Текст книги "Trigger Snappy"

Автор книги: Camilla Chafer

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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

Chapter Ten

I met Solomon at his house, and felt almost relieved that we weren't in the agency offices. Given the nature of his notes, and mine, and knowing our conversation could turn quickly to the intricacies of the case, it seemed prudent to meet somewhere private. I didn't consider Solomon's bedroom exactly the right place for a professional discussion, but from my vantage point on the bed, I had an excellent view through the bathroom door of his walk-in shower. Not that I was looking at the shower, just admiring the way the rain pummeled his hard body.

The water shut off while I shut my mouth, trying not to dribble, and a moment later, Solomon emerged with a very small towel wrapped tightly around his waist. "How's it going?" he asked, raising a larger towel to his head and drying what little hair he had. I tried really hard to engage my powers of telekinesis and make the towel around his waist fall, only to mentally lament my lack of supernatural powers. "Why is your face all screwed up?" he asked.

I relaxed. "No reason. I haven't read very far," I told him, flapping the file.

"Did you make it past the cover?"

Looking down at the closed file, I stifled a laugh. "I thought I'd wait for you. We should review this stuff together. I sent copies of Juliet's bank statements and credit cards to you, and I just forwarded her incident log of all the weird things she recalls happening."

"Good idea. We don't want to miss anything."

I tried hard again with the telekinesis and the towel because I didn't want to miss anything either, but apparently I needed a lot more practice. With a shake of his head, Solomon turned away, and walked into the closet. When he re-emerged, he was nicely dressed in black jeans and a navy t-shirt, with the long sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The neck was open and a bead of water made its way down his throat before pooling at the base of his neck. I licked my lips and willed myself to concentrate harder.

"Would you rather move to somewhere more professional?" Solomon asked.

"I am an absolute professional everywhere I go," I told him.

"So I see." Solomon sat opposite me, one leg casually resting on the bed, and reached over to flip open the file. "Where are your notes?" he asked.

I pushed over my much slimmer file, which didn't contain much, just Juliet's self-filled case form, the background information provided by Maddox, and several pages of my musings. I figured Solomon could finish it in five minutes or less. His file, however, would probably take me at least two hours. Even skimming it, I could see how comprehensive he was. He had the client’s report of their suspicions into insider trading occurring within their firm and why the evidence pointed to Juliet. That was supported by a report from their IT support and included a ream of dates and times when the trades occurred, along with suspicious emails that were gleaned from Juliet's inbox.

I didn't understand a lot of the financial jargon, or all of the proof, but I understood enough to realize there was a lot of circumstantial evidence against her. I was pretty sure it would all tally with whatever else Donahue had procured down at MPD. I wondered if the snitch had access to any of it. Then, I wondered if that person and the stalker were one and the same. Whoever it was seemed to have no problem accessing any part of Juliet's life.

Spotting some information I hadn't seen before, I paused to read a complaint filed against Juliet. It was from her assistant for unjustifiable termination. There was a rebuttal from Juliet, staunchly refuting the allegation and insisting that she had no idea what was going on.

"Did you interview the assistant?" I asked.

"Whose?"

"Juliet's. There's a report saying Juliet fired her by email, which was to take immediate effect."

"I tried to; but she slammed the door in my face when I said I was from Lancaster Friedland."

I flipped the page. "There was an internal review and Juliet stated she never fired her assistant."

"The full report should be on the next page."

I skimmed the report before looking up. "Don't you think that's weird?"

"I think someone was just covering their ass."

"Who? Juliet?" I asked, wondering why she hadn't mentioned it when I asked about any women who could have had a beef with her. Firing someone seemed like just the thing to me.

Solomon shrugged lightly. "We live in a litigious society. It's hard to say."

I let the pages slide by. There were several performance appraisal reports that all said positive things about Juliet. She was promoted and given several pay raises. Her bosses all seemed to like her, and their glowing reports predicted good progress. "How could someone go from being such a good employee to firing her assistant and resorting to inside information for her trades?"

"Greed. Stupidity. A desire to please that went horribly wrong."

"All her performance appraisals are good. She made the firm a lot of money, consistently exceeding her targets. She made very few bad trades until now, and certainly not to the extent of these losses."

"Perhaps one bad trade triggered a series of others that she couldn't avoid, so she tried to cover them up. The loss trades aren't the ones my client is concerned about, however; they're worried about how she made so much money. She had tipoffs and plenty of non-public information."

"I thought we were trying to stay neutral about her guilt."

"We are. I'm thinking of reasons she could have slipped from employee-of-the-month to crook."

"I'm thinking of ways she was set up."

"The evidence is strong."

"But not irrefutable," I countered. "I'd like to see what Juliet makes of all these trades when I give her time to look them over. She might have another answer, or some way of explaining what happened."

