Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Julian
“Let’s grab some lunch, take it back to the office, and review the evidence again,” I said. “There’s a great deli around the block.”
“Sounds good.”
We left Georgina’s house, picked up some sandwiches, and returned to the firm.
“Melinda, I’ll be in conference room one if you need me,” I said, walking past her desk.
“Got it, boss.”
When Laurel and I reached the conference room, I set the plastic bag and Georgina’s file on the table. The door opened, and Roman and Parker walked in.
“How was the hearing?” Roman asked.
“Did the judge grant bail?” Parker asked.
“Yeah, he did. Georgina’s home now.”
“I knew you could do it.” Parker patted my shoulder.
I glanced at Laurel, who was narrowing her eyes.
“Laurel swooped in at the last minute with some new evidence. ”
“What new evidence?” Roman asked.
“The woman walking into the hotel was wearing heels. Georgina can’t wear heels due to her ankle. So, Laurel got the report from Georgina’s doctor stating that she can’t wear heels, casting doubt that the woman with Derek that night wasn’t Georgina.”
“Excellent work, Laurel.” Parker grinned.
“Thank you.”
“I knew I did right by bringing you to the firm.” Roman pointed at her before leaving the room.
After Parker left, we took out our sandwiches and the file.
“This one is yours.” I handed her the sandwich, our fingers brushing as she took it from me.
“Thanks. Isn’t it odd that Georgina’s home security system was offline that night?”
“Very. Which leads me to believe that someone did it on purpose.” I bit into my sandwich.
“Exactly. So the killer could sneak into the house and plant the evidence,” she said. “The CC footage recorded Georgina’s husband and that woman walking into the hotel, but what about out of it? The woman must have left, driven to Georgina’s house, and planted the evidence.”
“The kitchen!” We both said at the same time, staring at each other. “Come on. Let’s go talk to Morgan.” I jumped up from my chair.
“Hey, you two.” Morgan smiled as we walked into her office.
“I need you to pull up all the CC footage outside the hotel the night of Derek Acosta’s murder.”
“I thought you already looked at that,” she said.
“We have,” Laurel spoke. “But we didn’t notice if the woman left the hotel. ”
“We need you to check the hotel’s security system to see if there are any cameras in the back,” I said.
Morgan’s fingers typed away like a madwoman’s. “Here’s a blueprint of the hotel’s security system. There are cameras in the back.”
“Can you hack into their system so we can check that night?” I asked.
“Really, Julian? Are you asking or telling?”
“I’m telling you.”
“That’s what I thought.” She smiled.
“The medical examiner said Derek’s time of death was around midnight. We know he and the mysterious woman entered the hotel at ten p.m. So, she probably would have left the hotel after midnight,” Laurel said.
Her phone rang. When she pulled it from her pocket, she excused herself and stepped out of the office.
“Are you playing nice, Julian?” Morgan asked.
“I always play nice, Morgan.”
Laurel stepped back into Morgan’s office. “Find anything yet?” she asked.
“Not yet,” Morgan said.
“Is everything okay?” I asked her.
“Yeah. My parents are keeping the girls overnight at their place and taking them to Catalina Island for the day tomorrow.”
The fact that she would be childless for the night sparked an idea in my head.
“No one but the kitchen staff went in and out that back door,” Morgan said.
“Fuck.” I ran my hand through my hair. “Maybe she reserved a room for herself and went there after she murdered Derek.”
“Or she disguised herself and left through the lobby doors,” Laurel said. “Morgan, pull up the CC footage for the following day around four a.m. STOP! Right there.” Laurel pointed to the screen.
“Who the hell is that?” I asked.
“That is the woman who murdered Derek Acosta. Look. She’s carrying the bag that was found in Georgina’s home with the dress and murder weapon.”
“That woman is a blonde,” I said.
“She’s wearing a wig,” Morgan said.
“Who wears sunglasses at four a.m.?” I asked.
“Someone who doesn’t want to be recognized.” Laurel glanced at me.
“This woman was so careful, I can’t even run her face through facial recognition,” Morgan said.
“Find out who she is,” I said, glancing at my watch.
Parker opened the door and stuck his head in. “Bro, we have that deposition in conference room two.”
“I’m coming. I’ll talk to you two later.” I walked out of the office.
After the deposition, Melinda stopped me before I walked into my office.
“Mr. Bennett is in your office,” she said.
I walked into my office and extended my hand.
“Thomas, it’s good to see you.” I smiled.
“Good to see you too, Julian.”
“What brings you by?” I took off my suit coat and sat behind my desk.
“I want to thank you for getting Georgina out on bail, but I need to know that you’re doing everything in your power to get the charges dismissed.”
“Of course I am.”
“She didn’t murder Derek. My little girl isn’t capable of doing such a thing. ”
“I know she’s not, Thomas. We’ll prove her innocence.”
“That’s what I want to hear. I’m paying you top dollar to keep her out of prison.” He stood from his chair and left my office.
“Melinda!” I shouted.
“Yes, Julian?”
“Tell Laurel I need to see her.”
A few moments later, Laurel stepped into my office.
“You wanted to see me?”
“Dinner tonight at my house.”
“Excuse me?” Her brow arched.
“Dinner tonight at my house. I’m cooking. We need to review our case strategy, and since your girls aren’t around, tonight is the perfect night. I’ll text you my address.”
“You cook?”
“Yes. I do.” I smiled. “I know most women get turned on when they find out a man can cook. Are you turned on, Laurel?”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Not in the least. What time?”
“Six-thirty.” My brows furrowed.
“Okay. Is there anything I can bring?”
“Yeah. Maybe a better attitude?”
“I can’t make any promises.” She walked out of my office, laughing.
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. “Melinda!”
“Yes, Julian?”
“I’m going to write a few things down. I need you to run to the grocery store, pick them up, and take them to the house. Sam will drive you.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” I cocked my head.
“What about your housekeeper? ”
“She’s off today.”
“When was the last time you got laid?” she asked.
“Why?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Because I can tell it’s been a while.” A smirk crossed her lips as she turned and left my office.