money back.
    He hadn’t had any luck learning Ruth’s last name, but Melissa, at the laundry, had been able to help with the other employee, Jake Salazar. Right now Gordon was trying to contact Baza’s former clerk to see if he was available for a part-time position. It turned out that the sixty-four-year-old man had moved back into the area and was looking for work.
    Melissa also remembered Eddie, who’d talked her head off maybe six months ago, then came back with more questions just last Friday. Both times, most of his questions had centered around Baza—and Ruth—which had creeped Melissa out a little. The laundress admitted that Ruth had been pretty and charming, but very private. She had no idea where Ruth lived, either.
    Charlie had just spoken to Nancy, who’d been in contact with Detective DuPree. The lead investigator had already run into a significant snag—he hadn’t been able to get a location for Baza’s residence. There were no utility records for the man—phone, gas, electrical, cell phone, or anything else since he’d defaulted and walked away from Three Balls four months ago. His driver’s license still listed his old address. Baza had a cell phone on him when he died, but it was a disposable one with no real hope of backtracking.
    Charlie and Gordo had been able to find Baza for their first meeting via an e-mail account they’d discovered in some paperwork at the shop. Gina had set up the second meeting, also using that account, and got him to agree to terms.
    DuPree was having the police department’s computer people try and track down a physical address via that account, but were having no luck at all.
    Fifteen minutes

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