Chapter Thirty-Eight

Theo Washington

Theo unlocked the door to Margo's office near the corner of Cave Creek and East Hatcher. Her narrow space was wedged between a barbershop and a take-out pizza place. One end was a mini-mart, the other a drive-through liquor store. There were a few other small businesses—including a Mexican diner owned by one of Margo's cousins. He couldn't keep her family straight. He thought the Orozcos were her grandfather's sister's family, and there were more of them than there were Morales and Angelhart combined.

He had his grandma and an uncle who lived in Colorado who he hadn't seen in years. His dad had been in and out of jail for years, but Theo barely remembered him. Didn't even know if he was dead or alive. His mom, an addict, walked out when he was ten. He didn't know if she was dead or alive, either. His grams had never left. She gave him a home, had rules he mostly followed (at least the important ones), and she loved him. She could be a bear at times, but he never doubted that she would be there for him no matter what.

But Margo? It seemed she was related to half the people in Phoenix. Her family had welcomed him as if he were one of theirs, even invited him and his grams over for Thanksgiving last year. His grams was nervous, wore her Sunday best, but everyone was real cool to her and raved over her peach pie.

Theo didn't really understand what had happened three years ago when Margo and her mom had it out. He hadn't known Margo then. All he knew was that it had something to do with her dad going to prison for murder. Margo said he was innocent and Theo made a crack that everyone said they were innocent. She had stared at him so hard his mouth went dry.

Now he knew more about Cooper Angelhart. And he felt for Margo, he really did, but if her dad pled guilty, maybe he was. Maybe it was Margo who needed to accept it. He never said that to her. He liked his job, and he liked Margo. Cooper Angelhart was an off-limits subject.

The pizza place wasn't open, but he could smell Mexican food and his stomach growled. They were open for breakfast and lunch. The neighborhood went to shit at night, but during the day wasn't too bad. He'd grab a breakfast burrito and put it on Margo's tab when he talked to the Orozcos about their security cameras.

Margo had a shit-ton of mail. Did she ever come to her office? There was at least two weeks' worth of crap here.

He sorted through it. Most of it was junk. He tossed it all, except two envelopes that looked like business (though were probably junk, too) and then checked her messages.

Margo gave clients her business card, which had this number and her cell number. She retrieved messages remotely, but people usually called her cell. There were currently two on the machine. An actual answering machine instead of a digital service. Why she had it, he didn't know.

He grabbed a pen from the drawer and the sticky pad on the desk and hit Play.

The first was a hang-up a couple seconds after the beep. Whatever. He deleted it. The second call was also a hang-up, but the caller stayed on for several seconds, breathing.

Creepy. Theo saved it because it was unusual and Margo always said to watch for anything out of the ordinary.

He locked the door and walked three stores down to the Mexican diner. His stomach did a flip of excitement. He didn't think they'd remember him, but the short chubby woman behind the counter smiled. "Theo! I haven't seen you in weeks."

"Hi, Miz Orozco."

"The usual breakfast burrito?"

"You remember?"

"Carne asada, the works, no jalape?os, extra cheese."

He grinned. He liked Mexican food, just not too spicy. "Perfect."

She rapidly called his order into the kitchen in Spanish. "I'll put it on Margo's tab."

"Appreciate it, ma'am. Margo wanted me to talk to you about your security camera."

"That girl," Mrs. Orozco shook her head, but smiled. "Yes, we listened to her, we make sure it's working all the time. Tell her not to worry. We've had no trouble for months."

"Would you mind if I look at the recordings for the last couple days?"

Her expression turned to alarm. "Has something happened?"

"Naw, not at all. Margo just wants me to check to see if someone has come by when she wasn't here." He was vague and Mrs. Orozco looked at him suspiciously, but he didn't want to worry her.

"Margo takes so many risks, all the time." She waved her arms around dramatically, then clutched the small gold crucifix she wore. "We pray for her every night. She nearly died saving Homer and my boy, Michael." She kissed her cross before stuffing it back under her blouse.

