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“I know,” Jack said. “But I like to justify paying everyone to the taxpayers. Besides, Mackenzie has enough on her plate.”
“Thank you, Jack,” Mackenzie said. “I am a little overwhelmed at the moment. It’s nice when someone thinks of my well-being and doesn’t just think of his own needs.”
“Kid’s got a lot to learn about women,” Cole said, shaking his head.
“What did I do?” Doug asked, raising his hands.
“Exactly my point,” Cole said.
“Here we go,” Martinez said, before things between Doug and Mackenzie could deteriorate. “Kristina Hendricks. Age twenty-four. Did four years in the army and was honorably discharged. Looks like she’s a student at KGU. Been employed with Denaro since he opened as part of his wait staff. Looks like she’s still living with her parents.”
“Okay, we won’t rule her out, but she doesn’t fit the profile,” Jack said. “Let’s go ahead and run financials on all of these guys. And when Mackenzie has a chance I want to see their military records.”
“I’ll start a side search,” Mackenzie said.
“Thank you,” Jack told her.
“You’re welcome, Jack,” Mackenzie said in a tone that had my brows rising.
“Careful, Mackenzie,” Jack said. “Jaye will come after you.”
Her laughter was throaty and seductive. “Sorry, Dr. Graves. You’re a lucky woman.”
“Yes,” I said. “Though I wonder what chance I’d have if you had a body to go with that voice.”
“None at all,” Mackenzie said definitely, making me burst with laughter.
“I will never get used to this,” I said.
“This is the future,” Doug said.
“That’s my concern,” I told him. “Do humans exist in the future, or does Mackenzie take over?”
“Is that a hypothetical question?” Mackenzie asked. “Or am I supposed to answer?”
“It’s probably best left unanswered,” Jack said.
“Whatever you say, darling,” she said. “I have the information on Jasmine Taylor if you’d like me to put it on the screen.”
“Thank you, Mackenzie,” Jack said. “Please do.”
“You called that one,” Cole said, reading Jasmine Taylor’s information from the board. “They really do have terrible cyber security. Looks like she’s on assignment from the DOJ. Do you think she’s investigating Sowers or Kirby?”
“That’s the million dollar question, but not our problem, thank God,” Jack said. “Let’s keep looking at the veterans on staff at the Purple Pig.”
“Next is Juan Ramirez,” Martinez said. “He’s also on wait staff. Age thirty-three. Did twelve years in the navy. Honorably discharged. Married to Gina Hernandez Ramirez. Two kids and another on the way. He’s been with Denaro about six months. Looks like he’s a firefighter at station three. I’m guessing he waits tables on his off days.
“Next is Eddie Lische,” Martinez said. “Also did four years in the army and is a student at KGU. Honorable discharge. Age twenty-five.”
“That’s a connection between him and Kristina,” Jack said. “Same branch of the service. Around the same age. Same college campus.”
“Looks like he’s living in an on-campus apartment with a couple of roommates,” Martinez continued. “And then there’s Bobby Pickering. We’re just waiting on financials for him.”
“What about the other valets?” Jack asked. “Darnell mentioned they were veterans.”
“Yeah, umm,” Martinez said, squinting and putting up two more photographs on the board. “J.D. Street and Steven Machilenski. Wow, is that a mouthful.”
“We met J.D. the night of the shooting,” Jack said. “Steven is the one who called in sick, but both J.D. and Darnell said they thought he wasn’t sick but with his girlfriend.”
