Page 40 of The Wrong Guy

What I have that many of these other cops don’t have is a stable house. Working in this field does a hard one on your marriage since you’re out all of the time. I’m not worried about my nerdy husband cheating on me, but a lot of these guys have cheating spouses.

After reviewing the case of Bancroft, I would have written it off until I started looking into some connections between his death and others from this same hospital. Bancroft is inthe cooler in one of the city's major mob-influenced hospitals. Many mafiosos send their people to this hospital because of the amount of control they have over the situation.

Bancroft filed for divorce from his long-time significant other, and it looks like a lot of money was in the mix. With this amount of money just hanging out there, this is the type of motive someone would want to make someone go away. What I’m trying to connect is the how and the why this happened at this hospital if the mafia isn’t involved.

“This is Milgram,” I answer my ringing phone on the desk.

“Detective Milgram, this is Russell. I was the attorney for Derek Bancroft. I got a message you wanted me to call you.”

I nod my head while pulling out a legal-sized notepad and one of my pens. “Yes, thank you for getting back to me. I see you’ve worked with him to settle his divorce and the accrued assets of the couple. What are your thoughts on the proceedings leading up to Bancroft’s death?”

Usually, attorneys won’t speak to me unless I’m trying to help out their clients. In this case, I’m trying to find out how Audrina killed Derek if she was laid up in a bed this whole time.

“It is obvious who was involved. Audrina, Derek’s wife, has Stavros Bilias as an attorney.”

“Bilias?” I question.

Everyone in the city is familiar with that name. The same name would strike fear in someone’s heart if they knew what these guys could do. I have worked on several cases where I have tried to convict them of anything they have done and have been unable to nail any of them.

Stavros Bilias is Andamos Bilias's son, now the capo of the Bilias Family. This is also the same family who manages to have politicians and policemen in their pockets to get out of shit in the community. Bilias is a heavy hitter, and I’m excited about this connection.

Taking down this family would be the highlight of my career and would give me medals. I could have whatever I wanted, and that kind of power is essential for a woman in my boy’s club.

“Have you begun working on anything for the divorce proceedings?” I ask while writing down a list of questions I’m going to need to be answered.

“We started to, but then Derek passed away. It is funny how he passed away in the same hospital that Audrina and her boyfriend are in.”

“Hold on a second. Herboyfriend?”

He chuckles mirthlessly. “Yeah. Derek said he watched Stavros and Audrina in the act.”

I’m writing down everything he is saying since it is pure gold. “Go on,” I encourage.

“It was a couple of days later, and then this happened.”

“How long would you say Audrina and Stavros have known each other?”

He clucks his tongue. “Probably a couple of weeks? I’m not sure. I know this is very suspicious, and I want justice for my client.”

After confirmingwith the hospital that Audrina is still there and so was Derek’s body, I decide it is time I made my way over there. I fielded several phone calls from my husband, Mark, who wanted to know when I would be home because the kids wanted me.

This is the only part that sucks about working and being a mother. If you succeed in one aspect of your life, you fail in the other. There isn’t a happy medium between work and home life.

The hospital’s opulence and grandeur, made possible by the community donations, is well established in its beauty. I flash my badge to the lady at the reception desk, who tells me where I can find Audrina Bancroft.

I pass several doctors, nurses, and community members on my walk toward the elevator to get answers from Audrina. It is bold if she has a relationship with her divorce attorney, who has mafia ties with a significant family.

There have been rumors Stavros separated from the family and doesn’t have much affiliation. Whether that is the case or not, family ties are family ties.

Once I’m outside the door of Audrina’s room, I can hear her talking to two different men. They are hushed in their communication, but they are clearly trying to help guide Audrina in communicating with me.

I smile. I love it when people tell me what I want to know without knowing they did so.

“Good afternoon. I’m Detective Milgram. I’m looking for Audrina Bancroft,” I greet them.

I would recognize Stavros Bilias anywhere since he’s almost a carbon copy of his father. His fierce eyes are watching my every movement as I enter the room. I’m not worried about his possessive streak, and I’m hoping he doesn’t think he has one over on me because he’s got a dick.

“I’m Audrina,” the woman on his lap whispers.

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