Justice Delayed (Memphis Cold Case #1)(69)

Andi stood and shouldered her camera bag. “Thanks. I’ll give you a call tomorrow or the next day about filming an interview.”

“Thank you. And I’ll get my speaking schedule to you.”

In the elevator, she reached in her bag for the ibuprofen bottle and hesitated, trying to remember if she’d already taken some this morning. No, she was certain she hadn’t taken anything.

After she stepped off the elevator, she downed two with a swig of water, and then peered in the bottle. Only six tablets? There should be more. She distinctly remembered dropping sixteen Lortabs in the ibuprofen bottle yesterday morning. Enough to do until Monday morning. It was only Friday.

She’d taken ten tablets since then. That had to be wrong. Ten high-powered Lortabs, and she wouldn’t be able to walk.

“Stronger people than you have become addicted to pain pills. You start out taking only one and then you’re taking two and pretty soon two doesn’t do it . . . It happens before you realize it.”

Andi squeezed her eyes shut as if that would block out Treece’s voice in her head. She was not addicted to the pills and only took them because of the pain. But could her body be building up a tolerance for them? Maybe it was time to think seriously about surgery.

Straightening her shoulders, she hurried out the door of the CJC into bright sunlight and decided to walk to the private investigator’s office. The sun was warm on her back, but nothing like July and August would be. When she reached Front Street, she walked south, enjoying a view of the river.

Maggie’s office was on Front Street. She could stop by after she talked with the PI. No—Maggie was with Will. Andi admired the office building as she entered. The man must be successful—offices at this location were not cheap.

After checking the directory in the lobby, Andi took the elevator to the third floor and found his office. A pleasant-looking older woman looked up when she approached her desk.

“May I help you?”

“I’d like to see Mr. Caldwell.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Uh, no, but it’s really important.” She hadn’t considered she might need an appointment.

“That’s what everyone says. Give me your name and I’ll check with him for what day next week he can see you.”

Next week? “Andi Hollister, but I must see him today.”

Her eyes widened. “The news reporter? I love those documentaries you and Treece Rogers do.” Her brows lowered. “Well, not love—they’re so sad, but I’m glad someone is bringing attention to all those poor girls.”

“Thank you.” The words warmed Andi’s heart.

“I guess I can check with him to see if he can fit you in today.” She picked up her phone and spoke briefly with Mr. Caldwell. She gave Andi an odd look when she hung up. “He’ll see you now. Just go through that door, and his office is the second door on the right.”

Yes! Andi hurried through the door and into the hallway.

Gerald Caldwell’s door was open, and he looked up from his computer screen. “Come in, Ms. Hollister.”

Andi faltered as his almost-black eyes burned a hole in her. She didn’t know what she expected, but not this somber man with a sharp nose over his thin lips. A hawk—that’s what he reminded her of. She held out her hand. “Mr. Caldwell, thank you for seeing me.”

After the briefest hesitation, he smiled, and it was like flipping a light switch as he shook her hand and a smile softened his face. “Forgive me for staring, but you look so much like your sister.”

“I don’t believe I’ve ever been told that,” she said.

“Your features are the same. You are quite lovely in your own right. Have a seat. And then tell me how I can help you.”

The man’s office was Spartan, and she sat in the only other chair in the room. “I want to talk to you about my sister. I didn’t realize you would remember her so well, since she died eighteen years ago.”

“Most people who met Stephanie Hollister would remember her, even that long. What do you want to know?”

He’d thrown her off balance, and she gathered her thoughts. Laura had said Steph dated him, but she couldn’t wrap her mind around this fiftysomething man being one of her sister’s beaus, even though he would only have been in his mid to late thirties then. Still, it was evident Gerald Caldwell could turn on the charm when he wanted to, and most men had wanted to around Steph. “Why were you investigating her?”

“You’re asking me to break confidentiality.” He closed the laptop and leaned back in the chair. “However, you may have information I need on another case, one I planned to see you about last night until I was detained. Perhaps we can trade information.”

He was also cunning, and as he moistened his bottom lip, she realized it wasn’t a hawk he reminded her of, but a wolf licking its chops. “If it’s confidential, would that be ethical?”

He shrugged. “It’s been eighteen years. Whatever reason they had for hiring me is well in the past.”

“What information could I have that you would want?”

“I’ve been hired to locate Jillian Bennett.”

“Jillian? Why?”

“It’s a legal matter. An inheritance, actually.”