Page 34 of The Perfect Revenge
“Okay,” she teased.“Just know that your reputation is on the line.”
“Understood,” he said with a smile.
In truth, Hannah wasn’t all that worried.The worst case scenario was probably a turned ankle.And she found, to her surprise, that she was actually looking forward to the solitude.
Barring a confrontation with a snake or a backcountry serial killer, this would be a nice break from the stress of her everyday life
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
All they needed was confirmation.
Jessie already had the research team looking into her alternate theory, and it had proved promising.Now, sitting in the West L.A.station conference room, they waited for Gray Sterling to call them back.While they did, a text pinged both their phones.It was from Jamil.Jessie glanced at it.
Still checking records, but so far, no evidence that either Emma Sterling or Devon Borowitz was adopted.
“That fits,” Susannah noted.“Your theory is looking more plausible by the second.”
Jessie thought so too.It was something that Teddy Borowitz said that sent her down this road.He’d been adamant that Devon was the result of his sperm and Maggie’s egg.Assuming he was telling the truth, that ruled out adoption.And if fertility treatments weren’t working for them, that left one other option.
Just then, Jessie's phone rang.It was Gray Sterling.
“I guess we’re about to get a more definitive answer,” she said before answering and putting the call on speaker.“Thanks for getting back to us, Mr.Sterling.You’re on speakerphone with me and Detective Valentine.How are you feeling?”
"Better than I was," he said."I haven't had a panic attack since I left the hospital, and they gave me something to take the edge off if they come back.I'm hoping this call doesn't cause another one."
“We are too,” Jessie said, “but we do have a difficult subject to address with you.”
“What?”
"We are looking into connections between Veronica's killing and that of another woman named Margaret Caldwell.Do you know her?"
“I don’t think so,” he said, his tone suggesting that he was confused by the question.“The name doesn’t sound familiar.”
“What about her married name—Margaret Borowitz?Or maybe you know her ex-husband, Ted Borowitz?”
“I’m sorry.I don’t recognize any of those names.Did you say that Vonnie’s death was connected to this woman’s?”
"We think it's possible," Susannah told him, even though they were almost certain."The same method was used to kill them.That's why we're trying to find what the two of them might have in common.And that's why we need you to be straight with us."
“I’ll do my best,” he said apprehensively.
Susannah looked over at Jessie, as if to say, 'It's your show now.'
"Mr.Sterling, I know this is personal, but was Emma born via a surrogate mother?"
The silence on the other end of the line was deafening.
“Why?”he finally asked.
Jessie decided to simply be up front.At this point, she had nothing to lose.
“We just confirmed that Maggie Caldwell and her ex had their son via surrogacy.If you and Veronica did as well, that could prove to be a useful lead in our investigation.”
“I don’t think Veronica would have wanted me to say,” he replied, answering her question without meaning to.“She was very private about our family.”
“We understand that,” Jessie said softly.“But the person who did this is still out there.Do you really think Vonnie would have objected if revealing the truth helped catch her killer?Especially when they may already have other victims in mind.What you tell us could be crucial to catching them.”
Again, the line was quiet.Then they heard a loud sigh.
