minute and I’ll get it for you.”
Eisler stared at her as if he expected her to do something wrong. At last he turned away and poured himself a coffee.
When Paval returned and recited the number, Casey scribbled it on the sheet. Eisler started toward her, but three drivers at a table said something to him and he stopped. Casey swept the paper into her purse and held her breath.
“Thanks, Paval, and just one more thing: did Jasmine ever say anything about moving away?”
“No, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d wanted to get away from her ex, and she did talk about spending time with her mother.”
“That reminds me, did you ever see a woman with Birch during these stalking episodes?”
“There had been someone with him a couple of times over the past month, but this person always stayed in the car. I can’t honestly say if it was a him or her.”
Eisler was still with the drivers. Since Paval knew a lot about what went on in his building, she said, “Did Jasmine ever mention a man named David Eisler calling her, or coming by her place recently? He has light brown hair, a tan, and nice clothes.”
“Hmm, my wife said something about a man in a suit lurking by the building’s entrance about a week before the murder. Ursula saw him when she was getting the mail and asked what he wanted. He said he was looking for Jasmine, so she assumed he was one of Jasmine’s nightclub acquaintances.”
Casey kept her gaze on Eisler. “Did he give a name or say anything else?”
“I don’t know. You should probably ask Ursula.”
“Is she around?”
Eisler’s conversation ended and he headed for her. Damn.
“She’s working days this week. Today she’s meeting a friend at the Silver Groove after work.”
The club Ursula had mentioned when Casey first met her.
“Thanks, bye.”
As Eisler drew nearer, she sat up straighter. “Miss Holland.” Eisler’s icy tone reached the table before he did.
“Mr. Eisler.” She sipped her coffee.
Eisler rarely sat with people. He seemed to prefer standing and looking down at them.
“Are you feeling better after yesterday’s mishap on the M10?”
“Pretty much.” She picked up her coffee and stood.
“Have you completed an injury report?”
“I will this morning.” She’d felt too lousy to complete the form yesterday and had forgotten about it until now.
Anxious to get out of here, Casey left the room. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Eisler had another reason for approaching her and that it had everything to do with Jasmine.
FIFTEEN
FOR SUMMER’S SAFETY, THE PRINCIPAL had allowed Casey to park close to the door so Summer could enter the car quickly. As she waited inside the school’s exit, Casey watched, through the glass in the door, for anyone who looked like he shouldn’t be on the grounds. Her cell phone rang.
“Hey, it’s Lou. Mom says you can bring Summer over anytime.”
“Great.” Barb’s house was only five minutes from her place. “I’ll take her after supper.”
“Think she’ll want to go?”
“Given that Winifred moved in yesterday, she’ll be running out the door.” Casey scanned the grounds. “Would you like to go dancing tonight? Summer will be safe and neither of us have early shifts tomorrow, and the club I have in mind plays your kind of music.”
“Disco? Really?”
“Totally.” Casey grimaced. Much as she loved Lou, she didn’t share his taste in music.
“I thought you hated disco.”
“Yeah well, things have been stressful lately, and I wanted to make up for dragging you to Birch’s trailer.” The strain Casey had sensed in their relationship since she’d agreed to help Marie hadn’t eased, and the danger to Summer had made things worse. “We could use a fun night.”
“I’m kind of tired. How about a rain check?”
Casey glanced down the empty hall. “That’s not going out, and this is Thursday, so maybe the place won’t be too crowded.”
“Is going out that important to you?”
The bell rang and kids began rushing out of classrooms. “There’s another reason, which is to talk to Jasmine’s landlord’s wife about David Eisler.”
Casey spotted a frowning Summer shuffling down the hall. She hadn’t been happy when Casey told her she couldn’t hang out with friends after school, but Casey wanted her close to home.
“What about Eisler?” Lou sounded edgy.
“Ursula Gallenski apparently talked to a man at her building who wanted to see Jasmine. Based on Paval’s second-hand account, it sounds like him, but I need to talk to her to be sure.”
“I thought you’d quit investigating.”
“It’s just one simple question.”
“We need to talk about this.”
“Oh, Summer’s coming, I’ve got to go.”
Lou could talk all he wanted, but he wouldn’t change her mind. One way or the other, the truth about Eisler had to come out.
• • •
“MUST YOU USE the back door?” Winifred glared at Casey as she and Summer stepped into the kitchen. “It’s very disruptive.”
Utensils covered the counter, and Winifred was wiping out a drawer.
Casey wrinkled her nose at the smell of bleach. “Since I park my car out back, it’s also very convenient.”
“Where’s Cheyenne?” Summer scanned the kitchen and hallway.
Winifred kept wiping. “In the basement, where she belongs.”
“Thanks a bunch, Grandma.” She dumped her backpack on a chair and headed downstairs.
The Winifred invasion was twenty-four hours old and she’d already overstayed her welcome. Cheyenne bounded into the room and jumped up on Casey.
“Her leash was tied to the stair railing,” Summer said, glaring at Winifred.
“Animals don’t belong in kitchens or bedrooms. They’re filled with disgusting germs and parasites.”
Summer rolled her eyes. “Casey thinks it’s okay, right, Casey?”
“Well, let’s compromise.” She calmed the dog down. “How about if Cheyenne stays out of the kitchen during meal times?”
“See?” Summer stuck out her tongue at her grandmother.
“Summer, stop it,” Casey said.
“What on earth is the matter with you?” Winifred stared at her granddaughter. “You were never this rude before Casey became your guardian.”
Summer’s smug expression vanished. “It’s not because of Casey. And it’s not because of school or my friends.”
Winifred tossed her sponge on the counter. “Are you on drugs?”
“No!” Summer’s lower lip quivered. “You don’t get it.”
“All I
A tear rolled down Summer’s cheeks. She started to say something else, but stopped and paced around the table. Part of Casey wanted to intervene, but part of her wanted to hear what Summer had to say.
