March 16, 2023
LANDLORD
“Hello.”
“Hello, Ashley Jo.” Liz stood up from the chair at her desk. “This is Elizabeth Baldwin with the FBI.”
“I don’t have ...”
Liz interrupted, “Please don’t hang up.” She continued speaking quickly so that Ashley Jo would remain on the line. “We are investigating the fire at your building in Naoma.”
Ashley Jo impatiently said, “I just spoke to an FBI agent. The renters paid in cash. I don’t know their names. There were two men. One stayed in the car, and the other, the driver, got out of the car and handed my father an envelope. They paid in cash every month.”
“Could your father describe the men?”
“My father is 87 with cataracts. He only said the person was taller than him, making him five foot eight inches or taller. He also thought he had black hair.” She admitted, “Really, that is all I know.”
“Just one more question, Ashley Jo. How did they reach you?”
“They called me.”
Surprised that the investigating agent missed something obvious, Liz clarified, “On your cell phone?”
“Yes, let me see if I have a call history of that number.”
There was a long pause, and Liz was worried that she had lost the connection.
“Here it is. Do you have something to write on?”
“Yes.” Liz reached for a notepad on her desk. “Got it.” Liz smiled and said, “Thank you, Ashley Jo.”
“Listen, I have to run.”
“Ok, thank you again.”