Page 39 of Justice for Francesca

“We’re also checking all door openings and closings against scans for employees. She could have walked in with someone without a scan, so we also need to check those videos. That’s part of why it’s taking so long,” Cruz said.

“Analysts are cross-referencing employee swipes against video footage of entries and exits, and I’ve been matching up non-referenceable video card swipes,” Francesca confirmed.

She turned back to the whiteboard and started a new column. Hopefully the action would keep the shaking of her hands from being noticeable. She was still unnerved by Cruz and Calder’s assessment of her reticence to get close to people. They were way too accurate.

“Motive two—removing Mila and her mafia connections. Basically, any of the staff.”

“Selling the club sounds like a lot of work simply to avoid ten percent of a voting share,” Calder argued.

“Yes, but that ten percent would be mafia money.”

Calder shrugged. “While I get it that mafia interference, no matter how small, is undesirable to a lot of people, the stigma isn’t nearly as horrifying as it used to be. Sometimes corporations are no better than mafia money.”

Cruz grunted his agreement. “No club employee owns enough shares in the business to make murder a lucrative option. They could just quit if they had a huge exception to it, especially Cosmos who is also in the clear due to being in Chicago, and Triumph. Both own similar interests in the other clubs. And Mila herself wasn’t mafia other than by blood.”

“Motive three.” Francesca made another column. “Jealousy. Suspects would be Michael, Tilly, or an unknown outsider.”

“Michael is possible but unlikely since he was actively trying to get back together with her,” Cruz volunteered.

Francesca sighed. “Tilly’s too tied to Triumph. All it takes is one look at the two of them to see she’s dependent upon him, and he’s a total caretaker. No signs of interest in anyone else.”

“Which leaves Mr. Unknown, and again, we’re waiting on video to hopefully identify who she was with.”

Calder shifted in his seat. “I know I’m the coroner and not an FBI agent, but couldn’t you just look at the video feed for the trapeze room after closing and through to Tilly and Triumph’s arrival? Why haven’t you done that?”

“First thing we tried,” Francesca admitted. “There is no video. Well, that’s a lie. There is. But it’s blank. The picture shows an empty room from the time Michael did his walk-through until the body suddenly appears right before Tilly’s arrival. It’s like magic. Not there, then there. The footage is seamless.”

“So now you have the possible suspect of Triumph. He’s the only one involved that we know of who has those kinds of skills, but what would be the motive?” Cruz asked.

“The only thing I can think of is Tilly’s near-stock denial, but that doesn’t make sense as she didn’t actually lose it. It’s flimsy anyway.”

“So we’re left with nothing and no one,” Cruz said.

The three looked at each other.

“That is correct,” Francesca confirmed.

“So what now?” Calder asked. “We’ve got two bodies. It’ll be at least twenty-four to forty-eight hours before we get toxicology on Jessa. I’m going to hope this fuckstick made a mistake, but my hopes will likely be dashed. Where do we go from here?”

Francesca rubbed her temples. The headache that had been forming before they even walked into the room was now in full bloom. Clasping her hands in front of her, she looked at Calder. “We need the new forensics before we can do much of anything. I can start with using the time of death to help us determine possible suspects as to who was unaccounted for during both murders, and I’ll see if I can find any links between the two women other than Elysium. Maybe I can help the computer geniuses and scan some of the video footage for Mila’s arrival, letting them work on the bigger issue which is figuring out wherethe ‘missing’ footage is regarding Mila’s body appearing in the trapeze room. I can easily do the first. The second is beyond my capabilities.”

“I have additional staff interviews this afternoon,” Cruz said. “At some point, I’ll need to talk to her family. They’ve been notified, obviously, and of course, they want to come immediately and claim the body. We’ll be fighting with them over that as I’m sure they’ll try to apply pressure to the higher-ups to release her.”

“I hate to say it,” Cruz admitted, “but we really need a mistake. The longer this goes, the more likely that is, but that means more people are at risk.”

13

I DON’T KNOW WHY I’M HERE

Tripoli

He was sitting on his couch, laptop open to financial spreadsheets, a tumbler of whiskey on the end table, and Clannad quietly playing on the stereo when the elevator opened into the apartment. Needless to say, when he turned his head to see who had arrived, even though he had hoped to see Francesca, he was still surprised she was actually standing in the carriage.

Setting aside his laptop, he stood on bare feet and crossed to her still form. Afraid to spook her, he said nothing and just waited for her to make a move. This had to be her choice.

She stepped across the threshold tentatively. He watched her take in his appearance. He’d dressed for comfort since he hadn’t really been expecting her, yet still half hoping she’d show up. His jeans were hanging low on his hips with no belt to anchor them, and his T-shirt sporting “Navy” across the front was faded, molding to his upper body. She licked her lips, eyes darting around as if she expected someone to jump out at her from around a corner or behind a door.

He took the remaining steps to be in her personal space, licked his thumb, and raised his hand to her face to gently rub a gray smudge on her cheek. “Pencil lead,” he said softly.

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