Page 18 of The Perfect Deception
The two detectives exchanged a casual shrug.
“We’re both done with our most recent cases,” Karen said.“I have some paperwork left to do but it can wait a few hours.”
“And you know I love a good tail,” Susannah added with a wink.“I also like doing surveillance.”
Jessie shook her head.“Don’t quit your day job, Detective Valentine.That material will get you heckled off the stage.”
Susannah looked like she was about to offer a comeback but Ryan, ever the professional, jumped in first.
“Let’s save the teasing for once we know where these gentleman are.Both have alibis for last night but their behavior has been—.”He trailed off, unsure of the word he wanted to use.
“Squirrelly,” Jessie offered.“Their descriptions of how well the couples knew each other is unconvincing.Instead of jumping to conclusions, I’m hoping they’ll either confirm or remove my suspicions based on where they go and who they see today.I figured Ryan and I would follow Michael Dominik.Are you ladies okay taking James Maplewood?”
Susannah and Karen nodded in unison.Satisfied, Jessie turned her attention to the researchers.
“Jamil’s already got a head start on this.But we’d like you guys to continue to look into the couples.Financials, work connections, social media, any clubs or boards they belong to.You know the drill.We’re looking for any connections among these four people that might serve as motive for murder.Have Hannah help you when she gets in later.I did some hunting overnight but I’ll be honest—I’m out of practice and operating on very little sleep.I’m betting that I missed something that will be obvious to you two.”
“I’m sure that if there was something to find, you’d have found it,” Beth replied generously.“But we’ll double check.”
“There’s got to be something,” Ryan insisted.“Two women—neighbors— were found dead in each other’s beds.Both husbands were out of town at the time.That is inherently unusual.We’re counting on you to find a data point that might explain it.Everybody on the same page?”
The entire group nodded that they were.
“Then let’s do this,” he said, sounding more like a coach than a detective.
Jessie didn’t need the pep talk.She was raring to go
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Four hours later, Jessie wasn’t quite as pumped.
Michael Dominik had been to multiple places since he left the station, but so far, none of them were suspicious.He’d stopped by the downtown headquarters of Cordelia, the hotel chain he worked for.
Ryan followed him inside the office tower while Jessie remained in the car, getting updates from Susannah and Karen.They reported that James Maplewood’s first stop was a funeral home, where he stayed for a couple of hours.
Ryan returned to the car just as Dominik left the parking garage below the building.They trailed him to his next stop, another, smaller office building.This time it was Jessie who followed him inside, making sure to keep her distance.When he took an elevator to the fifth floor, she went to the building’s lobby directory and took a photo of the names of every business listed.
Within five minutes of sending it to the research team, Jamil came back with an answer.The Dominiks’ family attorney was in the building.Jessie considered going upstairs to learn more but worried that she’d be too easily spotted if Dominik stepped into the hallway or saw her passing by.
She returned to the car but they didn't have to wait long for Dominik to emerge.He was only inside for about twenty minutes.Normally, a man visiting his lawyer right after his wife's murder would be suspicious, but Jessie tried not to jump to conclusions.
After all, according to Hannah, who had now settled into her nook of the research department back at Central Station, Dominik was worth close to $5 million before he married Cassandra and had more than doubled his wealth since then.Cassandra, who taught yoga at a studio not far from their house, brought less than $100,000 in net worth to the marriage.If anyone was likely to kill their spouse for the insurance money, it would have been her.
Dominik’s next stop was back home, where a squad car and two officers were waiting.He spoke to them briefly after which one of the officers entered the house with him.
“Should we reach out to find out what they discussed?”Jessie wondered.“I’m curious to know what Dominik said to be allowed to enter a crime scene.”
Ryan nodded and got on the radio.But by the time he’d had the dispatcher connect them to the officer who was standing beside his squad car, the point was moot.Dominik emerged from the front door with a backpack slung over his shoulder and the other officer right behind him.
“Never mind,” Jessie said.“It makes sense now.Whether he was involved with this or not, he’s not going to want to spend the night in the home where his wife was killed.I’m guessing he checks into one of the Cordelia hotels.”
Her suspicion turned out to be correct.Less than fifteen minutes later, Dominik was dropping off his car at the valet station of the Downtown Cordelia Hotel & Suites, which overlooked the L.A.Live entertainment complex and was in shouting distance of the convention center.Once he was inside, Ryan pulled into the entrance circle too.
“We’re going to use a loading zone spot,” he said to the valet who eagerly approached the car, showing his badge and ID.The young man nodded and guided them to a spot.Once they were out of the car, the valet put an orange cone behind the car to indicate that it was off limits.
They waited outside for several minutes before entering the lobby.When they did, Dominik was nowhere in sight.They walked up to the reception desk.
“LAPD,” Ryan told the pleasant-looking blonde across the counter as he again flashed his badge and ID.“Did you just check in a man named Michael Dominik?”
