“No, I’m not going to be very good company. Why don’t you go back to the hotel, and I’ll see you sometime later?”
I thought about telling him about the box Uncle Thomas had given me, but if I did that, I knew Zach would insist on being by my side when I opened it, and he was needed right where he was. I’d deal with it—or not—by myself, one way or the other.
“Don’t stay there too late,” I said.
“I’ll try not to fall asleep on the table, but I’m not making any promises. Call me later, okay?”
“You know I will.”
After I got off the telephone with Zach, I took one last look around the apartment. There might be something there that had value to Barton, but without knowing what it was, I couldn’t say. I was certain he’d have a crew come in after me and bag, tag, and catalogue the apartment’s contents, so I didn’t worry too much about missing anything.
That wasn’t why I’d been there.
I looked at the paltry selection and frowned. What was I missing? Cindy hadn’t been all that sentimental, if the limited personalized things before me were any indication.
I hated to go back to Barton so empty-handed, but I didn’t have much choice. I couldn’t manufacture sentiment out of thin air.
I finally picked up my cell phone and called the hotel.
“Garrett, it’s Savannah Stone. I’m ready for my ride back to the hotel.”
“Yes, ma’am. The driver is waiting for you outside.”
I hadn’t expected that. “Barton’s not still here, is he?”
“No, he’s in his penthouse suite here. As soon as you arrive, I’ll escort you there.”
“I thought we had the top floor.”
“Of the public rooms, yes, but there is one more floor above you.”
“Then I’ll see you in a few minutes,” I said.
I found the driver out front, but before I walked to the limousine, I locked the door to Cindy’s apartment behind me.
“I’ll take the key, if you don’t mind,” the driver said.
“Oh. Of course,” I answered as I handed it to him. “I’m Savannah.”
“I’m Henry,” he replied, and then he smiled brightly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Don’t tell me you’re a puzzle fan, too.”
He looked surprised by the question. “No, ma’am, I’m not exactly sure what that is, but you’ve done a service for my employer, and I greatly appreciate it. He hasn’t asked anyone for help as long as I’ve known him. You should feel honored.”
“I do, but I’m not sure I did much good.” I had collected the few things I’d managed to find in a paper grocery bag, and it felt too light in my hands.
“You helped, trust me.”
As he drove us back to the hotel, I asked from the back, “Did you know Cindy Glass?”
He nodded, and I could see a tear in the corner of one eye. “She was special; there was no doubt about that. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to harm her. I thought it was going to kill Mr. Lane. He didn’t leave the penthouse for five days, but talking to you on the telephone when you and your husband first arrived seemed to revive him. Today, I finally believe that he is beginning to mend.”
“I wish I could take credit for it, but I haven’t really done anything.”
Henry shrugged. “Sometimes three quarters of the battle is just showing up and trying your best. At least that’s what my grandmother used to say.”
“She was a smart lady,” I said.
As we drove through traffic to the hotel, I leaned back in my seat, trying to get a handle on what I’d seen. I wanted to go through the letters the police had taken from Cindy Glass’s apartment. More than that, I needed to. Before, she’d just been a name to me.
Now she was a real person.
And if there was anything I could do to help Zach find her killer, I was going to do it.
Chapter 13
“SAVANNAH. WELCOME BACK.”
Garrett had evidently been waiting for me by the front of the Belmont, and he opened the door to the limo for me, but I didn’t leave until I spoke to Henry first. “Thank you for the ride.”
“It was my pleasure.”
“Mine, too,” I said.
“Ms. Stone, would you do me a kindness?”
