Hothouse Orchid (Holly Barker 6)
Page 97
“Right. Maybe he did it at a time that wasn’t our time line.”
“When?”
“When did the ME say that Bruno died?”
“Something like midnight to four a.m.”
“How’s that for a time line. Does that work for Jimmy?”
“If it did, that would have given him time to write the suicide note.”
“Does Jimmy live with anybody?”
“I don’t know.”
“I guess you ought to find out whether he has an alibi, then, ’cause I’m starting to like him for the homicide. Isn’t that what they say on the TV shows?”
“Yeah.” Holly got her address book and dialed up the home number for Jane Grey, who was the secretary at the station.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Jane, it’s Holly. I’m sorry to disturb you on a Sunday morning.”
“That’s okay, Holly, but I’ve got to go to church in a minute.”
“I just have a couple of questions. Do you know if Jimmy Weathers lives with anybody?”
“Yes, he lives with his mother.”
“Does he have a girlfriend?”
“Not that I know of. He’s always looking for dates, though. I don’t think he gets many.”
“Okay, thanks, Jane. You go on to church.”
“Why do you want to know about Jimmy, Holly?”
“I can’t say right now, but please don’t tell him I asked.”
“All right. Bye-bye.” Jane hung up.
Josh turned on the Cuisinart and started adding butter to the egg yolks. “So?”
“Jimmy lives with his mother.”
“Didn’t you once say that one thing in the serial killer profile is that he would probably live with his mother?”
“Yes, I did. And something else: Jimmy doesn’t have a girlfriend, and he told me he did. When we were down at the marina after Daisy and I found that body on the beach. Jimmy lied to me, and Jimmy has a boat.”
“Maybe he just didn’t want to admit he didn’t have a girlfriend.”
“No. I didn’t ask him; he volunteered it. Said he and his girlfriend like to go out on his boat together.”
“So now do we suspect Jimmy of more than killing Bruno?”
“In theory,” Holly said. “I want to know if he has an alibi.”
“How are you going to find out?”