“You know I work better alone, Marcus. She’ll just slow me down.”
“That is so unfair, Garrett. I will not slow you down. I’m not just some rookie—”
Marcus held up his hand. “Enough.” Both Garrett and Olivia looked at Marcus. “You two sound like you’re married.”
“No, we don’t,” Olivia said quickly and Garrett agreed.
“I know you work alone,” Marcus added. “That’s why I want Olivia to look into Abril Arrington. I want to know everything about her. Who she was in business with, who her clients were—everything. Talk to the neighbors, one of them has got to be the eyewitness. Take a run at him. Let’s see how rock solid he is. As far as I can see, their case hinges on him. And see if you can’t run down her alibi. His name is Wade Long.”
“You got it, boss.” Olivia turned to Garrett. “I’m sorry, Garrett, but this is what I do.” She turned back to Marcus. “You want me to go at the husband?”
“Take a look at him, follow the money, but don’t talk to him, at least not yet. Once we see how this is looking, I might want Garrett to go at him hard.”
“Cause that’s what I do, girlie,” Garrett said and beat his chest.
“I can do hard,” Olivia said quietly.
9
It was another hot afternoon in the ATL, another day that Olivia wished the air conditioner in her Honda worked. But the way her finances were going, getting Freon for the compressor was so far down on the priority list that it wasn’t even funny. Olivia was behind on just about every bill she had.
It was after one o'clock and Olivia thought she would stop somewhere for lunch. And she was sure that she wouldn’t be going any place like Oceanaire Seafood Room. That Black and Bleu, Blue Marlin Steak set her back a chunk and Garrett wasn’t going to reimburse her for her expense until next week. So, as she had done many times before, she would stop at McDonalds and order a kids meal.
Olivia had spent the morning trying to get some background on Abril Arrington, but she really hadn’t gotten anywhere.
Her next stop would be Venture Capital, the business Abril Arrington owned. The office was in Dunwoody, not far from Perimeter Mall. Olivia decided she would pass up Mickey D’s and grab something in the mall, maybe even do a little window-shopping. One thing was certain, she definitely was enjoying the freedom she now had not being on the job anymore; being a beat cop was to confining for her. Olivia only hoped things would work out for her. “Cause these lunches is getting expensive,” Olivia mused as she got out of her car and went inside.
She wondered around the food court trying to decide what to have. Did she have a taste for Malibu Wings or Panda Express or Sakkio Japan? Olivia decided to be a good girl and chose Salad Sensations.
After lunch, Olivia made her way to Venture Capital. It was located in a nice office park. Olivia went in the building and approached the receptionist. “Good afternoon. How may I help you?” the woman asked.
“My name is Olivia Wayne. I’m a private investigator looking into the death of Abril Arrington, and I was wondering if I could have a look at her office?”
“I’m sorry. Who did you say you were looking for?”
“Abril Arrington,” Olivia said tentatively.
“I’m sorry. I’m not familiar with that name.”
“This isn’t her office?”
“What’s the name of her company?” the receptionist asked.
“Venture Capital. I was told that this was her office and had been for the last two years. Maybe my information is wrong,” Olivia said more to herself than the receptionist.
“Venture Capital. Yes, we do rent space to that company.”
“Rent space?”
“Yes, we rent office space to small business people. It comes with a receptionist that answers their calls in their company’s name. And they get access to the conference room, computers and other office equipment.”
“I see. The receptionist—that would be you?”
“That’s right.”
“How long have you been working here?”
“Two years this December.”