After all, nearly a year had passed.
“We’re certain,” he assured her. “The trace evidence on the remains conclusively confirms where they were discovered.”
“Do we have any idea who this person was?” The idea that remains were discovered in the rubble didn’t guarantee that the individual had been in the building to visit the Colby Agency. A number of other businesses had been housed at that location, as well.
“Rebecca Brooks. Dental records confirmed her identity.” Bailen seemed to consider the name before he continued. “We have reason to believe she was in the building to see someone in the Colby Agency. Part of the basis for that conclusion is related to several calls to your agency that showed up on the cellular records of her boyfriend. The calls were made during times that FBI surveillance puts the two of them together. But the primary rationale is that she was about to go into the Witness Security Program related to the Horizon Software case. We feel she may have felt the need for the kind of support you provide your clients.”
Victoria was vaguely familiar with the Horizon Software case. Considering Ms. Brooks’s situation prior to her death, Victoria could see how the detective had come to the conclusion that she had contacted the Colby Agency. Someone about to go into Witness Security wouldn’t likely be making investments or purchasing insurance. None of the other businesses housed in the building that was the agency’s former home would offer much to anyone in that position…except for the Colby Agency. Using her boyfriend’s phone would certainly have provided some anonymity in her efforts to reach out under the circumstances.
Still, the conclusion was more hunch than fact. “I’d like the name of her boyfriend, if possible.”
“Jason Mackey.”
Recognition nudged Victoria. Jason Mackey was one of the musicians murdered in the parking lot only hours before the explosion. Victoria hadn’t known him personally as she had the other two members of the trio. Mackey had been a last-minute stand-in with the group Mildred had hired to provide entertainment for the annual Colby Agency Christmas party. The idea that Mackey wasn’t a regular member of the band and that his girlfriend had been about to testify in a federal court case hardly seemed a chance occurrence, but wasn’t totally outside the realm of possibility.
“Since no one at your agency,” Bailen went on, “knew Jason Mackey or coordinated the entertainment for your office Christmas party directly with him, there’s no apparent reason for him to have made those calls. On the other hand, Rebecca Brooks was in a prime position to be in search of exactly the sort of assistance your agency provides. Perhaps someone here spoke with her,” he suggested, “maybe even met with her that day.”
Speculation, sheer speculation. Or, as she had already considered, coincidence. Still, Victoria had never been one to believe in coincidences. The only question that remained was, What did the woman’s death have to do with the Colby Agency?
Victoria needed an idea of where this was going. “Will you be heading an investigation, or is the Bureau going to handle this?” She was relatively certain the Bureau would have priority.
“I’ll be coordinating with the Justice Department,” Bailen confirmed her conclusion. “Both the Bureau and the Marshals have a vested interest in this case, though the Bureau will certainly be lead. I wanted to give you a heads-up. You could have information that would help us solve this mystery. If there is any record of her speaking with or coming to see one of your investigators, anything she might have said could be useful to our investigation. Ascertaining what might have been going on in her life that she may have kept hidden from her Bureau contact could prove pivotal.”
“The name isn’t familiar,” Victoria told him, even as she turned the name over in her mind a second time, “but we’ll double-check our records just to be sure. Under the circumstances, she may have used an alias to protect her identity.”
“I’ll e-mail a photo and a few other pertinent details for your use in discussing Ms. Brooks with your staff.” Bailen stood. “Thank you, Victoria. I knew we could count on your agency for cooperation.”
Victoria rose and offered her hand once more. “Of course, Detective. We’re always pleased to assist Chicago PD any way we can. Please pass that sentiment along to your Bureau counterpart.”
“Will do.” Bailen gave her hand a final shake and made his exit.
Victoria felt certain Chicago PD and the Bureau would get to the bottom of this mystery, but the one thing she never did was leave anything to chance, especially if it involved her agency on any level. The Colby Agency would launch its own investigation.
And she knew just the man for the job, considering Witness Security had been involved.
Former U.S. Marshal Shane Allen.
Whoever Rebecca Brooks had been and whatever her reasons for becoming a homicide victim, the Colby Agency would find the truth.
Chapter Two
Shane Allen stared at the blinking light on the telephone for five seconds, which lapsed into ten, then twenty before he decided to pick up the receiver. He didn’t want to take this call, now or ever, but he had little choice in the matter.
He pressed the blinking button and said, “Shane Allen.”
“Mr. Allen, this is Harry Rosen, attorney for—”
“I know who you are,” Shane interrupted. He didn’t want to hear the man explain how he represented Shane’s ex-wife. He also didn’t want to hear how his petition for visitation rights was totally unfounded. It seemed impossible that the woman he had once loved could do this, but she had. Matt wasn’t his son, but Shane had loved him for three years as if he were. It just wasn’t fair that because the marriage had ended he was now supposed to stop loving the little boy and never see him again.
Nor was it fair that his former partner was the reason his life had gone to hell in such a hurry.
“Your attachment to Matthew is understandable,” Rosen began. “But you have no legal recourse when it comes to Sharon’s son. You surely know this.”
Yeah, Shane knew. But that didn’t mean he had to like it. He leaned back in his chair and forced himself to take a breath before he said something he would be sorry for later. “I suppose I was hoping Sharon would do the right thing since her son is the one who’s going to be hurt by this battle.” The kid’s own father had already abandoned him without a backward glance. How was a five-year-old supposed to cope with losing the second person he’d trusted with his little heart?
The question infuriated Shane all the more.
“Mr. Allen, it would be in your best interest, as well as the boy’s, if we moved past this issue. Sharon is relocating to Denver with her new husband, and there won’t be any easy way for you to have access to Matt. Quite honestly, children of this age are rather resilient. Matt will forget all about you in a far shorter time than you realize…if you allow him to. I’m certain you have his best interests at heart. Do you really want him to feel unsettled any longer than necessary?”
Fury unfurled in Shane’s gut. He wanted to reach through the phone and strangle this guy. Shane’s relationship with Matt wasn’t like last season’s baseball statistics or an old toy to be set aside and forgotten. Didn’t anyone see this besides him?
“I’ll see you in court, Rosen,” Shane warned. “Have a nice day.”
