She reached up and twirled her thin wispy grey hair, and giggled. “Hi, Gabriel. Is there anything I can help you with today?”
	Gabriel decided to ask her about John Smith, it stands to reason she might have picked up on something. “Does John Smith ever come in here?” Gabriel waited for her to come to her senses.
	Maybellene’s glint and glitter from her eyes dimmed as she started to recall the recent past. “Oh.” she stated unremarkably. “Yes actually.” her eyes began to sparkle again knowing she was about to be helpful in some way to Gabriel. “He came in here last week for toilet paper and toothpaste.”
	“Toilet paper and toothpaste.” Gabriel repeated and glanced at the rear of the shop where toiletries were stocked. There was nothing remarkable about those purchases, nor were the brands any indication because there was only one brand of each on the shelves. Pillow Soft two ply toilet paper and Mintide mint flavored fluoride toothpaste. Economical brands that have stood the test of the decades, never giving up quality while maintaining reasonably low prices. Though that might be telling in itself, or it could just be that they were the only things here in a pinch. 
	Gabriel looked back at Maybellene who was smiling at him and leaning on the counter. He could just imagine her in a soda shop, hair in a ponytail, red lipstick her mother didn’t know she had on. Flirting with a local high school athlete. It’s not like they didn’t have such things in England, but honestly give him a good barmaid in the corner pub who can belt out My Irish Laddie. “Is that all?” Gabriel asked.
	“Lots of residents come through here.” Maybellene stood up straight. “Some talk, some gossip. John Smith just shops. No small talk, he doesn’t look you in the eye.” She crossed her arms and leaned back a little, “It’s really demeaning sometimes. It’s like I’m not even a human being to him.”
	Gabriel felt a slight chill from her last statement. There’s only one kind of person who feels that way about people, and that’s the kind of person capable of murder.  He walked towards the door out to the hallway, “Well, take care Maybellene. I’ll talk to you later.”
	“Maybe some time we can go to dinner together in the dining area.” She called out to him quickly before he could make it out the door.
	Gabriel pretended he did not hear and kept walking toward the entrance. It had only been fifteen minutes, but he saw John Smith arriving back.
	He was already walking through the entrance doors. John Smith glanced at Gabriel as he walked past, giving him a quick downward nod of acknowledgment.
	Gabriel quickly rushed to walk beside him, “Good day my fine Sir.”  Gabriel flashed a quick smile, “How are you doing this afternoon?”
	John Smith was not amused. His tone was flat as he responded to Gabriel, “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I am not about to beat around the bush with you.” John stood up straighter and continued, “Just spit it out, whatever it is. Whatever it is you think I am guilty of, just ask.”
	Gabriel was not amused now, “And if you were guilty as Sin you would not admit it plainly.”