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Then she caught sight of Marcus, who was frowning at her. And just like that, her pulse quickened. A flush of heat swept over her body. A need she didn’t understand left her breathless. She reallywasan idiot. This man was bad for her. They were bad together.
“So, are we ready?” Elle, their medical examiner, asked.
Tamilya nodded as she took her seat next to Marcus.
“Our Russian died thanks to the bullet wound to the back of his head. Not very distinguishable in the world of hired killers, I know. But he was beaten up before the murder.”
“Beaten up?” Marcus asked.
Elle nodded. “He had three broken ribs that hadn’t started to heal; therefore, I’m assuming they happened right around the same time.” She clicked on her tablet and the screen showed Golubev, post autopsy. His torso and face were covered with purple and yellow bruises. “These were not present this morning. They appeared while I was performing the autopsy, which tells me they happened in the hour leading up to his death.”
“So someone beat him up then killed him,” Tamilya said. “I’m assuming they wanted something from him.”
“Not money,” Charity said. She took over the tablet, tapping her fingers over the screen. “He has little of that. Most of it had been drained out. It took me awhile, and many threats to my husband, but we now know that Golubev was using the name Allen Smith.”
Marcus snorted. “Are you kidding me?”
Charity rolled her eyes. “Right? Could they get any more generic?”
“And he had a thick Russian accent, unless he got rid of it,” Tamilya said.
“I thought you didn’t know much about him,” Marcus said.
“I don’t, but Addie said it was one of the things she would always remember about him. He was lazy, so I doubt he tried to get rid of it.”
“That definitely would have alerted people,” Charity said. “Anyway, he had been spending large amounts of money. Dinners, hotel rooms, flowers.”
“A woman,” Tamilya said.
Charity nodded. “Yeah, that’s what TJ heard from his handler.”
“They were just letting him run around unsupervised?” Graeme asked.
“Looks like it. And boyfriend had some expensive tastes. I know a few of these restaurants from my time in DC and Marcel’s is pricey. And it was consistently dinner for two.”
Tamilya nodded in agreement. “He was in lust with someone and spending a lot of money.”
“I’ve asked for the surveillance in and around these areas. I should be able to find out what was going on and with whom soon enough.”
“Good,” Del said. “Anything on the bullet?”
“Nope. I am casting a wider net, and I hope to have something later today,” Charity said.
Del turned to Marcus and Tamilya. “Do you two think that there are any national security concerns here? I have to brief the mayor and governor this afternoon, and I want to make sure we let them know.”
“Right now, I can’t say. If we can get an image of whoever he was romancing, then we might know. I doubt she has anything to do with the murder.”
“Why do you say that?” Del asked.
“He usually went for stupid women. Or those who appeared to be stupid. They were always flashy, over the top. He was a man who liked to pretend he had connections, but he really didn’t.”
“Then why was the FBI using him?”
“He might not have the connections, but he did play in those circles, socially speaking. I think he could have become very powerful in Russia. Money is power, and he was very good at kissing ass from what I read about him. But, while he would fund some terrorism, he wanted enough to live in luxury. He didn’t understand working hard at all.”
Del nodded. “And you’re going to talk to some of Adam’s contacts?”
“Yeah, just got a message from one of them that he could meet with us this afternoon,” Marcus said.
