“Police work is often frustrating. It’s not as easy as it looks on TV.” Jack paused and leaned forward. “Well, would you look at that.”
I swiveled my head and followed his gaze. Since we were parked under a large tree at the far end of the lot—and since Jack had backed into the space—we had a bird’s-eye view of the apartment. We watched as an electric-blue truck pulled in front of the building.
“That looks like Tyler’s truck,” I whispered.
“Sure does.”
I held my breath as we waited for the driver to emerge. Sure enough, it was Tyler. And he didn’t appear ill at all.
“Look at that jack-off,” I hissed. “Is he carrying a bouquet of flowers? I swear to God, that man is like the human embodiment of period cramps.”
I reached for the door handle, ready to confront Tyler and tell him off. Jack put a hand on my arm.
“Let’s see where he goes.”
“I think I know exactly where he’s going.”
He didn’t notice us as he practically skipped up the stairs, which were open-air and visible to us. Sure enough, he knocked on the brunette neighbor’s door. We watched as she hugged him, accepted the flowers, and kissed his cheek.
“Online fitness class my ass.” I snorted aloud, thinking of poor Vera.
I raised my cell and attempted to take a photo, feeling like a private eye. They were too far away, and the hallway was a touch too dark, to make a good photo. I tried to zoom in by pinching the screen but that made the picture even worse.
Then she said something to him, gesturing to Dave’s door. She used her hands for emphasis. “Uh, I think she’s telling him about us,” I said.
Jack pushed the start button on the car. Since it was an electric vehicle, we didn’t roar—we glided.
“Do you think they saw us?” he asked.
“I don’t care if they did. I can’t wait to tell Vera.” I texted her the photos.
I have no idea what that is. Are you on a gator call?she replied.
No. That’s Tyler, YOUR Tyler, bringing flowers to another woman.
My phone rang a millisecond later, just as Jack drove out of the sprawling apartment complex.
“What are you doing stalking my boyfriend?” Vera’s tone dripped with anger.
“I’m not stalking him. He showed up where we were.”
“We?”
“Me and Jack. We were... sleuthing.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Maggie, give it up.”
My phone beeped with another call, a number I didn’t recognize. “We’ll talk about this later. I need to get the other line, it might be a gator. Stay away from Tyler,” I half shouted, then clicked over to the other call. “Gator Queen. Maggie speaking.”
“Hi, uh, I saw your website and wondered if you handle all reptiles, or just gators.” The male voice sounded shaky.
“I take care of all reptiles. What’s going on?”
“There’s a lizard in our toilet. We live in Wahoo Acres.”
In the background, I heard a woman’s moan. “We’re moving back to Maine, do you hear me? This is the final straw in this godforsaken hellhole.”
“Be quiet, Marge. I’m on the phone.” The sound of a shuffling phone filled my ear. “Sorry. My wife’s a little upset. She went in to use the facilities and found the, uh, creature.”