The Black Palmetto Read Free Page B

him. Jake seemed anxious to tell you something about the guy, but when I asked him what it was, he wouldn't say.”
    “Did you leave before he did?”
    “We went out to the parking lot at the same time, a minute or so after you left. He said he had to talk to you about something at the motel, but wouldn’t tell me what it was. I waited before pulling out, so he wouldn’t see me, and then I drove to the Blue Iguana, hoping to eavesdrop on your conversation. When Jake didn’t show, I went back to Chopin’s in case he showed up there again. I got there just a few minutes ahead of you, and the police were already there, standing over his dead body.”
    “You don't seem too shook up about it.”
    “What? Oh, Jake and I weren't dating if that's what you think. I met him at Chopin's to get some information for a story about a big development his father is building in Marathon.”
    “Did you get it?”
    “Some of it, but when you came in and flashed that photo, he got quiet and didn't say much after that.”
    She tried to get him to tell more about why he was searching for Spanner, and Sam told her about the cash.
    “And that's it? He stole some money and you're trying to get it back? That doesn't sound much like government work to me.”
    She grinned when she said it, and he thought she might be loosening up.
    “I never said anything about the government. You did.”
    “Yeah, but you led me to believe I was right.”
    “Sorry about that, but I really can't say any more about it.”
    Lora pushed back from the table and crossed her arms. “I guess that about does it, then.”
    Sam didn't want her to leave, telling himself that she might know something else of value. “What keeps a newspaper reporter busy in a town like this?”
    After taking a sip of coffee, she said, “There's more going on here than you'd think. We had a murder here a couple of months ago. I wrote four stories on it.”
    “What happened?”
    “A man’s body was found over on the highway, stabbed in the chest. Nobody could identify him.”
    “You seem pretty matter-of-fact about it,” Sam said, “like that sort of thing doesn't bother you.”
    She frowned. “Oh, it bothered me at first. It was the biggest thing to happen here in a long time. No one could remember anyone ever being murdered on Iguana Key. They never found the killer.”
    They were quiet for a moment. Sam checked his watch. 10:35 p.m. “You have any ideas about who could have killed Jake?”
    She gave him a stare. “Not a clue. Maybe it had something to do with what he planned to tell you.”
    Maybe it did. “I'd like to see the stories you wrote about the other murder.”
    “You think the same person killed Jake?”
    Maybe it had nothing to do with Spanner, but two murders so close together in this backwater town seemed suspicious.
    “Could be.”
    She checked her watch. “It's too late tonight, but I could get the issues for you tomorrow if you drop by the newspaper office.”
    Sam smiled. “Don't you keep copies at home?”
    Raising an eyebrow, she said, “Yeah, but I don't know you. You think I'm going to take you to my house?”
    “It was worth a try.”
    A smile teased at the corner of her mouth. She stared for a moment. “Okay, why not. You seem pretty harmless. But you have to tell me something else about this guy you're searching for.”
    “Sounds like a good trade.”
    ****
    Sam followed her about a mile down US-1. They turned right and rode another half-mile to a subdivision. In the dark it looked like a development from the 1940's and 50's. Cabana-style homes built with painted cinder blocks. Mature palms dotted the front lawns. No garages or carports.
    Lora turned into a driveway, pulled the car behind the house, and stopped. A light inside a screened porch cast a glow on her car and the back yard. They got out, and she went through the screened porch and in the back door. Sam followed her inside past an entrance hall to the kitchen.
    “Have a seat and