Page 34 of State of Alert

As Sam approached her, she was saddened for a woman she’d never met and would never know. “What’s her name?”

“Elaine Myerson. Mother of two teens. She works for a lobby firm.”

“What’s their issue?”

“The husband said oil.”

“Do people kill over oil?”

“Um, I’m not sure, ma’am.”

Sam missed Freddie. He would’ve known the question was rhetorical. She squatted next to the body for a closer look at the bloody injury to the back of her head that’d ended her life. “This feels personal. Overtaken while coming out of the shower. Vulnerable.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“Any sign of a murder weapon?”

“No, ma’am. We did a quick look through the house butdidn’t see anything. And there was no trail of blood or anything like that.”

“If it’s in the house, the CSU detectives will find it. What about cameras?”

“We saw some positioned around the house and outside, but we’ll need the homeowner to provide access. We haven’t asked for that yet. We wanted to wait for you.”

“I’ll talk to the husband about that. Good job, Officer Clare. Thank you.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Detectives Carlucci and Dominguez arrived as Sam stood to her full height and swayed ever so slightly as exhaustion overtook her. She blinked them into focus, Carlucci tall and blonde, Dominguez petite and dark-haired. “Glad to see you, ladies. I’m ready to hand off to you.”

“Thirteen hours later, you must be toast,” Carlucci said.

“That’s a good word for what I am.” Sam caught them up on what she knew so far. “I’d like to talk to the husband while one of you takes pictures. The other can come with me.”

“I’ll do the pics,” Gigi said.

“How’re you doing?” Sam asked her.

“All good, LT. Thanks for asking.”

“Glad to have you back to full steam.”

“Glad to be full of steam.”

Sam was thankful that most of the trouble caused by Cameron Green’s ex-fiancée was now in the past for both her detectives and that they could get back to enjoying their new relationship. They still faced a wrongful death lawsuit from the ex’s family, but no one expected that to go anywhere.

“Cover her up after you take the pics.”

“Will do.”

Sam went downstairs with Carlucci and Clare, who showed them through the spacious home to the back porch, where Officer Youncy watched over Mr. Myerson.

The young woman nodded to Sam and Dani as they cameout on the porch. “Frank Myerson, this is Lieutenant Holland and Detective Carlucci. They’d like to speak to you if you’re able.”

“Thank you,” Sam said to Youncy.

She sat across from the man on furniture right out of the Frontgate catalog that used to make her wonder who could afford the stuff they sold.

“We’re sorry to intrude at such a difficult time,” she said, “but as you can imagine, the first few hours are critical in a homicide investigation.”

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