21. Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Brooklyn Sloane January 2025 Saturday — 7:07 pm

The smell of fresh coffee lingered in the air as Brook’s heels clicked on the marble tile of the foyer. The offices of S&E Investigations had a hollow awareness about them. Arden must have already left for the evening, but she didn’t doubt that he had left her with updates written on a notepad on her desk.

She had spoken to Arden earlier before leaving Nora Miske’s apartment, informing him that she would be returning to the office before seven o’clock. He had turned off the overhead fluorescent lights, allowing the recessed lighting and the standing lamp in her office to give off a warmer illumination. He had noticed early on that the artificial brightness at night tended to give her headaches.

Brook made her way across her office to the antique coat rack. She slipped out of her coat, secured it over a worn brass hook, and ensured that the gloves she had stored in the pocket were secure. The low hum of her space heater could be heard as she pulled out her chair to tuck her purse underneath her desk. Arden took care of everyone in the office, and it wouldn’t surprise her to find that he had stopped by Sylvie’s apartment to spend time with Coco while she put in an offer on the house in Georgetown.

Sure enough, a handwritten note had been placed in the middle of Brook’s desk. Arden had not only made a fresh pot of coffee, but he had also followed up with Paul Teal regarding additional questions they had regarding the animosity between him and Jordan Miles. All of Arden’s notes had been uploaded into the firm’s software folder for the Miles investigation.

Brook went through the process of turning on her computer, mulling over the numerous conversations she had with Nora throughout the day. There were several comments regarding Vaughn’s relationship with his sister that had given Brook insight into Mara’s thought process. Specifically, Mara’s need to write everything down, which stemmed from her anxiety. It had been something she had done since high school.

Brook made a mental note to go through Mara’s written and online planners once more this evening, even though each of them had done so several times this past week. One set of initials—the most important—had yet to be deciphered. Once they decoded the journal entry, they would have the identity of the individual who had been blackmailing Mara Miles.

Needing some coffee to help take the chill away, Brook left her computer to go through its sequence. She hadn’t quite made it halfway across her office when she caught the muffled sound of her cell phone. She retraced her steps, leaning down to reach into the side pocket of her purse.

“Bit, you’ve been gone awhile,” Brook greeted as she resumed her path to the kitchen. “Were you able to confirm Stewart Leone’s alibi?”

“Yeah.” A heavy pause over the line indicated that Bit might have discovered something else of interest while going through Leone’s security footage. “Boss, when Mr. Forbes was in the office today, did he happen to mention Miss Prada?”

Bit’s question stopped Brook from chastising him on his habit of slapping nicknames on their clients. Instead, she recalled her conversation with Jordan earlier this morning. She had posed an inquiry into Claudia’s whereabouts, but Jordan hadn’t really taken the time to respond. Brook assumed that the two of them needed some space from one another after the truth had come to light.

“Claudia went home sometime last night. Given everything that happened, it’s understandable that Jordan would need some time to think things over.” Brook crossed the kitchen to find her mug on the counter next to the coffee machine. She reached for the handle of the glass carafe. “Why? Did she stop by Stewart’s residence while you were there?”

“No, but that’s part of the problem. Stewart can’t reach Claudia.”

The fact that Bit had dropped the monikers had Brook stilling her movements.

“I take it that Stewart tried calling her?”

“Yeah. Claudia’s phone went straight to voicemail.”

“There is a good possibility that Claudia doesn’t want to speak with him after last night.” Brook finished pouring coffee into her mug. She set the carafe back onto the burner. “For what it’s worth, everything she built over the last few years has come crashing down around her.”

Bit’s silence spoke volumes.

“You traced her phone.”

“I might have traced her phone,” Bit stressed, not wanting to admit to anything on an open line. Brook sighed in resignation as she picked up her mug and proceeded back to her office. “And it might have shown that the cell phone is off. And if it did show that, then it could either be by design or the battery died. All I’m saying is that Stewart indicated she had never ignored his calls before.”

“Where are you right now?”

“I’m pulling into the garage,” Bit replied, the sound of the van’s door opening confirming his statement. “I’ll be over in a minute.”

“Bit, when a phone number is traced,” Brook said carefully, more to make him comfortable than for any other reason, “one could potentially discover the tower where the last ping was recorded, correct?”

“Yes,” Bit said over the slamming of the van’s door. Brook heard the beep of the locks engaging shortly thereafter. “If we had a warrant to ping Claudia’s phone, I would assume the last ping would be the closest tower to the building that houses the Miles’ penthouse. I’ll be there shortly, Boss.”

Brook entered her office intending to call Jordan, but her cell phone chimed another incoming call. Barry Ackles’ name appeared on the screen, but she sent him to voicemail. He was no doubt calling to voice his displeasure that she advised Jordan not to give a sit-down interview before his court appearance on Monday morning. Who she really needed to speak with right now was Jordan.

