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“Why would I murder those women?” Martin asked in a rather intense whisper. He had remained seated, and he used his index finger and thumb to smooth his mustache in frustration. “You have no proof that—”
“I see that Chief Rogan didn’t inform you of the latest development. Odd, really, given how close the two of you are.” Brook removed the cloth napkin from her lap and leisurely folded the thick material so that she could set it next to her empty coffee mug. “This investigation is now under federal jurisdiction. And I assure you, Mr. Kingston, that I do know about every single one of your indiscretions. I’m not one to judge, though. I also didn’t accuse of you of anything. I merely want to speak with Emily, but seeing as my colleague has already done so this morning, I see no reason to take up anymore of your time.”
Brook pushed back her chair, collected her purse, but didn’t bother to offer her hand. Besides, Martin Kingston was too busy reaching for his cell phone that he had tucked inside the interior pocket of his suit jacket. It was obvious that he didn’t believe someone had garnered access to his home to speak with his granddaughter.
“Enjoy your family vacation, Mr. Kingston.”
Brook took her leave, not bothering to look back when Martin had apparently gotten someone on the line who had knowledge of Sylvie’s presence at his estate. Brook had hoped to buy Sylvie more time for her conversation with Emily, but it was the best that could be done given the circumstances.
The secrecy weaved into the Kingston family dynamics couldn’t be ignored, and such a discovery had certainly placed Adeline, Sophia, and Emily at the forefront of the investigation.
Had Bella and Piper stumbled across the truth? Had one of the suspects acted on impulse to prevent the details from being revealed? Detective Hartley certainly believed so, which was why he’d decided to pay a visit to Adeline Murphy this morning.
While such a lead couldn’t be ignored, Brook had faith in her profile. The slow manner in which the victims had been killed pointed to someone who had wanted the women to suffer. The unsub needed to observe her victims’ torment up close, deriving some twisted satisfaction from their pain. The killer’s meticulous planning and execution indicated a level of control that wasn’t easily swayed by sudden discoveries or hasty reactions.
Given that the unsub had reached out to Brook last night, the investigation had reached a critical juncture. It was her intention to make sure that the unsub didn’t have a way out.
Chapter Twenty-One
Theo Neville
December 2023
Friday — 2:57pm
ThewindowsoftheAirbnb shook every so often when a gust of wind came in off the Chesapeake Bay. It was tough to imagine that this small house had been standing for years against such harsh elements, but the solid structure told stories of resilience and history. The gas fireplace had been turned on, and the small blower underneath provided warmth and comfort from the biting cold outside.
Theo had noticed Bit’s tendency to either lower or turn off the blower whenever Brook left the room or the cottage altogether. They were all well aware of Brook penchant for space heaters, and the gas fireplace was a gem amongst gems. There wasn’t an internal power struggle, per se. Bit would always cave to Brook, and not just because she was his boss. He’d put her on a pedestal a long time ago, but his tech equipment came in a close second.
“Bit, I think your popcorn is done.”
Theo glanced up from his laptop to find that Sylvie had entered the living room with her small suitcase in hand. It was obvious that she was hesitant to drive back to the city, and he suspected that it had more to do with who was waiting for her at her apartment than what evidence or leads she would be missing here during her time away.
“Are you all sure about this?” Sylvie asked as she set her overnight bag near the front door. She made no move to reach for her winter jacket. “I can always call and—”
“Sylvie, we’ve got you covered,” Theo reassured her as he rested his elbow on the arm of the overstuffed chair. “You don’t want to look back in three to six months and regret not spending time with your father. I know there’s more to the situation, but these next few weeks provides you an opportunity to figure things out.”
Sylvie’s reluctant expression indicated she wasn’t so sure that was the case, but she nodded her agreement anyway. She glanced toward the portable monitor that currently displayed a portion of the profile.
“Emily Park had nothing new to add during our discussion, but she did come clean about her passion for painting.” Sylvie finally reached for her jacket and slipped her arms through the sleeves. “She’s good, but she mostly paints marine art. The Chesapeake Bay is her inspiration, and there was nothing ominous about the paintings. Not even the ones including severe weather, like thunderstorms. Bit, were you able to confirm her alibi for the night that Piper Zimmer was killed?”
“Not yet, but there were a lot of people at the ice-skating rink that evening,” Bit said as he stood up from his chair. The buttery flavor of the popcorn had traveled from the kitchen into the living room in record time. “I’ve programmed an application to sort through social media photos of the event that night. I should have something back within the hour.”
“Sylvie, you’ll be back first thing Monday morning,” Brook added softly as she looked up from her laptop. Her long black hair was lying over her left shoulder, but Theo figured it wouldn’t be for long. The black hair tie wrapped around her wrist was usually a dead giveaway. “Should a new development occur, we’ll call you.”
Sylvie zipped her jacket and then took the time to make sure her leather gloves covered her hands. She’d driven back to the Airbnb a few hours ago, and the engine in her car would take some time to heat the interior.
“Bit, tell Zoey that you’ll meet up with her again. No one is perfect, and I bet you’ll figure that out the next time you go out with her. What if she doesn’t floss? Have you ever thought about that?”
Bit adjusted his knit hat before he leveled Theo a knowing look.
“Big T, you know what I’m talking about, right? When a woman is too perfect?”
“The same could be said for a man,” Brook stated, although her focus had already gone back to the screen on her laptop. “I’m with Bit on this one. If someone is too perfect, then it’s by design. On the other hand, you’ve only met this woman twice. I’m sure that she simply wants to put on a good front before revealing that she bites her nails or eats her hair.”
Theo wasn’t sure that he’d heard Brook correctly, but Bit’s double take had confirmed his first suspicion. No one seemed to know how to respond until Brook glanced up from her screen.
“What? It was a joke,” Brook protested as she readjusted her back against the couch pillow. “The three of you are constantly telling me that I need to lighten up. It was funny.”
