Page 192 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
“Regan, is that a family name?” Regina questions, her dark eyes assessing Regan.
Regan smiles at Regina’s question before nodding. “Yes, it’s my grandmother’s maiden name.”
With a reserved grin, Regan offers for Ryan and Regina to sit at one of the three sofas in her massive living room. Just as Ryan steps into the sunken space, Hugo ends his call before requesting a word with him. When Ryan approves his request without a second thought, I try to keep my focus on Regan and Regina, but my essential need to know everything has my eyes continuously moving over to Hugo and Ryan’s half of the living area. I can’t hear anything they’re saying, but Hugo’s stance is off. He’s the most rigid I’ve seen him, and the groove between his brow is so large, you could hide the Golden Gate Bridge in there.
The crater between Hugo’s brows jumps onto my face when Hugo shakes Ryan’s hand before making a beeline for the door. He’s so eager to get out of here, he’s practically running.
When Ryan fills the spare seat next to me, my inquisitiveness gets the better of me. “Where’s Hugo going?”
“He has a family emergency—”
“What type of family emergency?”
He shrugs, his face not giving anything away. “Nope.”
He’s lying. Don’t ask me how I know. I just know he is.
“Liar.” I glare at him for several long seconds before shifting my focus back to the conversation across from me. He chuckles at my comment but doesn’t attempt to refute it. You can’t deny the truth.
“We filed a subpoena request with the judge requesting that all the evidence in Megan’s case be assessed by our precinct instead of the internal affairs division of the FBI,” Regina informs Regan, her voice professional yet full of worry. “Theresa argued that the case she had compiled between Isabelle and Isaac was directly associated with Megan’s case, but since you had her investigation into Isabelle squashed, the judge denied the connection before ordering for her to hand over all evidence to our department.”
Sweet relief washes through me. If Regina can prove the bullet found on the scene wasn’t shot through anything of a human matter, the DA will have no incriminatory evidence against me. The bullet is the only leg the DA has to stand on. They arrested me solely on evidence that is as corrupt as the woman who gathered it.
Ryan chimes in by handing Regan a one-page document. “FBI Special Agent Alex Rogers supplied me with a report this morning regarding Isabelle entering Megan’s motel room. He advised that he requested for her to investigate Megan after an incident at Isaac’s nightclub earlier that day. That report will aide in having Izzy’s fingerprints and hair fiber in Megan’s bathroom thrown out.”
Moisture floods my eyes. Although I’m still annoyed at the tactics Alex undertook to force me to go undercover, I’m grateful he’s assisting in my acquittal.
“We’re going to the mechanic where Isaac’s car was taken to once we leave here. If the second bullet is still in the tire, we’ll collect it and send it to a CSI officer I trust in Hopeton. His findings will be more credible than the Ravenshoe department. Theresa has too many connections with the staff at Ravenshoe.” Ryan’s comment forms a knot in my stomach because it’s proof this witch-hunt is more about who you know than credible evidence. “But even if we get the bullet thrown out as evidence, don’t become complacent, Izzy. You still have a battlefield to walk through.”
My brows knit as I nod. “I understand, but it’s still a step in the right direction.”
“I agree, but this is also a murder investigation. The amount of blood in Megan’s room can’t be overlooked. Combine that with your fingerprints found in her family residence, and you’re the DA’s number one suspect.”
My eyes snap to Ryan’s. “I didn’t touch anything at Megan’s house. Brandon and I wiped down all the door handles and surfaces we touched before we left her property Saturday night.”
Ryan cringes, his head juddering side to side. “Your fingerprints were recovered on a vanity tap in the main bathroom.”
My heart plunges into my gut when the night in question rolls back in my head. With my mind on the fritz, I completely forgot about turning off the vanity tap.
How could I have been so stupid?
After exhaling a big breath to rid my body of nerves, I lock my eyes with Ryan. “So that one lot of fingerprints links me to Megan’s case?”
When he nods, I curse under my breath. I don’t usually swear, but with everything happening, nothing is close to ordinary.
“So, staying away from Isaac is utterly useless. I’m already linked to Megan’s case—”
“No.” Regina swipes her hand through the air, cutting me off. “I agree with Regan. You can’t have the DA or the jury knowing you’re in a relationship with Isaac. There are many arguments you can use as to why your fingerprints were found in Megan’s home.” Regina shifts her gaze to Regan, who is watching her in anticipation. “For decades, researchers have been trying to find a way to age fingerprints, but to date, no credible method has been discovered. So, you could argue Isabelle’s fingerprints were left during the FBI’s investigation into Megan as part of Isaac’s case.”
Regan smiles and nods, grateful for Regina’s many years of experience and knowledge. After accepting her un-worded praise, Regina devotes her attention back to me. “But if you choose to go down that track, you need to find someone willing to corroborate your story.”
My first thought strays to Brandon, but the dull ache hitting my chest weakens its hypothesis. Brandon has always been supportive of me, but asking him to falsely testify would push the limits of our friendship. No matter how badly I want the charges dropped, I can’t ask Brandon to lie for me. He’s a great friend, and I’m sure he’d agree without a snippet of deliberation, but I refuse to put him in a predicament where he could lose his job, or even worse, his freedom. I’ll take the upper hand and have faith justice will prevail.
“I won’t have any more people dragged into this mess.”
A blinding grin stretches across Ryan’s face. “I don’t believe you need anyone to corroborate your story. The murder in Parkerville aids your case more than hinders it.”
“Murder? What murder?”
