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“We would be happy to read it over, decide from there.” The striking similarities to The Romeo Killer didn’t mean the work in progress didn’t factor in somehow, though it felt like a shot in the dark.
“All right, then. I’ll get the lawyers on preparing the paperwork.”
“When should you have that?” Amanda had no intention of hanging around waiting. Her entire body was quaking with the desire to move on Navarro.
“A few hours, give or take.”
“Is this something you could send electronically and us sign and return the same way?” she asked.
“I don’t see why not.”
“And once that’s out of the way, Melody can fill us in over the phone?” She’d prefer not to drive back out to Washington, if it wasn’t necessary.
“Yes. I am sure you’ll find that Garrison & Marrow will cooperate fully with this investigation, Detectives. Felicity Kelley was a true talent, and she’ll be missed.”
“That she will be,” Amanda said, adding her voice to that sentiment. She hadn’t known Felicity well, but from the little she did, the mystery author struck her as a shining light. Where she earned Amanda’s respect was her seeming dedication to getting the facts right. After all, she had sought out a detective to help with police procedure. Not everyone put that effort into their work. But Amanda was committed to putting her all into finding out why someone killed Felicity Kelley.
EIGHTEEN
Amanda stepped into the hall ahead of Trent. “We need to bring Navarro in immediately.”
“Agreed. A bleeding heart as motive for the killer in Felicity’s book? That can’t be a coincidence. Felicity rejected Navarro’s proposal and ended things.”
“Uh-huh, just as she reached a pinnacle of success.”
“Successful and beautiful women,” Trent reiterated what Moss had told them about the Romeo Killer’s targets.
“Navarro would be well aware of all of it.”
“He might have known about Kristopher Black too.”
She considered and shook her head. “I’m not sure whether he did or not, but Celeste didn’t mention Black.”
“Felicity could have kept their relationship quiet,” Trent added. “Either way, Felicity dumped Navarro. But then he decides to mimic Felicity’s method? Why do that?”
“It points to him, while at the same time, it’s subliminal. He makes us think we’re after a serial killer, not looking at an isolated incident. It also lights up a bunch of suspects. Everyone who has read the novel knows the plot.”
“Like the deranged fans he directed our attention to. All this makes him feel removed and free of suspicion.”
“Though that’s where he’s wrong.” Amanda had her phone out and was calling Malone. She filled Trent in on her plans. “I don’t want another minute passing with Navarro on the streets. It’s going to take us a chunk of time to get back to the county, and I want him at Central when we arrive.”
Trent’s phone rang. “It’s Justine Livingston, Felicity’s agent,” he said before answering. “Hello, this is Detective Stenson…” He stepped away so they both had some distance to manage their calls.
Amanda filled Malone in on their suspicions about Navarro.
“I see why you’d have your doubts about this guy’s innocence,” Malone told her. “Enough to bring him in?”
“Yes, I don’t see the harm. We’ll just talk to him, feel him out more. He never did give us an iron-clad alibi.”
A brief pocket of silence, then, “All right, I’ll have officers bring him in. You headed right back?”
Amanda glanced at Trent, and she could tell from the odd word hitting her ear that he was trying to arrange a meeting with the agent. With them already in Washington, it made sense to tend to that before returning to Woodbridge. At least with Navarro in holding at Central, he wouldn’t be free on the streets. It would also give him time to sweat things out. “I think Trent and I have one more stop first.”
“Okay, well, he’ll be here waiting unless you hear from me. You might know already, but Kelley’s name and her murder have hit the news.”
“That was bound to happen.” She was shocked it had taken as long as it had. The media had been crawling outside her house yesterday evening.
“You know it.” Sarcasm in full force and, with that, Malone ended the call.
