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Chapter 85

I felt thepressure escalating. I needed to move quickly on the DNA information Bobby had given me so that I could solve the case and get back to New York in time to keep my job. And with a Supreme Court justice’s connections, the Steinbergs might be tipped off about the DNA hit before we could even do a proper interview.

That’s why I wasted no time in calling Detective Holly at the Baltimore homicide unit. After a quick hello, I told her about the matching DNA.

Detective Holly said, “Are you trying to keep me in suspense? I know you had several suspects. Which one provided the DNA sample?”

Normally, I’d milk a big moment like this. You know, pause for dramatic effect. Instead, I jumped right in. “The sample belonged to Rhea Wellmy-Steinberg.”

There was dead silence on the line. It went on so long I had to say, “Hello? Stephanie?”

“Sorry. That one took me by surprise. You told me the Steinbergs were possibly involved in the case, but I never thought one of them would be a suspect. A legitimate suspect.”

“Can I ask a couple of favors?”

Detective Holly said, “Are you kidding? You just provided me with a good lead on an ice-cold case. Granted, a suspect like Rhea Wellmy-Steinberg complicates things, but it’s still a cleared case. This one will get me noticed. Ask any favors you want.”

“Can you move quickly on a warrant? I think my time here in DC is almost up.”

“Again, are you kidding me? My bosses will want me to arrest her in the next hour. I have parts of a warrant already written up. All I have to do is fill in some names and the DNA information. It’s certainly enough probable cause to move forward. So, yes, we’ll be making an arrest today.”

I hesitated, then made my second request. “The initial interview when you serve her with the warrant will be vital. I need to be there. I need to tie her to the murder of Emily Parker. Right now, the only way to do that is through an interview. We have no other information linking her to the homicide.”

“So your working theory is that if she committed one homicide of a woman she knew, she might do it twice?”

“Something like that.”

Detective Holly put me on hold to work out a few details. About three minutes later she came back on the line. “My lieutenant wants us to move quickly as well. He’s not as sold on you being part of the interview. He says it may look bad later on. He’s not sure why an NYPD detective is in Washington anyway.”

“I haven’t heard that question before.” I appreciated her courtesy laugh on the other end of the line. Then I thought of a way to force my way into the interview. I said, “You guys are going to need me to testify about how I obtained the DNA sample later. Would you prefer to have a friendly witness on the stand instead of a pissed-off cop from New York?”

All Detective Holly would commit to was calling me when they were coming into Washington to make the arrest.

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