Page 37 of The Perfect Illusion

“Caroline Walters.”

“Text me the address and I’ll meet you there,” she said, then hung up and stared at Hughes.

“What’s your ex’s name again?” she asked.

Hughes must have sensed that the pressure might be off her because she ignored her previous declaration that she wasn't talking.

“Annabeth Massey. Why?”

“You’re sure you were at the gym before you came here?”

“Pretty sure,” Hughes said sarcastically. “And so are the two dozen people who were in the spin class with me.”

Jessie stood up.

“You’re welcome to remain silent,” she said. “or you could share the names of everyone who can vouch for your attendance at that class with Officer Devery. If you go the latter route, you may not have to pay any attorney’s fees. I leave the choice to you.”

“So if I do that, are we done here?”

“I don’t know yet,” Jessie said as she headed for the door, “but it wouldn’t hurt.”

She left the office without waiting for a reply.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

The traffic was much worse on the way back west.

When Jessie finally pulled up at the Santa Monica home of Caroline Walters, it was after 4 P.M.. Brady was standing in the driveway, talking to a tall, thin man in a lab coat that looked to be a medical examiner. She hopped out and joined them.

As she got closer, she allowed herself a moment to take in the home in question. This stretch of Santa Monica, just north of Montana Avenue, was all giant, impressive homes. The Walters’s place, on Georgina Avenue, was no different.

It was a three-story modern, with curved metal surfaces colliding into more traditional wooden exteriors. Though it was set well back from the street, Jessie was surprised to find that there was no gate protecting it from passersby with ill intent.

“Jessie Hunt,” Brady said as she arrived. “This is Dr. George Baines. He was just informing me of his preliminary conclusions. Can you repeat them for Ms. Hunt, Doc?”

Baines nodded.

“Based on body temperature and lividity, I’m estimating that the victim was killed sometime between 1:30 and 2:30,” he said. “It will be clear when you see the body, Ms. Hunt, but the manner of death was by a knife slice to the throat, likely with a serrated blade, based on the wound. There was no immediate sign of struggle, which suggests to me that the victim may have been attacked from behind and never known her assailant was there until it was too late.”

"Thanks, Doc," Brady said. "Unless Ms. Hunt has additional questions, we'll let you get back to it.

“Not right now, thanks,” Jessie said, “but I do have some questions for my partner.”

Baines returned to the house without another word.

“Where do you want to start?” Brady asked.

“First of all, do we even have jurisdiction on this thing?” she asked. “I noticed that Baines had a Santa Monica logo on his lab coat and I know the SMPD can be proprietary.”

“One of the SMPD officers who was first on the scene noted that the scene was similar to the ones from our other victims, so he called his bosses. They informed me and said that if I felt it was one of ours, they’d hand it over. They didn’t say it out loud but I’m sure they were happy to be rid of it. If LAPD takes over, it becomes part of our case closure stats, not theirs. And no one wants an open serial killer case on their books. As to the M.E., he was already here when I arrived so I figured we may as well let him continue his work.”

“Makes sense,” Jessie agreed. “How did it get called in?”

"A neighbor noticed Walters's car in the driveway with the trunk open for a while. When she walked over, she saw two grocery bags sitting there, so she went to the front door of the house to give a heads up. She rang the bell, but when no one answered, she noticed that the door was slightly ajar. She pushed it open more and saw what looked like blood droplets on the foyer tile. So she went in and found the victim. Then she ran out and called 911."

“Should we go in so I can get a look?” Jessie asked.

“Sure,” Brady said as they approached the house. “Just be aware that the husband, Frank Walters, is on his way over now and could be here soon.”

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