Barrett listened carefully, absorbing the details.The picture continued to take shape.
Cadie paused."There's more."
Barrett wondered what it could be.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small notebook."Since I got back to the hotel before you, I had a couple of hours to put this together."
Barrett took the notebook and opened it.Each entry was organized by date.
"I had a chance to study my aunt's journal thoroughly, so I listed out the key points with dates.That includes everything I learned from the planner notes too."
Flipping through the pages, Barrett studied the notes.The chronology was clear and well organized.The timeline included dates of symptom onset, medication changes, appointments that were kept or missed, and her aunt's own words about how she felt.Cadie had cross-referenced the journal entries with the planner notes, creating a complete record of Celia Ann's final months."This is going to be very helpful."He closed the notebook and set it on the table between them."I had a productive day also," he said."First, I called Weston Lang at Guardian Investigations, and he had information for us."
Cadie looked surprised."Already?"
Barrett nodded."Yes, I contacted him right away and he went straight to work on the case.I swear the guy must work all kinds of hours."
"Tell me what you learned," Cadie said.
"Weston followed the money trail," Barrett said."He discovered regular cash deposits in Olivia's bank account, starting eight months before your aunt's death.Amounts ranged from five hundred to a thousand dollars every two to three weeks.The total was approximately eight thousand dollars over that period."He paused."And there was no documented source of income to explain the deposits."
Cadie stared at him."How did he learn about that?"
"He has his sources," Barrett said."The point is that Olivia has been receiving compensation from someone."He let the words settle."And that's not all."
Cadie took a gulp of her margarita."What else?"
"Weston accessed business records through public filings and expense reports related to Kal Davis and his real estate company."He watched her face as he spoke."There was a line item in expenses marked as 'consulting fees.'The amounts and timing match Olivia's deposits."
Cadie set her glass down carefully."That is unbelievable."
"And to complete the picture," Barrett said, "the payments began eight months before your aunt's death."
Cadie put her hand on her chest."I need another drink."
Barrett flagged the waitress and ordered refills.He gave Cadie a couple of minutes to absorb the full meaning of what he had told her.
"There's no doubt what that means," she eventually said."What are we going to do?"
"I mentioned my buddy in the PD, Mark Sullivan," Barrett said.
Cadie nodded.
"Before I picked you up, I called him and shared the financial evidence.He's been suspicious too.He's on board with this investigation and has already set up a meeting with a medical forensic expert."He paused."After I shared the new insight, he agreed that I should be in the meeting."
Cadie waited.
"And I'm taking you with me," Barrett said, "along with your timeline."
Cadie took the notebook and placed it back in her bag.The drink refills arrived and she lifted hers to take a sip."We have to be able to prove all of this, you know."
Barrett noticed her distress and put his hand over hers on the table."I'm way ahead of you."He squeezed her hand gently."That's exactly what I intend to do."
He held her gaze for a moment, wanting her to feel the certainty in his words.Then he moved the frybread plate aside and picked up a menu."But that's enough investigation updates for now.We can't do more tonight.And I'm starving.You must be too.Investigations really work up an appetite."Cadie looked like she wanted to keep talking about the case, but Barrett motioned toward her margarita."Drink up and decide what you want to order.I can't have you drinking on an empty stomach."He smiled."We have plenty of time before the music starts."
Cadie relented and opened her menu.She chose swordfish, and Barrett went with the steak.While they waited for their meals, the conversation drifted to other topics.Barrett guided it there deliberately, asking about the Charleston restaurants she remembered from high school and whether any of her old favorites were still open.
He watched Cadie as he spoke.She laughed at a story he told about a surveillance case that involved accidentally following the wrong person for three hours through a shopping mall.