"What Juliet needs is evidence in her defense."

"That's what she's employing me for."

"Do you have any evidence?"

I pouted. "No."

"Tell me more about the stalker theory. What happened at the break-in?"

"Very little, actually. Nothing was stolen, just moved around. It's like they're trying to mess with Juliet rather than hurt her, or possibly letting her know they could hurt her anytime. I think someone made a copy of her keys and knows the access code for her house alarm so they could get in and out easily. They might have also known about the surveillance at the front of her house."

"So we have a mystery person no one saw, who might have been in the house; but no one can confirm it because the alarm didn't go off, and they moved things, but didn't take anything."

"Yes."

"Are you sure Juliet didn't just make it all up? To convince you there really is a stalker?"

I opened my mouth to refute Solomon’s remark, but I couldn't. It was actually quite possible Juliet had done just that. There was nothing to suggest anyone was ever there, other than her own frightened state, and insistence of another person. It could easily be argued that Juliet got up in the night and moved a few things around, then complained there was a break-in to point to an intruder. Solomon didn't have to say it; but without further evidence, there was no reason to believe Juliet's story... except that I did. Instead of giving him a straight yes or no, I said, "That's what the stalker wants us to believe. They want us to think Juliet's going crazy with the strain. Hell, I think they want Juliet to go crazy so she is completely unbelievable. Where are your surveillance notes?"

"At the end. What are you looking for?"

"A list of people that went into the house."

"There're some photos, but we're still working on a list," Solomon told me as I stuck a thumb in the pages at the point where the photos were filed. There were a number of shots in black and white and I recognized a few people: Juliet and Rob, their stepson, Penelope, a few other women, me, the lawyer. Someone drew a beard on my photo. Delightful.

"I can tell you who these people are," I said, pointing to the ones I did know. Solomon handed me a pen and I wrote the names as I remembered them on the back of the photos.

"Your notes are rather brief," he observed, closing the file.

"I only just started," I replied, glancing at his. "Yours are very detailed."

"I had a headstart."

"What's your feeling now?"

"If your gut feeling tells you there is a stalker, then we need to prove or disprove that theory. Juliet's background checks came up clean. Her employers said she was always the perfect employee until suddenly, all this happens. You're right, it doesn't make sense. There should have been a bigger lead-in to this; and she would have been smarter to spread out her trades. There was no urgency for her to rush, thereby risking discovery."

"I thought you were convinced that Juliet suddenly turned bad."

"I'm trusting my gut too; and it tells me something weird is going on. What's your next move, Graves?"

"I asked Delgado to install a new security system at Juliet's house. We're only telling Juliet and Rob about it; and I'll make sure they know not to trust a single other person. I think it's our best chance of catching the perp."

"Good idea. If it helps catch the stalker, I'll bill it to my case expenses. That should clear Juliet and that's what my client wants."

"Your client wants her in prison," I reminded him.

"They want someone in prison, and I'm pretty sure they want the right person. Their evidence just points to Juliet, although even they admit they aren't one hundred percent sure." Solomon looked through the handful of photos I passed across to him. When he looked up, he said, "Given the perp had access to Juliet's computer, and since her trades came from within the firm, it seems most plausible that someone is setting her up from inside the firm. We should look for a potential stalker there too. Is there anyone from Juliet's personal world who crosses into her business world?"

"Yes," I said, reaching for a photo. "Penelope. She works part-time at the firm, and is a regular visitor to their house. Penelope was with her when one of the stranger potential stalking incidents occurred."

"Then let's go talk to Penelope."

En route to seeing Penelope, we stopped at Juliet's house to meet with Delgado, plus, I wanted to give my mom a well-deserved break. It took some persuading to make my mother leave, but gradually, we convinced her that the surveillance was best conducted by Solomon's team of professionals. After a final reminder to me not to forget about hosting our family dinner, she took off.

"I don't think your mom is too happy with me," said Solomon as we waved to her retreating car. "She keeps giving me that narrowed eye thing."

"She doesn't want to waste her spy training."

"It is a shame." Solomon didn't sound at all saddened by it, however.

"Where are your guys?" I asked, looking around.

He smiled. "Everywhere."

"I hope this doesn't get awkward," I told him as we crossed the road, heading to Juliet and Rob's house. "Play nice."

"I always play nice."

If the couple were worried about Solomon's presence as I made the introductions, they didn't show it. We greeted Delgado, already busy at work, and sat in the living room for what I hoped wouldn't be too unpleasant a meeting.

