Donna grinned. “I got a CI,” she proudly responded.
Bella perked up at the news that her sister had a confidential informant that could possibly shed some light on their unknown adversaries. “And?”
“It’s definitely Yakuza.” Donna sat in a plush chair across from them and dropped a pile of photos on the cocktail table. “And the tattoos confirm it.”
Bella picked up the pictures and flipped through them one by one. Niyah could see that they were copies of her autopsy photos.
“Why would the Yakuza try to kill us? Have you had any police-related dealings with them.”
Donna shook her head. “Nope. None.”
“Neither have I. So, why do they want us dead? And the better question is why would they go after Lucas?”
Donna shrugged. “I don’t know, but I have a name. My CI mentioned someone that they call, Master Kon.”
“That’s something,” Bella admitted with a sigh. “It gives us something to work with. Lucas is resting, but I’ll asked him about this Kon guy when I go up.”
“I’ll have some people check into this Yakuza connection and I’ll touch base with Victor to see if he’s heard of this Kon guy,” Lincoln chimed.
“Oh, my goodness!” Dr. Creed shrieked as she rushed into the parlor. She snatched the remote from the bar and activated the television. After surfing a bit, she landed on the news channel and turned up the volume.”
“We have some breaking news right now,” the anchor announced. “We’re here in Los Angeles where Illinois Governor Victor Creed is holding a news conference concerning accusations made by Nicole Montgomery, the sister of Illinoisfirst lady, Taylor Creed. The governor’s sister-in-law has alleged that she and the presidential hopeful engaged in an illicit affair that resulted in him fathering her son.”
The camera panned to Victor as he stepped up to the podium. Before he could utter one word, presumably to deny the accusation, reporters went on the attack with vile questions, insinuating that he had indulged in threesomes with his wife and her sister.
“You gotta be fucking kidding me,” Bella grumbled.
“This jealous bitch!” Donna hissed. “Weeks before the election,” she pointed out.
The anger radiating from Victor’s family heated the room like a furnace. Niyah had only seen Taylor’s sister a few times, and not one of those times did she bother to speak. In fact, the last time she’d seen Nicole Montgomery, she was running behind her creepy fiancé as Lincoln was tossing him out of the Creed’s penthouse. On the other hand, Victor was warm and friendly. What’s more, he seemed honorable and completely devoted to his wife.
Along with the rest of the Creed clan, Niyah sat quietly listening to the press conference. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling incredibly guilty for being grateful that a terrible accusation had taken the heat off of her.
CHAPTER 33
NIYAH
Niyah stepped under the police tape and looked for the highest-ranking officer on the scene. She spotted a white shirt with a lieutenant's bar on the shoulder, so she walked over. After glancing at his nametag, Niyah attempted to introduce herself. But the lieutenant didn’t give her a chance. Apparently, he already knew who she was.
“1740,” he spoke into the radio.
“Go ahead, 1740,” the dispatcher returned.
“Can you notify the detectives on-scene that the ME has arrived?”
“10-99, Lieutenant. Notifying the detectives.”
The lieutenant waved toward the well-kept brick bungalow. “We got one dead female inside.”
The lieutenant wasn’t much for small talk, so Niyah made her way toward the crime scene. She looked around at the worried white faces of the wealthy Gold Coast residents. Fortunately for them, the Gold Coast community hadn’t experienced the violent crimes that Chicago was known for, which would explain the abnormal amount of people lined up behind the crime-scene tape. It also explained the excess number of reporters vying for comments from law enforcement officials.
Niyah ignored all questions directed at her and walked up to the brownstone. She greeted a few officers before leaning against the building to slip covers over her shoes. Once done, she pulled a pair of latex gloves from her back pocket and entered the residence. The decor was stunning, not a pillow out of place. Judging from the slate flooring, the chic furniture, and the art onthe wall, the occupants not only had a great deal of money, but they also had impeccable taste.
Niyah was thinking about redesigning her condo when a detective called from the hall. “The body is back here.”
Niyah followed the detective down a hall that led to a kitchen that could’ve been featured on Top Chef. So far, the immaculate house showed no indication that a murder or any crime at all had been committed there.
Through the kitchen and down another hall led to a large bedroom that was a complete contradiction to the rest of the house. Even before she entered the room, the blood spatter nearly told the story. A naked female victim was lying facedown on the California-king bed. The bed, like the walls and floor, was covered in blood.
