Page 65 of Tangled
Mitch nodded. “I thought it was only in the movies or on TV.”
Sabina shook her head.
“I have a much more sophisticated version on my computer, but it’s hard to follow if you aren’t used to it. Sabina and I decided this would be easier,” Jessica answered. “I’m Jessica, by the way,” she added with a nod to Mitch.
Brad’s eyes strayed from the woman back to the board. “I’m not even sure what we’re supposed to be looking at,” he said.
Jessica smiled as Sabina took a seat on an extra chair Chad brought over. “That’s why you have me,” she replied. “Although, I will say, this is even more complex than I originally anticipated. We’re here because of the murder of Graciella Lopez. But her murder has uncovered so much more.”
“I have no idea where this is going, but that seems obvious,” Cody said, also eyeing the board.
Jessica flashed him a grin. “Let me illuminate you all. Starting with the original suspects.” She paused and pointed to the name “The Wolf” written on the top right of the board. “Powerful drug lord. No one knows who he is, but Scarlett knew of a link between him and Gracie. A link which Jason Katz, his top lieutenant, confirmed by his presence in the middle of all this.” She followed a yellow piece of yarn connecting the Wolf’s name to a picture of Jason Katz.
“We believe Jason Katz killed Alexei Petrov,” she said, following a red piece of string to a picture of Petrov. “Who was hired by Ronald Simms—aka ‘the colonel’—to kill Scarlett and retrieve evidence that Gracie possessed naming him as the father of her baby.” Another yellow string linked Petrov to Simms.
“And Simms hired Gracie through Sussurri, the high-end prostitution service,” she said, following yet another yellow string to the word “Sussurri” written in the middle of the board at the top.
“Sussurri also sent Kimmie Garza to go through Scarlett’s belongings, presumably to find Gracie’s phone and the images she had on it regarding clients and their activities.” Again, yellow string connected Sussurri to Kimmie.
“We knew Simms and Kimmie were connected to the prostitution service, but why is there a string connecting Sussurri to Rathwell?” Scarlett asked.
Jessica’s lips thinned, and she looked down. After taking a few breaths deep enough to be visible, she met Scarlett’s gaze.
“I watched the video that Ava found. The one Gracie accidentally recorded of her rape. At the very end, as Rathwell is uncuffing her, he said something to her. Something that, despite the trauma she’d just experienced, drew a reaction from her. Not much of one, but he definitely caught her by surprise. This morning, I was able to enhance it and work on the sound.”
“And?” Scarlett pressed.
“And his exact words were, ‘You can let Tabby, Madame Sussurri, know she’s paid up for this week.’”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
A wave of nausea washed through Scarlett that had nothing to do with the baby. “Rathwell was on the Sussurri payroll? Paid to look the other way?”
Jessica inclined her head. “Or paid to protect the clients and the women.”
“And his ‘protection’ fees were access to the women. In any capacity he wanted, including rape,” Scarlett said, more to herself than to anyone. Brad tightened his arm around her and kissed her shoulder.
“That is my theory,” Jessica said, her voice soft.
The room stayed silent. Even the twins remained quiet. Then Scarlett took a breath, straightened her shoulders, and looked to Jessica.
“Who is Tabby?” Mitch asked.
“And does this change anything in terms of thinking it was Rathwell who killed Gracie?” she asked.
“I’ll get to Tabby in a minute,” Jessica said to Mitch. “As to Rathwell, no, I still think he killed her. And I also think he might have gained entry to her apartment through her sister. I’m heading to LA tomorrow, and I’m going to track her down and see if my hunch is right.”
“And your hunch is?” Beth asked.
“How up to speed are you?” Jessica asked.
“I told them everything this afternoon. They know about your theory regarding the fentanyl and the bottle of sleeping pills,” Scarlett answered.
Jessica nodded. “A week before Gracie uploaded the video of Rathwell’s attack to the file-share site, Luz was arrested for disturbing the peace. Gracie bailed her out.”
“Let me guess, Rathwell was the arresting officer and probably saw them together when Gracie picked her up after posting bail,” Scarlett said.
“He was,” Jessica confirmed. “I’ve asked Ava to see if she can get any footage of that day in the station to confirm Rathwell was there. I think we’ll find that he was. And I have no doubt he would have recognized Gracie and noted her connection to Luz. The sick bastard probably got a thrill out of making sure she saw him in his place of power because he’s a repugnant human.”
