“At this point we have no evidence to point in that direction,” Hawkeye said. “And we have no connection between Adams and anyone other than Dugan. Did Rogers even know Adams?”
Brand shrugged. “That might be something to look into.”
“I’d be interested to find out that tidbit.”
“I’ll let you know.” Brand closed the door behind him before heading back to the autopsy level.
Dr. Holland looked up from an exam table, and his eyes widened. But seeing the bag, he smiled. “Ah more goodies to work with. Just put them over on my desk. I’ll get to them as soon as I finish here.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Brand said.
By the time he returned to the main level, his cellphone pinged with the surveillance of the Flynn’s brownstone. He headed to the police computer room that the task force used when they were at the station and used his code to enter the room, transferring the information to the desktop. He slowly watched the footage, making notes on a pad of paper he found of the frame and time stamp of segments to rewatch.
He watched the noted segments twice more and jotted down points of interest. Certain that on each date he saw a man in a hooded sweatshirt slip through a back entrance at Reilly and Harley’s residence and exit fifteen to twenty-minutes later every time.
While the camera angle was in the wrong position it was also impossible to zoom in and get facial recognition on the intruder. He was able to get a good photo of the perp that suggested his height and body size despite the baggy sweatshirt and pants he wore in an attempt to disguise himself.
Satisfied with his progress, Brand called Jett to follow up with him about the footage he and Rookie were supposed to collect.
The phone rang a few times before it was finally picked up. Instead of Jett, it was Pepper who picked up. “Hey Brand, sorry, Jett’s in the shower. Can I get him for you? It’s a little early for you to be calling, isn’t it?”
Brand looked at his watch and saw it was almost eight. “Normally, I’d say it is, but when you get woken around five thirty to go see the medical examiner, it’s mid-morning. You of all people should know what early mornings are like having to catch redeye flights and all.”
“Don’t I know it,” she agreed. “Can I get him for you, or do you want him to call you back?”
“He can call back but tell him I need info on that surveillance I asked for. I’m at police headquarters if it will make it easier for him and Rookie to meet me here to discuss.”
“Will do,” Pepper said.
When he rang off, Brand sent a text message to Rookie to see what his ETA was and suggested he meet him at police headquarters instead. Since they worked in the basement of the renovated brownstone where most of the task force lived, he knew it was easy to be lazy in the mornings. Only Rookie and Margot still resided at her posh apartment on Lakeshore Drive.
Heading your way lit up his phone screen. Just like all of Rookie’s messages. Short and to the point.
While Brand waited, he gave Carly a call. “Morning beautiful,” he said when she answered.
“Morning. How are things going?” she inquired.
“Worth the early morning wake up,” he said. “I hope you were able to go back to sleep once I left.”
“I slept like a baby,” she said. “I’m almost ready to leave for work. Brittany and I are having a breakfast meeting with Stella this morning. We’ve been asked to consult with her on a big project. It sounds really exciting.”
“Did I know about this?” he asked.
“No,” Carly said. “I meant to have told you, but I kept forgetting. I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately. I find my head is in the clouds these days.” She gave a little laugh. “Colleen and Margot tell me it’s pregnancy brain, and I should get used to it.”
“Keep that to yourself or none of your friends, especially Simone will decide to have a baby,” Brand warned.
“I don’t think that’s what’s going to keep Simone from having one. It’s the gaining weight factor that’s keeping her from waiting to have one.”
“That comes with the territory, or doesn’t she understand that?”
Carly sighed. “She knows, but her weight has always been something she’s worried about, not that she has ever had to worry. She’s a perfect size. But to hear her tell it that is because she watches everything she eats.”
“Maybe it is,” he said.
“Oh!” Carly gasped. “I just looked at the time. I better go or I’ll be late. Love you.”
“You too,” Brand said and ended the call.
