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All of the victims died of smoke inhalation near where the fire had started, and either drugs or alcohol were found in their system.
Plus, in addition to the missing clock reported by Les’s daughter, the son of one of the other victims had asked about a monogrammed money clip, which he claimed his father always had on his person. However, it hadn’t been found in the clothing he’d been wearing nor anywhere at the scene.
Were items from the other two victims on the list also AWOL?
That was a follow-up question for Michelle Thomas’s father and the family of Renee Miller.
Bri packed up her laptop and notes and hurried toward the exit. This would be a working evening. Sarge was a patient man, but he was also practical. He’d cut her a reasonable amount of slack to continue delving into Les’s puzzle, but current investigations would take priority. With their heavy caseload, it would be difficult to pursue this during normal business hours.
Not a problem. If she had to play with this riddle while off duty, so be it.
And that very diligence and determination could be why Les had considered enlisting her help, as Marc had suggested.
Alison pushed open the passenger door as she approached.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Bri slid in, set her laptop, tote bag, and purse at her feet, and buckled up.
“No worries.” Alison slipped her phone into a slot on the center console and put the car in gear. “I’m near the end of the romance novel I’m reading, and the swoon-worthy hero was about to come to the rescue.” Lips bowing, she gave a sheepish shrug. “Despite my current situation, I’m a firm believer in happy endings. Even my own. I haven’t given up on Nate yet.”
“You really think the two of you might get back together?” Didn’t seem likely after more than eighteen months, especially since Alison had hinted he was still battling the opioid issue at the root of their problems. But love could short-circuit common sense.
“We haven’t shut down the lines of communication. But I sure wish that old back injury hadn’t flared up and started him down a wrong path with painkillers.” Alison wove through the rush hour traffic, toward the highway entrance ramp, and changed the subject. “What’s all that?” She motioned to the material on the floor.
“Work.”
Her volunteer chauffeur wrinkled her nose. “At least I can leave the job behind for the day after my shift ends. A hot new case?”
“No. Still dealing with the Les Kavanaugh investigation.”
“You ever decipher that code you asked me about at the restaurant?”
“I’ve made a little headway, but it’s led to more questions than answers. I feel like I’m trying to play a connect-the-dots game with half of the dots missing. And Sarge is starting to shut the investigation down. I’m going to have to relegate a lot of the work to after hours if I want to keep it alive.”
Alison shook her head. “When I hear your stories and see the long hours you work, I’m glad I’m not a detective. Firefighting is hard, physical labor—and my alternate days playing paramedic have their own challenges—but on the plus side, my brain isn’t fried at the end of my shift. And my free time is my own.”
“I hear you. So how were your days off?”
“Quiet, other than my lunch with you on Friday. But I had my book to keep me company. This weekend’s a different story. My sister’s coming. Only for two nights, but I’ll take it.”
“That’s great.”
“I know.” She accelerated onto the highway. “Even though Columbia isn’t that far away, we don’t get to see each other often. I’ve tried to convince Sophie to move to St. Louis, but she prefers life in a smaller town. Me, I couldn’t wait to live in a big city. To each his own, I suppose. She loves the grade school where she teaches, even if her odds of meeting Mr. Right in that environment are small.”
“Maybe she’s happy being single.”
“That’s possible. After all, a woman doesn’t need a man to lead a full, rich life—present company being an excellent example of that. To tell you the truth, I think my experience has made her gun-shy of marriage. Unless, of course, Nate and I end up back together.” The corners of her mouth rose again in a wistful smile. “Hope springs eternal and all that.”
“I’m all for whatever makes you happy, as long as he gets his act together. And I’d love to meet Sophie sometime.”
“I have a full agenda planned for us already, but why don’t we all get together during her next visit?”
“Let’s plan on that.”
The conversation moved on to other topics for the remainder of the drive. Not until Alison braked at the garage did the subject of work resurface.
“Good luck with that tonight.” She waved a hand toward the laptop and tote bag.
“Thanks.” Bri gathered up her belongings and opened the door. “I’ll take all the luck I can get.”
