Page 25 of Pied Sniper

“Nothing as high-profile as yours. I took the liberty of setting up a tip line last night using some of our guys. We promoted it in the comments of the livestream video. I got a notification this morning that there were a lot of calls.”

So much for not working through the night! While I unsuccessfully attempted to sleep, Solomon was rallying the troops. “Anything useful?” I asked hopefully.

“Not yet.”

“Can you help me review the footage that aired last night from Tiffany’s livestream and tell me anything about the weapon that might have been used? We saw very little and didn’t hear much more, other than Tiffany screaming. I saw something strange that puzzles me though: a red dot that, now I think about it, could have been a laser sight but I don’t know if that makes sense. Is that something anybody can buy anywhere? Or is it something a person would have to special order? Or maybe have certification skills to operate? What kind of gun does it attach to?” I fired off the questions as soon as they formed in my mind.

“I’ll take a closer look at the footage, but I can tell you that items like that are easy to come by whether through legal or illegal means, and it takes no more skill to operate than a pair of binoculars. As for the weapon, a sight could be attached to a handgun or a rifle, although a rifle seems unlikely. Using something that big up close would be harder to conceal. It might not have been attached to anything at all. Could it have possibly been a laser pointer which you mistook for a gunsight?”

I grimaced; it was possible. However, I said, “There was blood in the apartment. A lot of it.”

“The wound could have come from a knife.”

“Maybe. The camera was knocked over so I’m not sure the attack was filmed at all. Plus, I didn’t see much once Lily and I were on the move. The signal wasn’t strong on Lily’s phone when she took over watching after we parked.”

“And there’s nothing to confirm it’s Tiffany’s blood?” pressed Solomon.

I thought about that. Without DNA testing, it was impossible to know for certain. I simply assumed, and so did everyone else. “It was in her bathroom too. Could she have injured her attacker and still get kidnapped? That was a lot of blood to lose,” I said.

“Have you considered the possibility of more than one attacker? Two in the apartment? Plus, another person to remain in a vehicle for a fast exit? Even if one were injured, the others could still succeed.”

“A whole crew?” I didn’t consider that at all but now Solomon said it, it definitely made sense. Except, Tiffany’s reaction in the video suggested differently. “Tiffany seemed to recognize her abductor,” I said, thinking back to her astonishment. She didn’t seem immediately frightened. “She said something to the person,” I added.

“If there were a whole team, she might not have realized it was a kidnapping until it was too late. Someone she recognized caused the initial confusion or helped the others gain access. That could have been their whole plan.”

“I’ll look out for any signs as I review the video,” I decided.

“I’ll have Delgado do the same. You can compare notes back at the agency.” Solomon paused to pop two more slices of bread in the toaster. “I’m curious how they got in and out of the building. What did you notice about the security?”

“Not much, but I wasn’t paying a lot of attention. The entry had a door buzzer system that wouldn’t be hard to bypass. I didn’t notice the lock but obviously, there was one. No doorman. Stairs were unlocked. The elevator didn’t need a key. If there was a back door, or a service elevator, I didn’t see one. Tiffany’s apartment was on the top floor.” I stopped and thought about it. “I didn’t notice any blood in the hallway. If she… if someone were bleeding profusely, why didn’t I see any blood leading away from the crime scene?”

A loud rap sounded at the front door followed by two punches on the doorbell. “That must be Lily,” I said, rising. I carried my coffee with me, took a deep breath, and opened the door. Lily waited impatiently on the doorstep and bustled inside before I could say hello.

“I have cake, chips, candy, an apple, and smoothies.”

I looked curiously at Lily’s bag, visibly leaking thick drops on the floor. She followed my gaze and sighed. “I may need a moment.”

“You know where the kitchen is.” I closed the door while Lily hurried ahead. “Hi, Solomon!” she trilled, dashing past him to the sink. When I entered the kitchen, I grabbed paper towels to clean up the mess she made and asked, “Why only one apple?”

“I ate the other one on the way over here.”

“Are you okay?”

Lily glanced over her shoulder. “Sure. Why?”

“Your ordeal!”

“You mean the arrest?” Lily grinned as she emptied her bag, settling the small pile of snacks on the counter. I was pretty sure my mom’s coffee cake was in the plastic box. “Everyone wassonice.”

I frowned. “Really?”

“Yes! I got a delicious recipe for apple strudel, a referral for a great party planner for Poppy’s future birthdays, and there’s a strong possibility Lily’s Bar will be the selected venue for the detectives’ fundraiser next month!”

Solomon looked at me and raised his eyebrows. I shrugged. I didn’t have a clue either.

Lily set her purse on the drainer and turned around, leaning against the counter. “So where do we start?”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

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