“I believe so. After running several tests, I think it’s from a historic weapon.”
Brittany shook her head, not believing what she heard. “A historic weapon?”
Nodding, Conover walked over to his desk and picked up a picture of a weapon that she figured was used in medieval times.
“You’d mentioned the victim had a list of names of powerful and wealthy men, correct?” Conover asked, and they all nodded. “If you find the man who has a collection of ancient weapons, you just might find your killer.”
Brittany and Kurt exchanged glances. She scrambled to remember if Austin’s place had such a collection, but she honestly couldn’t remember. Besides…why was she even thinking about Austin that way? In her mind, she’d erased him from her suspects’ list.
“There was another thing I discovered,” Conover continued. “When I ran a toxicology screen, I found traces of poison in her bloodstream. I ran tests on the victim’s clothes that were left in the bathroom when she had taken a bath, and they had stains from where she’d vomited. I checked her arms for traces of needles, but there weren’t any. I believe the victim had consumed something which had poison in it.” He shook his head. “If the blow to the head hadn’t killed her, the poison would have.”
Kurt cussed. “Apparently, the killer was serious about killing Hillary one way or another.” The other men in the room didn’t verbally answer, but nodded in agreement.
“Conover,” Tyrone asked, “in your testing, could you tell what she had for breakfast that morning?”
Nodding, Conover lifted his notebook and scanned the contents. “Pancakes and bacon with coffee.”
Brittany tapped her finger on her chin. Now the question was, had she stayed at home to eat or went out?
Martinez cleared his throat. “We need everyone to return to the suspects’ homes and see if they have an ancient collection of weapons. Because this was the exact cause of the death, finding the weapon is crucial.”
She walked with Kurt outside toward the parking lot in silence. She tried to piece in her mind what could have happened at the crime scene. Hillary must have been with the killer before she’d gone in to take a bath. But, she wouldn’t have brought this person back to her parent’s home. Instead, Hillary would have met this person somewhere else, had drinks with them—perhaps a late breakfast of pancakes and bacon—before returning to her parent’s house. The poison would have made her ill, and after regurgitating what was in her stomach, she would have wanted to take a shower to wash it off in hopes of feeling better again.
“Kurt? Has Jasmine pulled the report to see which purchases Hillary used with her credit or debit card?”
He shrugged. “Good question. I’m not sure, but if she hasn’t, we’ll ask her to do that.”
“I’m thinking,” Brittany continued, “that Hillary probably met the killer for breakfast. Maybe it was there where the killer poisoned her.”
“Good thinking.” He walked to his car first and pointed at the driver’s side. “Why don’t we go together and check on some leads.”
“Sure.” She climbed in and closed the door.
Once Kurt was inside, he started the car and backed out. “Call Jasmine now, and ask her.”
Brittany quickly got on her cell and called the other woman. Thankfully, Jasmine had pulled the report, and she read off the few places Hillary had gone that morning where she used her credit card. When Brittany ended the call, she grinned at Kurt. “Looks like we’ll be going to The Original Pancake House.”
His smile widened, showing his polished white teeth, which contrasted against his dark brown goatee. “Am I to understand Hillary had breakfast there that morning?”
Brittany nodded. “And I’m betting money that she met up with a man.”
“Me, too.” He winked. “Oh, and the next place I want to check out is Isabella’s Escort Service.”
Confusion filled her and she narrowed her gaze on him. “Isabella’s Escort Service? I thought Austin had mentioned a Belle’s Escort Service.”
“Since there is no business by that name, I’m thinking Belle is a nickname for Isabella.”
“Ah, good thinking, partner.” She chuckled. “I never suspected Belle would be short for another name.” She drummed her fingers on the armrest of the car. “Are there other escort services in Seattle?”
“A few, but not with a name that would fit with Belle.”
It didn’t take long before he pulled up in front of the pancake house. Thankfully, they were open for dinner as well as breakfast. Brittany and Kurt walked in together. Immediately, they were greeted by the hostess. They both flashed the woman their badges.
“I’m Detective Hamill, and this is my partner, Detective Russell with SPD. Can we speak with the manager?”
The girl—who looked like she was still in high school—with mostly brown hair, but a section was colored in blue, and a lip ring, widened her eyes. She swallowed hard. “Um, the manager doesn’t work tonight. But my supervisor is here.”
“Please get your supervisor,” Brittany said.
