Page 70 of Charmed Forces
“We’re insured. So long as it pays out, we’re fine financially. But if we’re found to be negligent in any way, that’s it for us. We sunk almost everything we had into this place,” said her husband.
“How could you be found negligent? It sounds like you did everything right,” I said.
“Lexi’s a private investigator,” said Lily.
“Oh?” The woman looked at me with a frown.
“I am. I noticed yesterday you had a security camera above your counter.”
“We do, but I don’t see what that’s got to do with anything. The fire investigator came by an hour ago and said it looked like the fire started around the socket next to the corner table at the back. He asked if we’d noticed a burning smell and we didn’t, but I was behind the counter all day,” she said.
“And I was in and out, putting up the sign.” The man shook his head. “I didn’t notice anything like a bad smell either.”
“Your security footage should show us what happened. Did the fire investigator ask to see it?”
“No. I didn’t even think about it until you mentioned it just now.”
“Where do the tapes back up to?”
“Backup? They feed into a recorder under the counter. It’s pretty old school. We couldn’t afford to get a fancy model. Honestly, it was more of a deterrent than anything else. Who’s ever heard of someone robbing a coffee shop? Most everyone pays by debit card so the only thing to steal is the cake.”
“Which in itself is theft worthy,” agreed Lily.
“Thanks. I bake them myself,” said the woman. “I guess I’ll have weekends and early mornings off now I don’t have to supply the shop anymore.”
“Not for long, I hope,” said her husband.
“Can I take a look at it?” I asked. “I might be able to help. I’m sure the fire investigator will want to see it too.”
“I suppose he would. I’ll get it, but there’s nothing I can show you right now. We literally have to put the disc into a laptop to play it.” He stepped forward, pushed open the door and went inside cautiously.
While Lily talked to the woman, I followed the man, stepping through the entrance. Inside was black and sooty but not as bad as I expected. The glass of the counters had warped and the walls were charred. The couple would probably have to gut everything and rebuild but it wouldn’t be impossible.
“I don’t suppose you know anything about filing insurance claims,” he said as he walked around the counter and stooped behind it.
“I don’t, sorry; but I’m sure I can find someone who does.”
“I’m sure we can muddle through... It’s gone,” he said, rising again. “The recorder. It’s gone.”
“Gone?”
“As in, it’s not there. The wires are here that connected it to the camera and the camera is still on the shelf but the recorder is gone.” He scratched his head.
“Maybe the fire investigator took it?”
“I walked him to his car and he didn’t have it. How could it justvanish?”
“Did the fire investigator give you his card?”
“He did.”
“Call him now and tell him what happened. Then call the police station and ask to speak to Detective Jord Graves. He covers burglaries and robberies. Tell him that I asked you to report it to him.”
“Will he know who you are?”
“He’d better, he’s my brother,” I replied. I pulled a card from my purse and passed it to him. “Lexi Graves, Solomon Detective Agency.”
He took the card as he returned to my side of the counter, stopping in front of me, his voice dropping. “I’m getting the funny feeling something bad is going on here and you know more about it than you’re saying,” he said, glancing over to his wife. “Is this anything to do with what you were asking us yesterday? About someone who bought coffee from us? This wasn’t an electrical fire, was it? Did someone do this to us deliberately?”