Wanting to leave her cell phone open in case Theo or Sylvie tried to reach her, Brook made herself comfortable in her chair and reached for her desk phone. She couldn’t imagine Jordan not speaking to Claudia for the remainder of the day after he had left the offices of S&E Investigations. While he was angry with her, he had no one else to confide in.

“Brook, is there anything for me to do?” Jordan asked, forgoing any greeting. He seemed more stressed this evening than at the office earlier today. “Vaughn and I didn’t get along, but Mara would want me to…”

Jordan couldn’t seem to bring himself to finish his sentence.

“There will be an autopsy,” Brook explained as she cradled the receiver in between her cheek and shoulder. She typed her password on her keyboard, wanting access to Mara’s planners. Bit had been able to scan her written daily entries into their software program to compare to her online entries. “I’m assuming sometime tomorrow. Once the autopsy is complete, you’ll be able to make arrangements for a proper burial.”

“I better make some calls then.”

“Jordan, what time did Claudia leave the penthouse last night?”

“Around one o’clock in the morning. Why?”

“Stewart has been trying to reach her all day. Her cell phone goes straight to voicemail.” Brook had accessed Mara’s planners, but she sat back in her chair to finish the conversation. “In the years that Claudia has worked for you, has she ever not been reachable?”

As the CEO of a highly successful healthcare company, a billionaire in his own right, and an elevated social status, Jordan’s days were carefully planned and managed by one person—Claudia Hart. She played a crucial role in his life, and not just as his lover. Even though he was upset with her for lying by omission, Brook couldn’t imagine Jordan going an entire day without being in some type of communication with her.

“I tried calling her myself a few hours ago,” Jordan replied rather reluctantly. “I’m not pleased with Claudia and Stewart’s decision to keep their connection from me, but I could have handled the situation with her better. I said some things in the heat of the moment. I’m sure she just needs the day. Hell, I can’t even remember the last time she took time for herself. I’ll call Stewart and—”

“Jordan, Stewart Leone is handing in his resignation first thing Monday morning.” Brook was done covering for everyone involved in the investigation. It was time for some brutal truths to reveal themselves. “He plans to wait out the non-compete clause in his contract before going to work for Derek Haze. My advice? Let the acquisition of Paul Teal’s company fall through, get your affairs in order, and prepare yourself for the court date first thing Monday morning. No amount of money is going to sweep your problems under the rug. I’ll contact you once I have a patrol unit perform a wellness check on Claudia. Goodnight, Jordan.”

Brook ended the call, her gaze on the display of her monitor. Something was bothering her about the initials of the individual who Mara met with after leaving the restaurant. She had been cautious enough to not write in the fertility appointment, but she had drawn a line through the scheduled hour as a note to herself.

Theo had informed the team via text that no one with the initials AM worked for Dr. Nash. While ruminating over the entries, Brook called Detective Kitsis. The line rang once, twice, three times before he finally answered his phone. Fortunately, he was still at the station.

“Let me first start by saying we appreciate the warrant for Mara Miles’ medical records,” Brook said as she noticed movement by the elevator banks. Bit had dressed for a trip to the Arctic. “I’m assuming that Theo reached out to you with the results of the meeting?”

“I received a copy of the victim’s medical records,” Detective Kitsis replied. “You realize that—”

“It gives the prosecutor more ammunition in court. Yes, I’m well aware of that fact, detective,” Brook replied as she buzzed Bit into the office so he wouldn’t need to stop at the biometric scanner. “You can also pass on to the prosecutor that Jordan Miles has been having an affair with Claudia Hart. She is Stewart Leone’s biological daughter, and Stewart used his influence to hire Claudia at Miles Therapeutics. You should also know that Stewart will be handing in his resignation first thing Monday morning. He was offered the job of Haze Innovation Group’s CFO, and he will be taking the position after his non-compete clause expires in three or six months. I haven’t read the fine print, but I’m sure you can ask him yourself when the prosecution adds him to their witness list.”

“On one hand, the amount of information you’ve discovered in the course of a week is astonishing,” Detective Kitsis said with an edge of curiosity. “On the other, you wouldn’t be telling me this if you truly believed this case would make it to trial. What else do you have, Sloane?”

“I’m not sure, but we’re close,” Brook replied confidently as she turned her attention from Bit walking across the foyer to her screen. AM. What was she missing? “I do need a favor from you. I need you to send a patrol car to Claudia Hart’s apartment for a wellness check. No one has been able to reach her since one o’clock last night. I don’t want to call her mother if everything is fine.”

“How do you know that Claudia Hart isn’t with her mother? Or her cousin, for that matter?”

“Janet Hart doesn’t know that Claudia figured out the identity of her biological father. Though you do make a good point, detective,” Brook said as she considered the odds of Claudia reaching out to her mother. “Claudia’s world is falling apart, and she might just go to the one person she trusts the most.”

“I’ll send a unit by her apartment and call you back.”

