"Downstairs in a private office.One of my officers is with her."
"Is she in any state to speak with us?”
“Well, she was understandably shocked, but I think she can—”
“Hey, Miles?”
Vic had moved to the bathroom while Miles had been speaking with Linhart.Miles turned toward her voice and started toward the bathroom.“Yeah?”
"You need to see this."
He joined her in the bathroom and saw what she had found.It seemed simple and rather harmless at first, but given the angles of this case, it was a pretty big clue.A platinum Rolex sat on the counter, the metal gleaming even in the harsh light.The watch was expensive, easily worth fifty or sixty thousand dollars.
"He left it here," Vic said."Just like the jewelry with Rothschild."
“You don’t think the victim simply took it off?”
“Possibly.But why take a watch off for sex?Seems weird, right?”
"Right," Miles said."The jewelry was arranged and displayed.This is just sitting here like Williams took it off himself."
"Maybe the killer was interrupted.Didn't have time to stage it properly."
Miles considered that but something felt off.The killer had taken the time to position Williams's body, to fold his hands, to make everything look peaceful.Why rush the staging of the watch?
"Let's look at him again," Miles said.
They returned to the bedroom.Miles studied Williams's left wrist.There was a distinct tan line, a pale band of skin where the watch had protected it from the sun.And there, just visible on the inside of his wrist, was a faint impression.The shape of the watch band pressed into the skin over time.
"This makes me think he wore it constantly," Miles said.“So…yeah, I doubt he took it off just for a little rendezvous.”
"So, the killer took it off him and put it in the bathroom."
"With Rothschild, the jewelry was part of the statement.Here it feels different.But I’m not quite sure why."
"Maybe itisa bit different.Or it’s the same message but expressed differently.”
Miles knew this was right.Sure, one Rolex wasn’t quite as impressive as Rothschild’s jewelry collection, but it was still worth a hell of a lot of money—and made primarily with platinum.The killer was selecting victims based on their use of platinum as a status symbol; that much was clear.But the staging felt inconsistent.
"Let's go find the woman who found him," Miles said.“Maybe she’ll be able to clear some things up.”He turned to Detective Linhart and said, “Can you take us to her?”
Linhart nodded and waved at them to follow her.They went back down to the lobby and followed Linhart to the manager's office behind the front desk.Within that large office, there was a smaller office in the back, inviting and comfortable.Hannah Glenn sat on a small couch with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.She was young, maybe twenty-five, with striking features that suggested modeling or acting.Her eyes were red from crying and her hands shook as she held a cup of water.
An officer stood near the door, a forlorn look on his face.Linhart led Miles and Vic by the officer and into the room.Glenn looked up to them with a heavy wariness in her eyes.
“Ms.Glenn,” Linhart said, “These are Agents Sterling and Stone, with the FBI.They were hoping they could ask you some questions.”
Glenn nodded but didn't seem to fully register their presence.She sipped carefully from her water, her shaking hands making the task difficult.
"Ms.Glenn," Miles said gently, pulling up a chair to sit across from her."I know this has been traumatic and I’m sorry to.But I need to ask you some questions about Michael Williams."
"Okay."Her voice was barely above a whisper.“I just…God, I’m just happy someone is trying to figure out what the hell happened…”
"How long had you known him?"Vic asked.
"A month.Maybe five weeks.We met at a party in Tribeca.He was charming and said he could help my career."She laughed bitterly."That's what they all say, right?He told me he was going to leave his wife.That we'd be together properly.I believed him."She wiped at her eyes."God, I'm so stupid."
"You're not stupid," Vic said."He lied to you.That's on him."
