“I ran into the UPS guy in the lobby, and I said I’d take this up to you.”
“The UPS guy knows you?”
“He’s my cousin.”
“And you were coming here anyway?”
“Yeah. I’m on my way home, and I thought I’d stop by and tell you about the forensic report so far on Mintner.”
“That’s nice of you, but not typical. You don’t usually share information about ongoing investigations with me. Even when I want the information. Even when I beg you for the information.”
“Don’t push it, okay? I’m trying to be helpful.”
I raised an eyebrow. Not buying it.
“I needed an excuse to see you,” Morelli said.
“Why do you need an excuse?”
“I dumped you, remember? You haven’t punched me in the face yet. I’m giving you another shot at it.”
“The moment has passed.”
“Open the package. It says it’s from someone named Kenny. Is this a new boyfriend?”
“Are you jealous?”
He took a beat. His answer was soft. Almost whispered. “Yes.”
Okay, I was feeling much better now. I was torturing Morelli. I opened the package and took out a golden two-pound box of Godiva chocolates. The card said Sweets to my sweetie. Kenny.
“I can’t compete with this,” Morelli said. “I can’t afford two pounds of Godiva.”
I blew out a sigh. I couldn’t do it. “It’s not mine,” I said. “Grandma’s been catfishing with my picture, and I’m getting all these stupid presents.”
That got a full-on smile from Morelli. “Your grandmother is awesome. Are you going to give this box to her?”
“No. I’m going to eat them.”
I picked one out and popped it into my mouth, but Morelli declined.
“Watching my weight,” he said.
“You look the same as always.”
Truth is, he was perfect.
“Do you want to know about Mintner?” he asked.
I put the cover back on the box. “Yes. Tell me about Mintner.”
“He was shot with the same gun that killed Getz and Linken. And he had black gunpowder on the soles of his shoes.”
“Do you have a connection?”
“Kiltman. Two alums and a dean. Beyond that, no.”
“Suspect?”
“No one who feels just right.”
“Globovic?”
“Why?” Morelli asked. “Smart kid. Maybe too smart. A little bored. Uses up excess energy planning toga parties and pranks.”
“He’s accused of assault.”
“I’ve read the arrest report, and I’m not convinced. Something happened that night and Mintner ended up with a broken arm. The break wasn’t consistent with someone getting hit with a bat.”
“Gobbles said Mintner tripped over an ottoman.”
Morelli took a beat, his expression changed, and he went into cop mode. “Do you talk to Gobbles a lot?”
“Not a lot.”
“That was an impressive bust you made this morning.”
“I didn’t have much to do with it. Ranger went in and did his thing.”
“They tell me Stanley Stoley checked out the refrigerator and lost his breakfast burrito.”
“I didn’t look. Ranger did the walk-through. Are you sure you don’t want a chocolate?”
“Positive. I have to go. Bob is at home, waiting to go for a walk.”
Morelli left. I closed and locked the door, and had four more pieces of candy. I went back to the bathroom and looked at my hair again. Who was I kidding? I wouldn’t make it as a hairdresser. I had no patience with hair. I didn’t even like fussing with my own hair. I’d make a better auto mechanic than hairdresser.
I put the lid on the candy and retied the red ribbon. I’d run it over to Grandma when I got the chance. A text message buzzed my phone at five o’clock. Gobbles wanted to meet with me at ten in the Windward Dorm parking lot. I texted back that I would be there with Lula.
NINETEEN
I RAN THE candy over to Grandma at five-thirty. This was a shameless ploy to mooch dinner.
“Look who’s here,” Grandma said, always happy to see me. “And just in time. We’re having meatloaf for dinner and your mother made enough for an army.”
“Meatloaf sounds great,” I told her. “Who’s Kenny?”
“He’s one of my catfishing people that I cut loose. He was a real sweetie pie. I hated to let him go, but he was talking about getting married, and I was afraid he was underage.”
“You mean a minor?”
“No. I mean too young to keep up with. I’m pretty good, but there’s a lot of maintenance you got to do with a younger man. I cut them off at fifty. You might want to take a look at Kenny. He’s local and he has a good job. He’s a payroll clerk at the button factory.”