Zina Jacinto interview #2

Zina Jacinto: My goodness, it’s good to see you all. What news do you have for me?

Melody Cheever: We’ve been investigating all those missing dogs, Miss Zina.

Emma Wooten: Yeah, and we know there’s something suspicious going on.

Rachel McGowan: Unfortunately, we don’t have enough evidence, so the sheriff’s department can’t do anything about it.

Zina Jacinto: You didn’t mention my name, did you?

Zach Burgess: Yes, why?

Zina Jacinto: Because they think I’m completely off my rocker.

Zach Burgess: No way, Miss Zina. You’re totally solid on your rocker.

Zina Jacinto: Thank you, Zach.

Rachel McGowan: So, basically, we have nothing to go on but our suspicions.

Emma Wooten: And Detective Armstrong warned us about going too far. He thinks this guy we saw is dangerous.

Zina Jacinto: Oh, my goodness. You four haven’t been putting yourselves at risk, I hope! What guy and where did you see him?

Rachel McGowan: We’re being careful, Miss Zina. We saw this person on surveillance video and identified him as someone you might know.

Emma Wooten: Yeah, we Googled his name, and he used to work with your neighbor across the street. The one who was killed.

Zina Jacinto: You know about Victor Jennings?

Emma Wooten: Yeah. Him. There’s lots of old news stories on the internet.

Zina Jacinto: Detective Armstrong is right. You mustn’t put yourselves in danger.

Zach Burgess: We’re being super careful, Miss Zina. Don’t worry.

Zina Jacinto: I think I can guess who the person in the security video is.

Rachel McGowan: His name is Carl Asher.

Zina Jacinto: Yes. I was afraid of that. I thought I saw him across the street. There’s been a red car parked there a few times. I thought I saw him getting out of it once.

Melody Cheever: That's suspicious, isn’t it?

Zina Jacinto: That’s what I thought, but when I called the police, they said that Carl had a right to be there he's an owner of that house now.

Emma Wooten: Well, there goes that lead.

Zina Jacinto: I must say, documenting the goings-on over there has kept me quite busy. And with the Animal Control Officer parking there now, it’s been a regular hangout.

Zach Burgess: Wait. The Animal Control Officer is parking at that vacant house across the street?

Zina Jacinto: Yes, and you would think he’d hear the dogs barking from that direction and do something about it, but the noise hasn’t stopped. In fact, sometimes when he’s there, the barking is louder.

Melody Cheever: Miss Zina, would you show us your activity log?

Zina Jacinto: Of course. I’d be happy to.

Rachel McGowan: Wow. This is a lot of coming and going. And this entry where the Animal Control Officer drives up is 11:38 at night?

Zina Jacinto: Yes. 11:38 p.m.

Emma Wooten: That seems weird that she would be parking there late at night, doesn’t it?

Zina Jacinto: It does to me, but then people tell me I’m cuckoo and I should mind my own business.

Rachel McGowan: Well, I think you’re on to something, Miss Zina.

Zach Burgess: Hey, maybe we should mount a webcam outside and point it over there to get a record of who's coming and going.

Zina Jacinto: Here at my house?

Melody Cheever: That’s a good idea. Would that be OK with you, Miss Zina?

Zina Jacinto: Yes. I’ll be curious to see if I’m missing anything.

Emma Wooten: I doubt it. I bet your records are pretty accurate.

Zina Jacinto: Thank you, dear. But my eyes aren’t what they used to be. That’s why I use the binoculars. Just to be sure.

Rachel McGowan: We already have some video, but it’s not enough. We need some physical evidence.

Emma Wooten: Pixie dust!

Rachel McGowan: What?

Melody Cheever: Pixie dust! Yes! The anti-theft powder we learned about at camp. It glows green, so Emma always calls it pixie dust. We could sprinkle it around over there.

Zina Jacinto: How would that help?

Melody Cheever: Well, depending on where we put it, anyone who goes over there would get some on them.

Zina Jacinto: Won't they just wash it off?

Zach Burgess: No! Because you can't see it with the naked eye, right, Mel?

Melody Cheever: Right! So later, we'll use a blacklight to see if there's any powder on them or on their stuff, and we'll know who's been over there.

Zina Jacinto: I don’t want you children over there without adult supervision.

Zach Burgess: We promise not to be renegade lawmen, Miss Zina.

Emma Wooten: Law people.

Zach Burgess: Right. My bad.

Melody Cheever: OK, y'all, we need to talk to Riley Scott again. But let’s wait until we’ve installed the camera here and pixie-dusted across the street. Who knows? We may get something.

Rachel McGowan: All right, we’ve got work to do. Let’s get busy collecting evidence.