Page 16 of Off the Hook

Water in lungs

Blunt force trauma to the head

Possible lock tampering

Shoes?

Jeep?

I had nothing. And that's exactly what my boss would see when he got there later today.

“Hey Louis,” I called out. “What do you know about the Lorelei?”

He smiled. “The sunsets are the best, and the Key Lime Coladas, oh man…” he closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the thought.

“Do you know who owns it?” I asked, steering the conversation back to the point.

“The Lindbach family as far as I know. Unless they’ve sold out and gone corporate like so many other restaurants have.”

“Can you find me a contact for them?”

“Sure thing.” He spun back around to his computer, the keys clacking.

“Thanks.” I replied, turning back to the case board. I studied it, willing my brain to make a connection. “We must be missing something,” I muttered.

Oscar’s booming voice from behind me made me jump. “If you’ve missed something, we’ll find it.”

I turned, surprised. He was earlier than I expected. “Detective Ramirez.” I popped to my feet, extending my hand. “Welcome back. How was your holiday?”

“Short,” he said with a reluctant smile, shaking my hand firmly. “But when duty calls, you have to answer.” His eyes scanned the board. “The Sheriff already filled me in on what he knows. Tell me what you’ve got.”

I nodded, taking a deep breath, feeling like I was back in Calculus class, trying to explain something I didn’t understand. “Right. So far, there’s not a lot to go on. The victim, Kylie Russell, was found drowned, but it’s unclear how she ended up in the water, or the source of the blunt force trauma to her right temple ”

Ramirez leaned in closer, examining the sparse notes and photos on the board. “Walk me through everything from the beginning.”

I started from the top, detailing the timeline, the lack of witnesses, and the inconclusive autopsy report. “We know Kylie was supposed to be at work at the Lorelei at 4pm. Shespoke to her mother that morning around ten, texted with her fiancé Jake, who’s in Minnesota, after three. Nothing of note in her apartment. She’d apparently made herself something to eat, presumably while getting ready for work. A neighbor found her floating in the canal several hours later. There are no signs of forced entry or struggle. No evidence on the dock or boat that’s tied up there. The preliminary coroner’s report listed the cause of death as drowning, but also noted the blunt force trauma I mentioned. We’re waiting on a more extensive report shortly.”

Detective Ramirez scanned the board, his expression serious. “What’s this about lock tampering?” he continued, pointing to the note.

“The finish around the lock casing of Kylie’s front door had possible scratches, and the key didn’t fit quite right,” I explained. “It could indicate someone trying to pick the lock. I’ve asked forensics to take the lock apart and see what they can find.”

He frowned. “Doesn’t sound very definitive…anything else out of place at the victim’s apartment?”

I shook my head. “Not that I could see. It was clean, neat, except for her lunch remnants. It looked like she’d been planning her wedding.” I felt a chill at the memory, and the strong conviction that someone had stolen her future.

Oscar fixed his gaze on the name at the top of the board. “What about Coulter Rodman?”

“Former fiancé. They broke up six years ago. He’d texted her the day she died, but she didn’t answer.”

“Well, that sounds like our best lead so far.” Oscar stepped back and crossed his arms.

I hesitated, not wanting to implicate Coulter further. “I questioned him, at length. I thought he was suspicious at first, especially given that his texts to the victim were in response to her telling him that she’s newly engaged. But after interviewing him further, I tend to believe him.”

Oscar chuckled, and rubbed his chin. “The Rodman boys are all charmers. What was his explanation then?”

“He claims he was trying to speak to her in person to gauge the depth of her commitment to her new fiancé, and to wish her well if she was truly happy with him.” I said it with conviction, but hearing myself say it sounded ridiculous.

“And you believed him?” Ramirez scoffed, incredulous.

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