"So you're working for the people who want to put me in prison," said Juliet, appearing more curious than concerned. She was slumped in an armchair, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders,. Clad in loungewear and totally devoid of makeup, she still looked effortlessly pretty. The only strain that showed on her face was in the gray circles under her eyes and the red lines on her lower lids. She'd obviously been crying recently. Rob hadn't shaved, and his hair stood in little peaks as he perched on the arm of the chair.

"Your employers engaged me to look into the trading issues within the firm," Solomon replied, skirting deftly around the topic of Juliet's fate if we didn't work out what was going on.

"And that led to Juliet? All neat and convenient," said Rob, "but she didn't do it."

"We've already been through that," I told them, "and Solomon has agreed to look further into the case. I've worked for his agency and they're far better equipped than I to look into a case of this depth and complexity. We agreed to swap notes and combine forces."

Juliet turned her reddened eyes on me. "Do you really think that's a good idea?"

I gave an emphatic nod. "Yes, I do. I still work for you, and I am still aiming for your best interests, but Solomon has access to some facilities I might not have otherwise, and he also has a surveillance team that can watch over you night and day to ensure your safety. Plus, he’s already agreed to pick up the bill for the extra security." I waved a hand towards Delgado as he fitted a tiny camera behind an open panel.

"Why?"

"My client only wants to know the identity of the person who did this. If it isn't you, then we need to prove it isn’t so we can get the right person," explained Solomon.

"But you think it is me. The evidence tells you that. The police already showed it to me."

"Evidence can be planted," said Solomon. "If that's the case, we'll find out how. Then we'll follow the trail and find out who."

"Do you trust him?" asked Juliet, turning to me.

"Yes. Absolutely. Like I said, I've worked for his agency, and they're the good guys. We need a strong team of good guys."

Juliet shook her head wearily before looking up to Rob. Something passed silently between them. When Juliet looked to us again, first me, then at Solomon, she said, "Then thank you, I think. I just hope I don't regret this."

"We're going to follow up a lead," I told them, rising. "Delgado will stay here until the installation is complete and tested. Don't tell a single person about it. Not a soul."

"Not anyone?" asked Rob.

"No one can know. If the stalker is someone close to you, they need to believe they still have free access to your home. When they enter again, we'll be ready."

"I feel like a prisoner on some kind of awful, reality television show," said Juliet.

"I'm really sorry," I said, hoping I sounded it.

"So what happens next?" asked Rob. "We just wait here until they come back? Or until Juliet has to go to court?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I know that's not the answer you wanted to hear, but Juliet can't leave under the terms of her house arrest. Someone should stay in the house at all times so she isn't ever alone."

"Don't worry," Juliet said, patting Rob's hand. "We'll be okay."

I doubted either of them believed her words, but I couldn't say anymore to reassure them. Instead, I produced the list of trades Solomon obtained along with the surveillance photos.

"Can you tell me about these?" I asked, passing them to Juliet.

She perused them. "This is my neighbor Alma, and this is our maid Angie who won't be returning until this is all over, and this lady minds Robbie on the few occasions we have him and have to go to a function."

"And the trades?"

"Detective Donahue already showed these to me. Apparently, those are trades I made, but I didn't. I mean, I could have, but I didn't."

"They're all logged in with your access codes."

"I know, but someone could have gotten them."

"What about the dates? Were you in the office each day when these took place?"

Juliet glanced down at the page again. "Yes, I think so."

"And the times?"

"Yes, I... wait, no, no! Not this one!" Juliet tapped the paper, smiling as she looked up eagerly. "I was at an antenatal scan for this one; but I didn't tell anyone where I was going. I definitely was not there when this took place. That's good, right? I have an alibi?"

Solomon and I exchanged glances. "It's a good start," I told her. "I'll check this out."

"What do you think of the boyfriend?" Solomon asked as we shut the front door behind us a few minutes later and walked to his car.

"Seems a nice guy. He's nuts about her. That's obvious."

"How nuts?

"Not crazy nuts."

"Crazy sometimes looks like normal. He can access their home, along with their alarm code. I bet he knows Juliet's passwords, or could easily figure them out. He could potentially get into her workplace and use her work computer too."

"Are you seriously suggesting her own fiancé would stalk her? Why would he do that?"

"Jealousy, control, insecurity, psychological issues..."

"But he's already got her! She loves him. They're having a baby soon."

"It happens to thousands of women. Guys, too."

"I don't want to tell Juliet we might have to investigate her fiancé. He's the only person she trusts right now."

"He could be having an affair. Juliet's the one with the money; and money equals power to some people. Maybe he wants her out of the way so he can keep everything he's got."

"Your mind is an awful place," I told my boyfriend.

"There's a lot of fun stuff in my mind, and you should know it."

I did know, but now was not the time, or the place for him to ask me to prove it. "I can't tell Juliet that Rob is considered a suspect."

"Then we won't tell her, but we'll look into him anyway."

