Part 67 (1/2)
”You win that one.” He dragged on his s.h.i.+rt. ”And you're naked.”
”I'll take care of that.”
”Too bad. Naked housekeeping might've been fun.”
She grinned as he hurried out, as he called to the dog.
Eli Landon, she thought, was coming back strong.
Downstairs he ordered the dog to stop. She surprised him by doing just that, b.u.t.t sitting right by his side as he opened the door.
He tried to block that first, automatic strike of panic when he saw cops. Pushed back against the dark cloud that habitually followed.
Not Wolfe at least, he thought.
”Detective Corbett, Vinnie.”
”Nice dog,” Corbett began.
”Hey, is that Barbie?” When the dog immediately reacted with a greeting woof and wagging tail, Vinnie bent down to pet her. ”You've got Barbie, Mr. Bridle's dog. He died in his sleep a couple weeks ago. The neighbor came to check on him as she did most days, and found Barbie here guarding the bed. She's a good dog, she is.”
As if remembering himself, Vinnie straightened. ”Sorry. I'm just glad to see her in a good home. She's a great dog.”
”Pretty girl,” Corbett commented. ”Do you have a few minutes, Mr. Landon?”
”I get that question from cops a lot.” But he stepped back to let them in.
”Deputy Hanson told me about the latest break-in so I asked him to come with me to speak to you. Have you had a chance to go through the house thoroughly, check for anything missing or out of place?”
”Things were already out of place from the search. We've been putting it back together, and so far I haven't found anything missing. He's not a thief, not in the cla.s.sic sense anyway.”
”I have your statement from last night, but I wonder if you could go over your activities yesterday evening for me.”
Corbett looked up as Abra, fully dressed, walked downstairs with a laundry basket. ”Ms. Walsh.”
”Detective. Hi, Vinnie. Cleaning day. Can I get you coffee? A cold drink?”
”No, but thanks.” Corbett s.h.i.+fted his stance. ”You were with Mr. Landon when the break-in was discovered?”
”That's right. I work at the Village Pub on most Friday nights. Eli came up-when was that?-nine-thirty or so, I guess. He and Stoney Tribbet hung out at the bar swapping lies.”
”Stoney's a local character,” Vinnie explained.
”We stayed till closing,” Eli continued. ”Abra and I walked Stoney home, then walked back here.”
”Deputy Hanson logged your call to him at one-forty-three.”
”That's right. We went into the kitchen, and I saw the alarm pad smudged, then checked the door and found fresh jimmy marks. And yeah, I've changed the code. Again.”
”And added backup,” Abra said, giving Barbie a rub.