‘Oh, shut up.’ She was only half-kidding, especially since she was superstitious that way, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it since Hal rolled up with the search warrant in hand, presenting it to her like he was serving high tea at noon on a silver platter. She couldn’t help but chuckle.

She snatched the paperwork and turned toward Captain Hammond’s office so she could give him an update, but she didn’t get far before she saw a woman stroll up to Ruby’s desk, demanding to speak to someone about ‘that poor man, Gabriel Kensington.’ Garbed in a flamingo-patterned dress, wearing rollers in her hair, and lugging a none-too-pleased-looking lavender-colored poodle tucked beneath her arm, she continued, ‘I heard it on the news just this morning. Dreadful what happened to him.’

Alyssa noted Cord’s expression, and she wondered if the inquisitive look on his face was because he, too, detected how the woman had neglected to mention Lydia. Or Addis and Emerson, for that matter. She extended her hand. ‘I’m Detective Wyatt. How can I help you?’

The flamboyant woman’s gaze bounced right over her as if she were invisible and landed directly on Cord. After a once-over – or twice-over, in this case – where she openly admired Cord’s physique, as most women did, she shuffled the poodle to the other side and extended her hand. ‘Barbara Carpenter. And I believe I can help you.’

Her words practically dripped in syrupy sweetness, and Alyssa had to turn her head to hide the fact that her eyes had nearly done a three-sixty in her head. She coughed to cover the chortle that bubbled up. Cord tended to have that effect on women – and some men, too. In the end, she didn’t care who Ms. Not Subtle spoke to if it helped them find Addis and Emerson or locate the person responsible for making Addis an orphan.

Cord offered his most charming smile, the one he reserved for women like Ms. Carpenter. ‘I certainly hope you can. Did you see something last night that might help us?’

Barbara Carpenter lowered her voice to a loud whisper, making it obvious she wasn’t really trying to be discreet. ‘Yes. It was shortly after four, and I was out walking Lucious.’ She ran her fingers through the curls on the dog’s neck.

Momentarily distracted when the young officer from last night strolled up and stood off to the side, Alyssa almost missed Ms. Carpenter’s next comment.

‘When I passed by Mr. Kensington’s house, he was in the driveway arguing with some man. I only noticed because the guy’s vehicle blocked the sidewalk, and I was forced to walk in the street to go around it. Pfft. It makes me so angry when people are inconsiderate that way.’

Alyssa straightened, and from the corner of her eye, she noticed the young officer do the same.