That was before Theo's time, but he'd heard the story from the Orozcos at least three times, and again from Margo's grandpa over Thanksgiving. Margo said everyone exaggerated, that she didn't nearly die. But she saved the Orozcos from an armed robber, and Theo liked hearing the story. At least the first couple of times.

"Margo is one of a kind," Theo said. "She's fine, just wanted me to check a few things, if you don't mind."

"Not at all, not at all. Follow me, I'll bring your breakfast to you in the back, okay?"

"Great."

She showed Theo to the computer that ran the security cameras. She didn't know how to use it, but gave him the login and password; that was all he needed.

The system didn't have any bells and whistles, but was a good basic package. Two cameras, front and back. Digital video was stored on the computer for seven days, then erased. An alarm system when they were closed, a panic button if there was trouble during the day.

Theo ran through the feed fast, starting with Monday afternoon. If Carillo broke into Margo's house Monday night, he could have come here right before or after. He looked specifically for the blue minivan.

Mrs. Orozco gave him his burrito, and he ate it while watching the video. She also brought him a Coke, remembering he didn't like the diet crap.

He almost missed the minivan because he was enjoying his breakfast, and had to rewind.

At 10:07 p.m., the only business open on the strip mall was the drive-through liquor store, which closed at eleven during the week. The minivan had turned into the strip mall from Hatcher, based on the fact that it moved from south to north on the camera. He couldn't see the driver, but the vehicle moved slowly, as if looking for an address. Theo froze the image just as the van was about to move out of sight. He could make out part of the license plate. It ended in 1284. If he had a better computer, he might be able to make out the letters that preceded the numbers, but from here they were just a blurry blob.

He pulled out the note Margo had given him with Carillo's physical description, vehicles, and license. Those numbers matched the minivan.

The van returned after five minutes. And now Theo could see the driver's face. Sure looked like the asshole Margo had described.

He copied the file and sent it to himself and Margo with a quick explanation, then he continued his review.

The van didn't show up again.

When Theo was done an hour later, he brought his plate to the front counter.

Mrs. Orozco asked, "Did you find what you needed?"

"Yep. Thanks so much."

"Good, good. You still hungry?"

"I'm stuffed. It was great."

"Let me refill your Coke." She held out her hand and he handed her the disposable cup. She topped it off and handed it back to him. "Tell Margo don't be a stranger. You, too. And bring your grandma in sometime, my treat."

"She'd like that, thanks."

Theo left and called Margo. "Did you get my message?"

"Looking at it now. It's him, isn't it?"

"Yeah. The image is pretty clear, and I could read part of the license plate."

"Okay. I have one more thing for you."

"Awesome. Give it to me."

"I'm texting you a number. Her name is Cora Mannigan, and she manages a condo complex in Scottsdale. Between eleven and noon I'll send you a text that says now. Call her and tell her you're looking for a condo for your grandma. Ask a lot of questions about the complex. Anything you can think of. Availability, pets, gym, stores, restaurants, view. She'll ask you to come in and look. Tell her you're out of the area and need to get a list together or something. Make it up, I don't care, just keep her on the phone as long as you can. When I text you again, give her my spam email to send more information and hang up."

He laughed. "Sounds like fun."

"After, go home and study. You have finals next week."

"Yes, mother," he said. "Jeez, Angel, I have damn near straight A's."

"What class don't you have an A in?"

"Statistics. Don't know why I need a stupid statistics class. I have an A in fucking Chemistry III, that should be good enough."

"If you get stuck, text Luisa. She's the math whiz in the family."

Luisa Angelhart was hot. If she were just a few years younger, he would be in love. She was Gorgeous with a capital G. But she scared him as much as Margo. Maybe more. She had this piercing gaze that he swore looked deep into his soul and knew all his secrets. He wondered if she'd handled interrogations for the Marines, because one look and he'd confess anything she asked.

He didn't want to get involved with any woman who could read his mind.

"Will do," he simply said, then cleared his throat.

"Be ready." Margo hung up.