Read Little Mountain for Free Online Page B

he was good about fixing smoke detectors and leaky faucets. But they never spoke much. Mrs. Chea is very shy, and they are both private people. Even so, lots of people come and go from this building. Except for the neighbors, I don’t know any of them.”
             “Did you ever hear him argue with anyone?”
             “Yes, I heard him yell at three or four Cambodian teenagers a few weeks ago. I don’t know what they had done, but he chased them toward the playground and used vile language I’ve never heard from him before.”
             “What was that about?”
             “I don’t know, sir. I mind my business.”
             “Did his neighbors seem to like him?”
             “Mostly they did. But sometimes there have been nasty whispers.”
             “Like what?”
             “Nothing I will dignify by repeating.”
             “Even if the stories are lies, I need to know what people are saying about him.”
             “But I hate to hear vicious stories about people. Where I work, I have heard customers say that Chea was--” Her voice caught on the phrase. “--Khmer Rouge. That he killed many people. It’s so easy to spread lies, and so hard to come along later and clean up the filth that people spout with their tongues.”
             So perhaps that was it: simple revenge. Kum , the Cambodians called it. Nearly fifteen years had passed since the collapse of communist rule in Cambodia, and vengeance was still on some people’s minds. Sam didn’t blame them, though he for one had put his past behind him and slammed the door shut. Since 30,000 refugees had begun flooding the city, two had been shot dead. No suspects, and no apparent motive. Could this have been kum ? No one was sure--at least no one who was talking.
             “Of course you are right, Mrs. Chang. Anyone can accuse, and I won’t ask you to do that. But who is spreading the rumors?”
             “I’ve seen the person at my work, and heard someone call him Khem Chhap. He said Bin Chea made him kill his best friend while others were forced to watch.”
             Sam’s gut tightened. “When did you last see him?”
             “Three or four nights ago, I think. He sat by himself, smoking and watching the TV above the bar.”
             “Can you describe him for me?”
             “He’s an older man with gray hair.”
             “How about scars or jewelry?”
             “He had a scar under his left cheek. I think I remember a wedding ring and a watch.”
             “The watch was on his left arm?”
             “No, on his right arm, I think.” Maybe the killer was left-handed, then. If Khem was the killer.
             “Notice any tattoos or other marks?”
             She shook her head.
             “Where do you work, ma’am?”
             “I’m a waitress at the Pailin Jewel. I start at three.”
             “What about your daughter?” Sopheary sat next to her mother with a coloring book and a lap full of Crayolas.
             “I’m too young to be a waitress,” Sopheary said. “I found a shoelace.”
             “He means who takes care of you when I’m gone,” Mrs. Chang said, and she looked back at Sam. “My brother and his wife come home before I leave. Pheary isn’t alone at all.”
             “What time did you get home last night?”
             “About twenty past eleven.”
             “Mrs. Chang, what has this Khem fellow been saying about your landlord?”
             Li Chang placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Pheary, I want you to go into your bedroom,” she said. “Right now.” The tone was clear: no back talk, no delay. Sopheary looked hurt, but she left the living room immediately.
             “Detective Long,” she said.