Weapons of Mass Distraction by Camilla Chafer Read Free Book Online Page B

investigations?”
    “I’m worried they might not investigate the deaths of Jim and Karen at all, to concentrate on Lorena since they know she was murdered for sure. Not that she doesn’t deserve all their efforts. I hope they find the bastard that did that to her. I just don’t want someone else dying in my gym while they’re not looking, or if, when they finally look, there’s no evidence. Or if every potential witness’s brain goes funny and no one can remember what they saw or heard.”
    “You think like an investigator,” said Solomon.
    “I think like a man who wants to keep his job while making sure no one else dies,” replied Michael.
    “Can you afford us?” asked Solomon, predictably.
    “Yes, I have access to discretionary funds. If something hinky is going on, the gym’s owners will be glad I used the money to investigate. Whatever happens, you’ll get paid. I promise you that.”
    “Okay, Lexi will run through the paperwork with you. You’ll sign it, pay a retainer, and we’ll get started. We can do all that at the end of the meeting. Right now, I need to know a few things. Are the areas where the two deaths occurred at the gym secure?”
    “No one’s been inside the spin studio ever since the police left. I had it locked up.”
    “Cleaners?”
    “Not yet.”
    “No one touched anything?”
    “Nope.”
    “And the treadmill?”
    “Had it put in storage in the basement. Me and my assistant manager moved it, but we used gloves. The gym is still open.”
    “Good thinking. What about the possessions of the deceased?”
    “The police weren’t interested so we left their lockers be. Jim might have left something in the spin studio and, like I said, that’s still locked up. There was a water bottle and towel on the treadmill Karen used, and they’re both in my office.”
    “You called Lexi because you knew she was a private investigator. Is that common knowledge at the gym?” Solomon inquired, glancing at me quickly. I shook my head.
    “I only knew because Lexi told me a while back,” said Michael, looking toward me for confirmation.
    I nodded. “Lorena knew too, and Lily. I don’t think anyone else knows though. You’ve told me not to discuss it, which is why I don’t. Lily and I have been going there for years so I’m a familiar face, um, occasionally.”
    “Did anyone know that you knew Lorena? Or the other deceased?”
    I shook my head. “I only got to know Lorena recently and we met up outside the gym to run. We haven’t though for the past couple of weeks because of her ankle injury. I didn’t know the other two, but I did see them from time to time. Familiar faces, but not enough to talk to. No one would think I have any particular connection to any of them.”
    “Okay, so it’s probably safe to keep Lexi at the gym so she can monitor the situation. She’ll need to be the eyes and ears for anything suspicious that we should investigate.” Solomon stood and took the few steps over to the door to beckon Flaherty in. The ex-detective appeared at the door. “Flaherty can liaise with the coroner and MPD here.”
    “Yes, boss,” said Flaherty, giving a single nod before shutting the door behind him. A moment later, he was at his desk, on a phone and dialing.
    “Lexi will fill you in,” said Solomon. “Michael, what reason could Lexi have for explaining why she’s at the gym so much?”
    “I have a vacancy for a spin instructor now that Anton’s taking a few weeks off.”
    They both looked at me. “You have got to be kidding?” I spluttered. “Me? A spin instructor? All that cycling and going nowhere?”
    “I know you spin,” said Michael.
    “Under sufferance!”
    “Maybe you could just be an instructor,” said Michael. “A trainee? Then it doesn’t matter that you don’t know much. You won’t even have to teach any classes!”
    I looked at Solomon and nodded; he shrugged, so I turned back to Michael. “I guess so long as I don't have to teach anything