She stares at her wall, filled with photos, news clippings, lyrics, Post-it notes, and thread. She should start taking it all down. Case closed, right? But it’s not even close to over for her. Her investigation has only just begun. Not that Joel knows that.
Joel:Did you see the news? Guess you can come back to LA now…
Naomi:It’s bullshit. Going to stay and keep looking into some stuff.
Joel:Okay. Feel free to write a wrap-up piece, but remember… be objective.
Joel:Anyway, big scandal happening with cast of Bravo show, about to meet a source. Talk later.
Naomi:Good luck!
*
The rest of the day seemingly disappears as Naomi arranges and rearranges her investigation wall, only feeling more frustrated than she did in the morning. She’s caught off-guard when her phone vibrates, a text from Leo coming through alerting her he’s outside.
“Thanks so much for coming,” she says once she opens the door. “I’m sorry to be a pain.”
“Hey, no worries.” He smiles and hands her a six-pack of Budweiser. “You sounded like you might need a drink, though.”
His smile fades as he studies her. “Shit, your lip’s bleeding…”
Naomi’s hand flies to her face, suddenly aware of the copper tinge of blood in her mouth. She vaguely remembers picking at the peeling skin earlier. She looks up at him, about to explain, but he’s not looking at her anymore. He’s staring straight ahead at the wall, eyes wide, jaw slack.
“Woah…”
Her face flushes, realizing how it must look. Like she’s lost her mind. The papers, photos, and string take up the entire wall now, stretching from the breakfast bar to the living room windows.
Naomi pulls out two bottles of beer from the pack. She twists the caps off both, not flinching as the sharp corners bite into her flesh, and then hands one to Leo.
He takes a swig, shaking his head as he stares at the wall. His gaze moves to her, his eyes wary. “You sure everything’s okay?”
“Yes, I just… I have a lot to catch you up on,” she says. “But first, did you find anything out?”
“DNA wasn’t a match,” Leo shrugs. “Apparently, they were comparing DNA found under Jade’s fingernails to Harlow’s. Had reason to believe it would be hers, based on the evidence found at Colton’s place…”
“The video evidence? Any more details on that?”
“Yeah, some sort of sex tape. From 2021.”
Naomi nods, her suspicions confirmed. She turns away from Leo to look back at her wall, eyes shifting from Jade’s blue-eyed, innocent gaze to Harlow’s mysterious smirk.
“So they didn’t find Harlow’s DNA on Jade, but what about on Colton?”
“Apparently, Harlow claimed they started seeing each other again, so any DNA found on him or at his property had a simple explanation. She said he must’ve taken the drugs after she left. They tested the packets and she never touched them.”
“Right,” Naomi scoffs. She guides him into the living room, gesturing for him to sit on the couch. “I just don’t understand how they can just drop it all based on DNA under Jade’s nails not matching if they have all this other evidence.”
“Well, DNA is DNA. It doesn’t lie. Must be someone else.”
“So they have another lead? Another match?” Naomi plops down on the couch, cross-legged.
“Don’t think so, no.”
Naomi huffs, blood rushing to her face.
“Honestly, the detective I talked to seems as baffled as you do. Said the prosecution was convinced she did it. In Colton’s case, they even had a video of her arriving at his penthouse that night. Text messages that gave her motive…”
Naomi grabs her notebook and pen from the side table and quickly jots down what Leo said.
