Page 33 of SapphicLover69
“But there is an added problem you must be aware of,” the tech specialist cautioned. He took a deep breath as if bracing himself to share bad news. “Even if we get all the information the platform company has for SapphicLover69, it may not be viable. If the fraudulent account used VPNs, fake email addresses, and other anonymity tools, we could be at a dead end with that line of inquiry.”
My heart sank. They had nothing and may not get any more. Why was it so easy for people to create fake accounts, commit any online crime, and get away with it? All the scammers and the pirates, not to mention more menacing felonies like child pornography, cyber spying, and blackmail.And they just get away with it!
Detective Campbell must have read the despair in my expression because he quickly continued. “However, we did lift a couple of useful fingerprints from your room that don’t match any of the exemplars. They aren’t in the system, so thatnarrows down our suspect pool to people who have no prior arrests, didn’t serve in the military or other jobs that require fingerprinting.”
I doubted many if any of the women at the conference had a criminal record, although a few may have served in the military at some point. I nodded and glanced at Winter. She reached under the table and took my hand, giving it a supportive squeeze.
“Now, let’s talk about tonight,” Detective Campbell directed. “Walk me through it again.”
I recounted the story, not omitting a detail, while he nodded and took notes. “You said Elaine mentioned an odor just before the fire started? Did she say what it smelled like?”
“No,” I answered. “Just something off, not right.”
I finished the story, and he asked Winter if she had anything to add.
“It was like Aspen said,” she confirmed, speaking in a reserved manner and diverting her eyes from the detective. I figured it was the behavior of a shy person, yet she never acted so standoffish and deferential within our group. Bashful and a little nervous but not so skittish.
She was almost just burnt to a crisp,I reminded myself.Anyone would be anxious.
Campbell folded his hands and smiled at us. “You two were quite resourceful. I saw the jerry-rigged screwdriver you made. Clever indeed.”
Pride shot through me, and I smiled at Winter, peeling back one layer of trepidation in her tense expression. Her lips responded in a minuscule curve and her gaze softened on mine.
“It was Winter’s idea,” I said aloud.
“Aspen kept her cool and held us all together,” Winter said. “And she pried off the hinge pins.”
“A successful team effort,” the tech guy praised.
A guy in a crime scene investigator’s uniform marched into the room with a kit in one hand and a sealed plastic bag in the other. “Detective Campbell, we found something you’ll want to see.”
The detective took the bag and examined it. “Cigarette and a matchbox.”
“Two of them,” the CSI clarified. “One by the burnt curtains and one under the bench seat. There was also an accelerant used. We collected carpet samples to take back to the lab. The sprinkler had been tampered with. We dusted it for prints, along with everything else.”
“Good.” Campbell passed the evidence bag back to the CSI and returned his attention to me. “The perpetrator secured the outside door with a portable traveler’s security lock when he or she set up the scene. She—you believe the culprit is female—must have been loitering nearby, waiting for you to enter the service room, since that door was open when you arrived. Probably while you were testing the back door, trying to exit onto the patio, she attached another to the door you entered from. It was risky, as you could have seen who it was if you’d turned around at the precise moment, but the perpetrator presumed you’d die in the fire. We collected the locks, and the lab will test them as well as research where they might have been purchased and if a credit card was used. We’ve also asked the hotel for security cam video footage. We’re working your case, Ms. Wolfe, and, as we mentioned with the added arson and attempted murder, it’s now at the top of our stack.”
“Thank you,” I said, suddenly feeling drained. I’d hardly slept the night before, and, after the rush of adrenaline tonight, I could feel my body and brain crashing. “Do you need us for anything else?”
“I’ve got all the information we need for tonight,” he confirmed. “You’ll still be here tomorrow, correct?”
“We’re both staying through tomorrow night,” I answered. “I drove from Florida and can stay as needed, but Winter has a flight to Milwaukee early Monday morning.”
“At this time, I see no reason she couldn’t make her flight.” Detective Campbell stood and his tech guy followed suit. That was our cue. Releasing Winter’s hand, I rose, slid my phone into my pocket, and picked up my laptop. Beth had collected mine and Elaine’s purses from the lounge, and Winter hadn’t brought one. She rose without her usual energy, and I presumed she was as exhausted as I was.
“Thanks,” Winter replied without meeting his gaze. The detective escorted us out, and we took the elevator to the fourteenth floor in weary silence.
When the doors opened, I turned to her with a question in my eyes. Granting me a subtle nod, she followed me out of the elevator and down the hall. Although it was after midnight, I opened the door to find Tammy waiting for us, dozing in a chair in the sitting area.
At the click of the latch, she shook her head, blinked her eyes, and yawned.
“You didn’t have to stay up waiting,” I said, feeling bad about everything.
“Yes, I did.” Tammy completed her yawn and stretched up from the comfy chair. “I sent Beth to bed, though. The latest from Elaine is that everything looks fine, but they’re keeping her overnight for observation. I can pick her up at nine unless I hear otherwise.”
“I could go get her,” I offered. Plopping onto the loveseat, I patted the cushion for Winter to join me. “It’s my fault she had to go to the hospital.”
“No, it isn’t,” Tammy barked, narrowing her eyes at me in displeasure. “You need to sleep. We’ll all see you at the brunch ifElaine is feeling up to it. I brought your purse.” She motioned to the dresser where she’d put it.
