Page 35 of State of Bliss

“How in the hell does a college kid have that kind of money?” Gonzo asked.

“I looked into her family. The dad made a fortune in the steel business. He’s the founder and CEO of a company in the Milwaukee area.”

“I want to know who she wrote the check to,” Gonzo said.

“Maybe she hired someone to get the competition out of the way,” Freddie said.

“It’s certainly possible, especially since she had access to that kind of money.”

“I’ll scroll back a couple of months to find out if there were other payments made to someone to keep tabs on what the boyfriend was up to in DC while she was in Georgia. I also think we need a warrant for her computer, which may be in Gordon’s dorm room.”

“Good idea,” Gonzo said. “While you get that started, I’ll call the parents about getting her a lawyer, and then I’ve got to get to Stahl’s.”

“You want me to go with you?”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know I don’t. I’m offering.”

“I won’t say no to any help I can get with that.”

“I’ll let Elin know it’s going to be a late one.”

“Thanks, Freddie,” Gonzo said as he went into Sam’s office and closed the door to call yet another set of parents with news that would rock their world. However, in this case, he wondered if they’d reaped what they’d sown with Tori. “Mrs. Stevens, this is Detective Sergeant Tommy Gonzales with the Metro Police Department in Washington, DC.”

“What’s wrong? Did something happen to Tori or Gordon?”

“No, something happened to Gordon’s new girlfriend, and we’re investigating your daughter’s activities over the last twenty-four hours. In addition, she’s being charged with assaulting a police officer.”

She released a loud gasp. “What?”

“You heard me, ma’am. Gordon’s girlfriend at GW, Rachel Fortier, was found dead in her bed this morning. We have Tori in custody, and she’s requesting an attorney. She told us to call you about getting someone here for her.”

“Gordon doesn’t have another girlfriend, and I don’t know of any attorneys in Washington! Tori never would’ve had anything to do with something like this!”

“I can assure you that Gordondidhave a new girlfriend in DC. Tori knew about her and had been harassing her by text for months. She was nearby when Rachel was murdered. I’m sure your local lawyer can direct you toward someone who can help, or you can consult the local DC Bar Association for a list of attorneys. Until she has representation, Tori will be our guest at the city jail.”

“You can’t just hold her on suspicion.”

“We’re holding her until she can be arraigned on the assault charges. We’re continuing to investigate the murder of Rachel Fortier and Tori’s possible involvement. The sooner you send someone to represent her, the sooner we can determine next steps.”

“I want to talk to her.”

“That’s not possible right now. We’ll have her call you tomorrow. You can call me at this number to let me know when there’s an attorney on the way.” He gave her his extension.

“I don’t know who you think you are, but I’ll have your badge for accusing my daughter of something so sinister. She’s a college student! Not amurderer.”

“I’ll wait to hear back from you about the attorney.” He ended the call before she could make any other threats. At least now he understood where Tori’s sense of entitlement came from. He sat back in Sam’s chair and ran both hands through his hair, exhausted from the long day that wasn’t over yet.

Freddie knocked on the door and came in. “Found some more payments from the account—five hundred here, a thousand there. I think we need to ask her about them and see what she says when the lawyer gets here. In the meantime, I asked Malone to request a warrant for her canceled checks and to search her computer. I asked Charles and O’Brien to go back to Gordon’s dorm room and get the computers. We’ll ask Gordon which one is his and which one is hers, if she brought it with her.”

“Good work, Freddie. Thanks.”

“How’d it go with her parents?”

“Their darling princess had nothing to do with any of this.”

“Of course not.”

---