First Family (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 4)

“Which puts our guy there right in the sweet spot,” Michelle commented.

“Sweet spot?” said June, looking quizzically at her.

“Window of opportunity,” explained Sean. “So the guy was there. What was he doing?”

“Walking, walking away from me. I’m not sure he even saw me. The street was pretty dark. I bring a flashlight with me but I hadn’t turned it on because the moon was out and Cedric and I walk very slowly. We both have arthritis.”

“So he was walking away from you. Did you see anything else? Like where he came from?” prompted Michelle.

“Well, it appeared to me that he came out from between two houses. The one with all the cars parked out front and the one next to it on the right.”

“My parents’ house,” said Michelle.

“I guess so, only I didn’t know them.”

“What else?” asked Sean.

“Well, that was the strange thing,” began June.

“Strange?” said Bobby.

“Yes. I was on the other side of the street from him, but I could still see it.”

“See what?” Michelle asked, her voice shaking slightly.

“Oh, that’s right, I didn’t say. It was the flashes.”

“The flashes?” said Sean and Michelle together.

“Yes. The man was walking up the street, but he was stopping at each of the parked cars. Then he would raise his hand and a little flash would appear.”

“Was he next to each car when he did this, in front, in back?” asked Michelle.

“In back, and he bent over a little bit each time. Like I said, he was tall.”

Michelle looked at Sean. “He was photographing the license plates of the cars.”

“The flash was from the camera,” added Sean while Bobby nodded.

“And he did this at each car?” asked Michelle.

June nodded. “Looked to be that way.”

“Why would our perp be taking pictures?” wondered Bobby.

June’s face brightened. “Perp? I’ve heard the word before. I watch Law & Order religiously. I loved Jerry Orbach, God rest his soul. And that Sam Waterston. He played Lincoln, you know.”

“Did you see anything else?” asked Michelle. “Like where the guy went?”

“Oh, yes. He finished with the cars and then he walked back toward me, but on the other side of the street. He looked around, probably to make sure no one was watching. I doubt he saw me and Cedric. There’re some large bushes where we were and I was standing sort of behind them, because Cedric was peeing and he gets embarrassed if people see him using the facilities. Then he turned up the driveway and went inside the house.”

Michelle looked bewildered. “House? Which house?”

“The house next to the one where the cars were parked. He went right in the front door.”

Michelle, Bobby, and Sean all looked at one another.

The tall older man taking pictures had to be Frank Maxwell.