Major Crimes Read Online Free PDF Page B

daughter woke her up early every day. Her internal clock should’ve been programmed to six in the morning, but what did I know?
    After debating whether or not to wake her, I decided to check on her to make sure she was okay without waking her. I crept down the hallway to Chelsey’s bedroom. The door was open, so I peered inside. The bed was made and Chelsey was MIA. Her bathroom door was open as well, so I knew she wasn’t in the latrine. The shower wasn’t running. I scratched my head. Where could she be? Did she go to work? I guess I assumed she’d call out of work since I was in her house, but maybe she didn’t.
    Chelsey’s car was missing. It surprised me that I hadn’t woken when she left the house or started up the car. I wasn’t about to sit around the house and do nothing. I wanted to go to the bar and interview the bartender, hostess, and manager, but it was much too early in the morning for that.
    Since I didn’t have anything to change into, getting dressed was easy—all I had to do was tie my sneakers. Conveniently, I ditched my bloody clothes and shoes in the lagoon behind Chelsey’s house; the only thing I had to wear was a spare outfit I kept in my gym bag. There was no reason to provide the police with more ammunition against me. Bloody clothes would’ve given them more evidence to wrongfully convict me.
    I left Chelsey’s house and jogged up the road to the strip mall. At the pharmacy, I purchased deodorant, a toothbrush, a razor, shaving cream, a prepaid cell phone, and an “I love the Jersey Shore” t-shirt, since that was the only wardrobe option available. I also bought the matching Jersey Shore baseball cap to complete my costume.
    Before I arrived back at Chelsey’s, I ditched my cell phone. I knew it could be used to find my whereabouts. A prepaid phone wouldn’t be easily tracked and I wouldn’t hold on to it long enough to be tracked.
    Thinking about what I should do next, I decided to contact Carl’s wife. A good investigator would rule out everyone close to Archie as the murderer, even if they didn’t consider that person a suspect. Even the best investigator made human errors. Carl worked the day shift. I hoped his wife had returned home after taking their children to school.
    I dialed Carl’s home phone. His wife picked up on the second ring.
    “Gloria?”
    “Yes.”
    “It’s Carl’s friend, Robert.”
    “Oh, yes, Robert. I remember you from our wedding.” I, too, was at Carl’s wedding. I sat at a table with an old school buddy of Carl’s, Robert. Robert mentioned that although he and Carl didn’t speak often, they always picked up where they had left off.
    “I was wondering if Carl was around.”
    “I’m sorry you missed him, Robert. He’s at work. I can tell him you called though. Is it urgent?”
    “No, no, it’s not urgent at all. I just saw him at Archie’s retirement party on Saturday, but I didn’t have much time to catch up with him. I got so busy talking to everyone that I didn’t see him leave. I was there until ten. What time did he get home?”
    “Oh, I’m not sure. Eleven or twelve maybe. I’m always in bed by that time.”
    “Yeah, I hear you. Those late nights are a thing of the past for me. Anyway, I’ll give Carl a call next week. Nice talking to you, Gloria.”
    “You too, Robert.”
    So, Carl got home around eleven or twelve. If only I could remember what time I left the bar…that would help. Perhaps the bartender or hostess remembered us leaving—but it wasn’t likely given that there were a lot of people at Savoy’s. I wondered if Savoy’s had video surveillance. If so, the recordings would show anyone following us when we left. Or I could track down the taxi that drove me home. Maybe they’d have logs.
    There were only two taxi companies that served the area. Taxi Joe’s and Gabby’s Cabbies. Taxi Joe’s phone number was easily located on the Internet, so I called them first. A kind woman told me that none of the