Page 12 of Operation: Sharp Angel

“No, I know of no other motive anyone would have for wanting to kill any of them,” Becca answered firmly. “They were just a normal suburban family.”

“Do you know the contents of their wills? And who is the executor?” Jackson asked.

“Yes, I prepared their trust, and I am the executor of that trust,” Becca replied. “In the event of either Nick or Nicole’s death’s the other inherited everything. If both of them were to die together, everything would go to their girls, with me given full custody of them.” Becca paused and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. With them still closed, she continued. “In the event all four went together, their entire estate goes to me.”

“Were there no other family members?” Jackson asked.

Becca opened her eyes. “Nick was estranged from his entire family. He didn’t even want me to try to find them should something happen to them. He doesn’t even know if any are alive. His parents divorced when he was young, and he had little contact with his father. His mother never remarried but had multiple boyfriends who lived with them over the years. He had a brother and a sister, both of which are drug addicts who stole from them the last time he allowed them into his life after he and Nicole got married. And on our side of the family, it was just Nicole and me. Our parents died in a small plane crash last year.”

“I’m sorry,” Tessman said.

“We’re going to need the names and any information on your brother-in-law’s estranged relatives,” Jackson said.

“Sure. But I don’t know much more than their names and approximate ages,” she said.

“Last known locations will help too,” Brielle added.

Becca nodded.

“Last topic,” Jackson said. “They were both employed at Well-Life Pharmaceuticals.”

“Yes. Nicole was in the marketing department, and Nick was a chemist.”

“What was he working on?” Tessman asked.

Becca shrugged and shook her head. “It was all hush-hush, proprietary stuff. He wasn’t allowed to talk about the latest cure he was working on. He developed drugs. He was one of their top chemists. I doubt there’s much in his home office about his work because I don’t think he was supposed to remove anything from work of consequence, but you’re free to look.”

Jackson nodded. “If we accept the case, we will want access to the house.”

She took the key ring with the key to her sister’s house from her purse and placed it in the middle of the table.

Cooper stood and stepped to the door. “Can we ask you to please wait in the lobby while we discuss your case?”

Becca stood. At the door, she turned back to the three members who still sat at the table. Cooper had already stepped into the hallway, anticipating that she’d follow. “Thank you for hearing me out. Please know that if you decline this case, I will keep asking private investigators to take it on until someone does.” Then she stepped through the door and followed Cooper to the door into the waiting room. Angel, the black-haired receptionist, was not at her desk. She sat down and waited.

Cooper re-entered the conference room a few moments after he’d shown Becca Elliot out. “If she’s right about the GSR andfingerprints, I’m not sure how the coroner would have made the ruling.”

“Toxicology isn’t even back yet,” Jackson added. “I’d sure like to know if there were any drugs in anyone’s system.”

“I believe her,” Brielle said. “And I think the cops are dropping the ball on this.”

Cooper’s gaze went to Tessman.

“This isn’t cut and dried, as Detective Davis stated. And as Jackson said during our meeting with Shepherd, if the brother-in-law did do it, which I don’t think he did, I’d like to be able to find the reason to give that woman closure.”

“Why don’t you think he did it?” Cooper asked.

“Most people who buy a gun are going to at least test fire it before they use it to commit a triple homicide and use it for their suicide. If he did, he would have been scared off by the kick and loud bang if he wasn’t a gun guy, as she stated,” Tessman said. “And there would have been fingerprints all over that gun and its magazine.”

“Agreed,” Cooper said. “I’ll tell Shepherd we have a case. I’ll show her back in and you three can take it from here.”

“Good luck on your Op,” Jackson said.

“Becca, we’re ready for you,” Cooper said after he’d opened the door to the waiting room.

Becca wasn’t sure what it meant that they’d already decided, or at least she assumed they’d decided if they were going to accept her case. She followed Cooper back into the suite. As the two of them stepped back towards the conference room, Angel approached from down the hall. She smiled as they passed in the hallway, putting Becca somewhat at ease.

She entered the conference room and retook her seat. She heard the door close and then, glancing around the room, realized Cooper had not rejoined them.

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