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“And the business cards?”
“If they were in her top drawer, that’s pretty close to plain sight.”
“So Moira’s not involved.”
“No, I doubt it. But someone wants us to think she is.”
A half hour later the three of us arrived, via Rock’s limo, at Lacey’s apartment.
“Nice to see you, Lacey,” the doorman said. “We’ve missed you around here.”
Lacey nodded without responding, and we hurried into the building and up to Lacey’s door. She unlocked it quickly and raced inside.
It was a lovely place, better than anything I’d lived in, but very modest compared to Reid’s apartment.
“Have a seat,” Rock said to me.
“I’d like to help if I can,” I said.
“All right.” Lacey rummaged through a kitchen drawer and handed me a pad of paper and a pen. “Write down what I tell you.”
I nodded and followed her and Rock into the bedroom. She opened her top dresser drawer harshly, nearly landing it on the floor. She pulled out scarves and garments, throwing them to the floor. “Here they are.” She pulled out a handkerchief identical to the one from Moira’s office. “Only three. In a set of four.”
Rock riffled his fingers through his hair. “Someone was here.”
Lacey nodded. “We need to get a PI in here to dust for fingerprints.”
“We can,” Rock said, “but I’d bet whoever did this was a pro and knew better than to leave fingerprints. What else is missing? Anything?”
“I don’t know. I’m going to have to go through this place with a fine-toothed comb.”
“No time like the present. One pink hanky from a set of four. Write that down, Zee.”
I nodded and complied.
“When was the last time you used the hankies?” Rock asked his wife.
“Like I said, I really don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever used them.”
“Not at the memorial?”
“Especially not at the memorial. I wasn’t crying. Were you?”
“True enough,” Rock said. “Write down never used, Zee.”
Again, I obeyed.
Lacey continued to open drawers and throw things onto the floor.
“Easy, baby.” Rock gripped her shoulders. “If you keep making a mess like this, we’re not going to be able to figure out what’s missing.”
Lacey’s lips trembled. “You’re right. You’re right. I just feel so…”
“Violated,” I finished for her softly.
“Yes. Yes, that’s it.” She clasped one hand to her lips. “I’m so sorry, Zee. This is nothing compared to what you’ve been through.”
“You’re entitled to feel the way you feel,” I said.
She smiled weakly and then turned back to a pile of scarves on the floor. “I never wear scarves. Most of these are from Secret Santas at the firm. For some reason, everyone thinks female attorneys want scarves.”
“Anything missing?” Rock asked.
“Yes. One I got from my mentor, Robert Mayes. It was blue.” She gulped. “And monogrammed.”
“I’m seeing a pattern,” Rock said. “Whoever did this was going for monogrammed things that could be easily traced to you.”
“Still circumstantial,” Lacey said dully, not sounding convinced.
“Circumstantial is all they need to tie you to the murder.”
“What the hell is my motive?” she shrieked. “I hardly knew the man!”
“Think,” he said. “Is there something you’re forgetting? Did my asshole father ever come onto you?”
“Of course he did. Derek Wolfe came onto every available female.”
“There’s your motive.”
“No.” She shook her head. “He didn’t push it. I told him no, and that was that.”
“What about the guy who referred my father to you?”
“That was Robert Mayes. My mentor.”
“You trust the guy?”
“Of course I do! He was always good to me.”
“Maybe we should talk to him.”
Lacey sighed. “Another scarf is gone.”
“Monogrammed?”
“No, not this one. Maybe we’re on the wrong track.”
“I don’t think so. It’d look pretty suspicious if someone robbed you and only took monogrammed items.”
“This whole thing already looks suspicious. Who the hell breaks into someone’s place and takes only scarves and handkerchiefs?”
“Someone who doesn’t want a person to realize she’s been robbed,” I said quietly.
“Zee, you’re right on target,” Rock said. “Did you write down blue monogrammed scarf?”
I nodded. “Lacey, can you describe the other scarf that’s missing?”
“I can, only because it’s so ugly I’ll never forget it. It was a gift from one of the senior partners, Blaine Foster. It was brown and olive green paisley. Kind of the color of baby puke.”
I quickly made a note, leaving out the baby puke part. Then I sat, numbly, noting everything Lacey discovered was missing. All items that wouldn’t be missed, but enough to know she hadn’t just misplaced them. Especially things she never used, like scarves and hankies. A few pairs of costume earrings.
“Makes sense,” Rock said. “If they took a piece of expensive jewelry, you’d notice it was gone. And you have a ton of earrings, Lace.”
“This is going to take all night,” Lacey said. “I have to go through everything. Zee should go.”
Rock nodded and took the notepad from me. “Thank you for your help. I’m sorry we didn’t just take you to Reid’s, but I didn’t want to delay getting here any longer than we had to. Now we’re here. I’ll tell my driver to take you to Reid’s. Can you get in?”