"My job depresses me today." I heaved out a sigh and closed my eyes as we took off.

Penelope Cera lived in a small apartment in Harbridge, only a few blocks away from Maddox. The apartment building was on the smaller side, and very neatly kept. Mature, potted ferns decorated the lobby, but there was no doorman or elevator, although the communal areas looked like they were cleaned regularly and well-maintained. We rode the elevator to the third floor.

"I wasn't expecting you," Penelope said, recovering quickly from the flash of confusion that crossed her face as she opened the door to us. She was glancing at Solomon with unmasked curiosity, rather than the usual sultry looks he received from women. "Please come in. Is everything okay?"

"This is my colleague, Solomon," I told her. "Sorry to stop by without calling, but I hoped you could help us understand a few things."

"About Juliet? Of course. Take a seat," Penelope told us, directing us into a small lounge. "I'll be with you in a minute." She picked up a cleaning cloth and some polish that she'd been using before we interrupted her and walked into what I assumed was the kitchen. We sat on the couch, both of us looking around, taking in her home. The apartment was very neat with simple furnishings. She was clearly a fan of neutrals, judging by the shades of white, beige and soft grays. I spotted a lamp that looked similar to Juliet's and the same woven baskets holding children’s toys. I looked around for photos, but couldn't see any. I did notice some prints with positive thinking messages in typeface. One told us to "Smile!" in bright pink letters on a white background.

"I was just cleaning," Penelope called through the open door. "I try to keep on top of it, but you know how it is with kids?" She appeared again, smiling. "Can I get you a drink? A snack?"

"No, thanks. We won't take up much of your time."

"Okay, so how can I help you?" she asked, sitting in the armchair with her arms folded across her legs. "Have there been any new developments?"

Solomon and I exchanged looks.

"What happened?"

"Juliet and Rob’s house was broken into last night."

"Oh, wow, that's awful! Are they okay?"

"They're fine."

Penelope pressed a hand to her heart. "You worried me for a moment. Was anything stolen?"

"No, just a few things moved around."

"Someone broke into their house to move things around?" Penelope frowned.

"It appears that way."

"How did they break in?"

"We haven't ascertained that yet," said Solomon. "There was no sign of forced entry."

"I don't understand... someone broke in without breaking in? And simply rearranged stuff around?" Penelope's voice contained the same disbelief as anyone else's who heard that story. Reduced to its most basic form, it did sound like a bizarre B&E. Once again, I thought the stalker was playing it smart by not taking anything, or leaving any evidence behind. Why would someone believe Juliet?

"That's what it looks like," I said.

"That's just so odd. I have to say, I'm worried about Juliet. This is all so strange. The mystery of the moving car. The house break-in that wasn't. The arrest..." Penelope trailed off, pulling a face. "She's so stressed, you know."

"It all seems very strange," said Solomon, taking over as I faltered. "Almost to the point of sounding unbelievable."

"I didn't want to say it, but I told Lexi only yesterday when we spoke, how odd I find it. I know Juliet is having a really hard time, and she's my friend, and of course, I love her, but all these weird stories... I'm afraid she's having some kind of breakdown, and I just don't know what to do to help her." Penelope dropped her head into her hands and muffled a sob. "I can't imagine how hard this must be for Rob, to see Juliet like that..." she mumbled from behind her hands. "I've told Juliet she has to go see a doctor. She has to get a therapist for all these... these... paranoid delusions!"

"Paranoid delusions?" I prompted as Penelope sniffled.

Penelope looked up. A tear slipped down her cheek and she hurriedly brushed it away. "I must sound like the worst friend, but I've tried to stand beside her through everything, even when all our other friends warned me..."

"Warned you?" I repeated before she could continue.

"Juliet sent some pretty mean messages to a couple of our friends. Really hurtful, nasty things. I tried to cover for her and said to them, she's just stressed, and she's not thinking properly, and she didn't mean it. It didn't help that Juliet wouldn't apologize and still claims someone else must have sent them. I mean, come on! We all need to act like grownups now. Her attention-seeking behavior is totally unacceptable. I know she's scaring Rob too."

"How do you know that?"

"We spoke yesterday. He said he was worried about her, but still believed her and wanted to support her. I told him he was a really good guy, but to be careful. Juliet is getting so unpredictable. I guess this break-in," she said, holding her fingers up to make air quotes, "is another symptom of her breakdown. She needs help sooner rather than later."

"Do you really believe that's what's happening?" asked Solomon. "Do you believe this is all in Juliet's mind?"

"I can't explain it any other way. I've really, really tried. Like I said, I stood by Juliet even when all our friends ditched her, but this most recent stuff... her arrest, the pretend break-ins... it's... it's getting crazy! I think Juliet has finally gone crazy!"