Within a minute of looking on the people search database, we came up with an address for Andrew Jones. Since it was a relatively common name, we weren’t sure if he was the right guy, but his age was the same as John’s.
I pointed at Devon’s laptop. “Do a background check on him before we head out so we know what we’re getting into, if anything.”
Rue tapped the computer keys and seconds later told me Mr. Jones had a police jacket.
“Seriously? Is it impossible to find someone who doesn’t have a criminal record in this town?”
“Nope. Remember Daniel Ruiz, the restaurant owner?”
I nodded. “Yeah, he was a decent guy, and we should pay his restaurant a visit sometime soon.”
“I’m all for that.”
“So what has Andy Jones been up to?” I asked.
Rue paraphrased the report. “Store theft, writing bad checks, and slapping women around.”
“Humph. Sounds like John and Andy had something in common. C’mon. Let’s go pay the jerk a visit.”
From our research, we’d learned that Andy lived only two blocks from John. He had to be the right guy. Rue and I took off. It was after four o’clock, and the plan was to collect whatever information Andy had and was willing to share about John Keller. We would pass that on to the night shift and let them work with it.
Ten minutes later, we reached the two-story clapboard duplex on East Henry. According to the people search website, Andy lived upstairs. The court report from his most recent arrest put him in an ankle monitor until next month. He wasn’t allowed to leave the premises, so chances were good that he would answer when we knocked.
I parked, and we walked to the porch. There were two doors, one for the lower unit and one for the upper. Rue rang the bell for the upper. There wasn’t an intercom, so we waited. Within a minute, we heard someone walking downstairs, then the door opened. In front of us stood a mid-forties disheveled-looking guy wearing a wife beater and torn jeans—a real winner. Both arms were covered with sleeve tats. Rue had them, too, but it made me wonder how Jones afforded them. Those bad checks he’d written might have helped.
“Andrew Jones?” I asked.
“Yeah.” He squinted as he looked us up and down. “Who wants to know?”
“Savannah PD. We’re Detectives Cannon and Rue.” I showed him my badge. “May we come in? We’d like to talk to you about John Keller.”
“John? Why?”
Rue took over. “Mr. Keller has passed away. His parents gave us your name as a lifelong friend of John’s.”
Andy scratched at his greasy salt-and-pepper-colored hair. “Yeah, whatever. Come on up. It isn’t like I have anywhere to go.”
I acted as if I didn’t know he was wearing an ankle monitor. “Why’s that?”
“House arrest. It’s bs if you ask me.” Once we reached his living room, Andy plopped down onto the sofa. He pointed at a set of wooden chairs. “Go ahead. Get comfortable and ask away.” He picked up the bottle of beer that was on the side table and took a swig.
I looked at the chairs and doubted there was anything comfortable about them, but we sat anyway.
“You don’t seem shocked to hear about John’s passing,” Rue said.
Andy shrugged. “Shit catches up to people, you know.”
I raised a brow. “Meaning?”
“Meaning he was a hothead and always pissed off people. Even in the joint, he was always getting into fights. The guy had no concern for his own well-being. He liked living on the edge.”
“Enough for someone to take him out?”
“That’s what happened?”
“It is,” I said.
“Not surprised, but you know what they say about karma. That’s why I’m taking my licks now, paying my dues, and will go on with my life as a better person. At least, that’s the plan.”
“Do you know anyone who would want to kill John or who has ever threatened his life?”
Andy laughed. “Shit. Everyone he ever came across. The guy was a real tool, but to name someone in particular?” He swatted the air and took another gulp of beer. “Nah, not really. People mouth off in the heat of a fight, but there’s nobody I would consider a real threat.”
“When was the last time you saw John?” I asked.
He lifted his pantleg and pointed at the monitor. “Before I was hooked up to this thing—three months ago. I’ve got one more month to go, and then I’ll be a free man.”
We already knew that, but I didn’t mention it. I placed my card on the coffee table. “If anything or anyone comes to mind, give me a call.”
He nodded, and we showed ourselves out.
“That was a waste of time,” Rue said as he dropped down onto the passenger seat.
“We’ve got to clear everyone, and it sounds like John had plenty of enemies. This murder might be a tough one to solve.”
Rue sighed. “And we can add his name to the list of others that haven’t been solved.”
“Pretty much.”
With that, I turned the key in the ignition, pointed the nose of the cruiser north, and headed toward the precinct.