“Then I’ll wait to reach out to Janet Hart until I hear from you.”

Brook set the receiver in its holder as Bit leaned against her office doorway. He pulled down his scarf, revealing flushed cheeks and a rather red nose. The cold had given his eyes a glassy sheen.

“I’m going to ask you outright, Boss.” Bit adjusted the strap of his backpack. “Female or male unsub?”

“Female.” Brook had been hesitant to confirm certain aspects of the profile. While males were more likely to utilize a firearm in a crime, every other facet of the profile fit a female perpetrator. Mara’s death had been very personal. Brook gestured toward her screen. “And I know what you’re thinking now that Claudia isn’t responding to calls. I have Kitsis sending a unit over to her apartment building. In the meantime, we have decoded almost every set of initials in Mara’s planners. All except AM. Could the initials be—”

Brook’s cell phone vibrated on her desk, cutting off her thoughts. The screen displayed Barry Ackles' name, and she felt a subtle tension settle in between her shoulder blades. She might as well take his call and somehow contain his irritation.

“I’ll give Big T a call,” Bit advised as he loosened his scarf even more. “He’s still with Sylvie at the house in Georgetown, but I’ll see if they are close to finishing up. They might be able to reach Claudia’s apartment before a patrol unit.”

Brook waited until Bit exited her office to answer Barry’s call. She understood his need to have his client appear as innocent as possible to the public, but nothing could change the fact that Jordan Miles was discovered leaning over his dead wife with the murder weapon.

“Sloane.”

Brook leaned back in her chair and reached for her coffee. She took a sip, allowing Barry to vent his disapproval. The more steam he managed to give off, the calmer the rest of the discussion might function.

“…can’t believe you would do that. I thought we agreed you would handle the investigation while I do my best to defend my client. If this goes to trial, I need as many citizens in the surrounding area to visually see the effect Mara’s death is having on Jordan. We won’t get another chance after—”

“Do you know of anyone in Mara’s life with the initials AM?”

Brook’s question had caused a muffled silence to settle over the line.

“No. What does that have to do with—”

“You asked me once about my process, and I’m confident that we’re dealing with a—”

“Unlike you, I can separate our job responsibilities. Listen, I have to go. I have a meeting, and I also need to deal with Claudia. That woman hasn’t stopped calling me since last night. Oh, and call Jordan tomorrow and tell him to do the damned interview.”

Barry disconnected the call before Brook could touch on her profile. It would have taken thirty seconds to explain to him that while Mara Miles’ murder was a crime of passion, it was still premeditated. The unsub had been aware of Mara’s schedule, had access to her planner, and had knowledge of the Miles’ security code to their alarm system. While all signs pointed to Claudia, the unknown initials in the planner pointed to someone else. What Brook wasn’t comfortable with was Barry meeting with Claudia without having all that information.

Brook attempted to reach Barry several times before standing from her desk in irritation. He was intentionally ignoring her calls. It was then that something else occurred to her. If Claudia hadn’t been using her cell phone since last night, just how had she been reaching out to him?

“Damn it,” Brook muttered under her breath after the fourth call went straight to voicemail. She stood with both her cell phone and coffee in hand, quickly pushing her desk chair back with her legs. It didn’t take her long to reach Bit’s office. “Barry has been in touch with Claudia. Apparently, she has called him several times today.”

“From where?” Bit asked with a frown, having already removed his jacket, scarf, and gloves. His grey knitted hat remained over his shoulder-length blond hair. “It certainly isn’t her cell phone, Boss. And as far as I know, Claudia doesn’t have a landline.”

Bit snapped his fingers several times after an idea hit him.

“What if Claudia has been at the office all day? I know it’s Saturday, but it sounds like those people never stop working.” Bit raised a hand as if to stop Brook from replying to his assertion. “I know, I know. Kind of like us.”

“I’m sorry you didn’t get to go to the estate sale today,” Brook said with a small smile as she closed the distance to one of the computers. Bit had their software program displayed on the monitor. Two of the pages from Mara’s written planner were front and center, and there were several initials highlighted in different colors. “You’re right, though. There is a good chance Claudia went to the office to keep herself busy. Or pack her things. I don’t think her conversation with Jordan went well.”

Brook pointed toward the screen.

“Bit, the initials in blue…TF. Why didn’t Mara jot down the woman’s initials instead of TF? It was the florist, right? Her name was Gina Monreau.”

“Not sure. But TF was definitely for Thanksgiving Florist. Little T confirmed the meetings Mara had before that specific charity event.” Bit peered over at the screen and gestured toward the bottom of the monitor. “Oh, and TC was for Thanksgiving Caterer. I would say only one percent of the initials didn’t match a specific name.”

AM was highlighted in yellow.

“What if AM isn’t the initials of a name, either?” Brook pondered as she pulled out a chair and took a seat. “What if they stand for something else altogether?”

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