The police vans were set up in the parking lot behind the supermarket. It was the headquarters for the investigation. Maya thought she saw Edgeworth talking to some of the head investigators, but she couldn’t be sure. “Who’s the witness, Nick?”
“I’m not sure. They were keeping him here until they finished questioning him, but Gumshoe didn’t know his name.”
Someone almost walked into them. “Oh, pardon me sir.”
Phoenix did a double-take. “Aren’t you that bellboy from the Gatewater Hotel? What are you doing here?”
The bellboy was holding his tray, as usual. “Unfortunately the police are keeping me here until they finish their investigation. But of course, I never mind helping the police.”
“That tray looks rather heavy. Doesn’t it ever tire you?”
“Not at all, sir. I’ve taken training to handle it.”
“What were you doing all the way out here, then?” Maya asked.
“I needed to pick up an item for a guest’s meal.” The bellboy lifted the lid of his tray. “16oz filet mignon with extra creamy mashed potatoes, rotisserie chicken in a lemon glaze with rice pilaf, and breaded sea bass on a bed of asparagus with lemon garnish. Unfortunately, the hotel ran out of water chestnuts, so I had to come here to buy some. Since I’ve been here since last night, helping the police, I’m afraid it’s gotten far too cold.”
Wouldn’t bringing it all the way to a supermarket in this weather make it cold? Phoenix thought. “That’s quite the dinner. Was it all for one man?”
“Yes, sir. I believe it was a guest speaker at a conference the hotel was hosting. A big man with a large mustache, named Mr. Grossberg, I think.”
Poor Grossberg, Phoenix thought. He missed his chance for the scent of fresh lemons…
“To bad about that,” Maya said. “Doesn’t anyone want to have it?”
“I’ve offered to the detectives, but they’ve been far to busy to eat a nice dinner.”
“I’ll eat it!” Maya licked her lips.
“Very good, miss. Might I interest you in some fresh ground pepper?”
Don’t tell me he has ground pepper with him, Phoenix thought. Maya accepted the dinner and the pepper, and then ate through it as Phoenix interviewed the bellboy. He had seen the victim right before she was murdered, it seems, and that’s why the police were keeping him here until they could collaborate his testimony. When he finished, Phoenix saw that Maya had eaten the whole dinner and was wiping her mouth with a napkin. Her stomached seemed a little bigger, but Phoenix couldn’t be sure.
Dear Lord, what has gotten into Maya lately? How could she be this hungry?
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