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The intruder had been dressed in all black and had worn a ski mask. It had been removed by one of the police officers to see if either her or Roland recognized him. They didn’t. The man was white. Medium built. Tattooed arms. Late thirties. Scar on chin. Eyebrows darker than his blond hair, which usually meant the hair was a dye job. He’d used a semi-automatic…and he’d brought two of them.
The medical examiner, one of Lennox’s colleagues, had deduced and she had agreed, that Roland’s bullet had been a bullseye hit, right in the heart. Her assailant had died instantly.
“Here, drink this.”
She glanced up to accept the cup from Joy. Although her friend hadn’t been on duty when the call had come across dispatch, she had found out soon enough and immediately arrived on the scene with her husband Stonewall. Joy had said they’d dropped the baby off with Granny Kay--Stonewall’s grandmother.
Following Joy’s orders, she took a sip and then glanced up at her friend when she tasted more than just coffee in the cup. “Thanks.”
“After what happened, you need it.”
Lennox took another sip and shrugged. “All I did was lock myself in my bedroom. I don’t want to think about what might have happened if Roland hadn’t intervened.”
“Neither do I,” Joy said softly. “I hate to say it, but that guy got what was coming to him. He meant to kill you.”
“So I heard.” The police officers who’d been the first to arrive on the scene, cops she routinely worked with, hadn’t spared her any of the details. After taking another sip of coffee, she glanced around again. “Where’s Roland?”
“Out in the lobby talking to Stonewall and my detectives. The intruder got off quite a few rounds. Roland did less than five. Too bad the guy didn’t know Roland is an ace shot. It’s my guess that he assumed the condo across the hall from you was still vacant. But he learned it wasn’t…the hard way.”
Lennox nodded. “Has he been ID’d?”
“Not yet. We’ve sent his prints in, though, so it shouldn’t be long. But just so you know, I don’t think this was a typical home invasion,” Joy said. She paused a moment. “Is there a reason someone might want you dead, Lennox?”
She glanced up at Joy and Lennox understood--they weren’t working together as a team this time. Tonight, Joy was the police…and Lennox, an intended victim.
She looked away for a minute. When she glanced back at her friend, she said, “Had you asked me that this morning, I would have said no. But…”
Her voice trailed off, and for some reason, she couldn’t finish what she about to say. Just thinking of the words written on that note sent a chill through her.
Joy frowned. “But what, Lennox?”
“But now, I’m not sure.” Lennox stood up. “I need to show you something. I’ll be right back.” Then she went into her bedroom to retrieve the envelope she’d found in her conference bag.
Returning, she handed the envelope to Joy.” “And before you ask, no, I don’t recognize the handwriting.”
Lennox watched as Joy opened the envelope, and read the sheet of paper inside. Then Joy looked back at her. “When did you get this?”
Lennox released a deep breath. “I’m not sure. I came across it today--less than an hour before my door got kicked in. Someone left it in my bag at the convention last week. I have no idea who could have done it—I had my bag with me at all times. So it had to have been someone I hung around, which could have been any number of people. Old friends from med school, former colleagues from Boston who’d worked with me and DeWalt… However, I’m not sure it was one of them.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because it refers to my fiancé’s death. I would have thought that if it had been someone I knew, or someone who knew DeWalt, they would have used his name.”
“Not necessarily,” Joy said. “The note might have been worded that way deliberately, so you wouldn’t think it was someone you knew. Although it’s going be hard for you to remember, I need you to give me the names of every single person you spent time with at that convention, Lennox.”
Lennox frowned. “I was afraid you were going to say that.
• • •
“Are you okay, Ro?”
Roland glanced over at Stonewall. The detectives had already walked off to talk to the medical examiner. “Yes, I’m fine. It’s not easy to know you killed someone. Even when the bastard had it coming.”
Stonewall shoved his hands into his pockets. “Regardless, it was set up to look like a home invasion. This has all the makings of a hit, Ro.”
Roland met his friend’s gaze. “I agree. But the question is why? Is it about a body she recently examined?”
“I don’t know, but you better believe Joy will get to the bottom of it. Lennox is her friend so she has a personal stake in it. I’m just glad all the ruckus woke you up,” Stonewall said.
