“I’m saying you’re overstaying your welcome.”
She gasps. “I’m not the one who kidnapped myself.”
“You’re un-kidnapped. Ulysses will drive you home. I suggest you start packing.”
She glowers, cutting me to pieces with her gaze.
The ringtone of my phone saves me from having to continue this conversation. I grab my phone from the desk and check the screen.
Jasper spins on her heel and marches from my office.
“You’re welcome to come visit,” I call after her as I swipe the button to answer the call.
She slams the door behind her.
Raking my fingers through my hair, I take a deep breath. “Tell me you have answers.”
“I sure do,” my forensics expert says in a southern drawl.
Armand is as little French as his name. He’s originally from Louisiana. Maybe his mother had a crush on some old European dude.
“I found traces of gunpowder and hydrogen peroxide, which confirms that your wife had been in an explosion.”
“Is there anything particular about the components, maybe an ingredient that’s rare?”
“I’m afraid not. You can buy that stuff at any hardware and ammunitions store.”
“What else?”
“The clothes only contained DNA of Mrs. Morici, but there’s a fingerprint on the pearls that doesn’t match hers.”
I still. “Have you sent it to me?”
“I’m doing so as we speak.”
“Anything else?”
“Nothing useful. Do you want the clothes back?”
“Destroy everything.”
“As you wish. I’ll send you the bill. You can use the usual account number.”
The line goes dead.
A notification announces the arrival of a message in the encryption app on my laptop. I open it to confirm that it’s from Armand before I send the fingerprint to our hacker to see what he can find in the public and police records.
Someone knocks on the door.
Reino opens it without waiting for my invitation, which means whatever business brought him to my study is urgent.
I give him my full attention.
He only speaks when he’s entered and closed the door behind him. “I found a body.”
“Where?”
“Colorado. A private helicopter is waiting at the landing bay on the quay.”
