Chapter Thirteen #3
“Did he leave anything obvious behind?” Lennox asked.
“Nothing that jumps out and says, ‘Hey, I’m the killer,’ ” Ryland deadpanned. “We’ll let you know, Detective. You should take a look at her bedroom, though. It’s…a sight.”
Sam followed Lennox into the victim’s bedroom. And stopped short as Lennox’s flashlight illuminated the wall.
“Holy shit,” he breathed, horrified.
“Yeah,” Lennox agreed, sounding as stunned as he felt.
Because covering part of a wall were six photos of Akiko McKittrick. Six distinct poses and backgrounds.
“What the hell?” he whispered.
“Someone needs to warn Kit, so she can warn Akiko,” Ryland said from behind them.
Sam nodded. “I will. And the McKittricks have protection there at the hospital in LA.” Because Akiko refused to leave Edwin Ito. “Just…how?”
“And why?” Lennox added. “Why would Leo Sherman’s mistress have all these photos of Akiko?”
“All of the photos were taken on Akiko’s boat,” Sam said, recognizing the background details. “Two of them were taken recently. Kit gave her that coat for Christmas.”
“Good to know.” Lennox’s expression was grim. “Any other rooms have photos like this?”
“No,” Ryland said. “Only this one. We’ll go over every square inch. Make sure Kit knows that, too.”
Sam gave Ryland a tight smile. “She knows you’ll do everything you can and she appreciates it. I promise.”
Ryland nodded. “I went on Akiko’s boat once. It was a department party. She’s a nice woman. I hate that this is happening to her.”
“Me too,” Sam said softly, his gut churning. “Someone who went on Akiko’s boat took these photos. You should get her charter records, Detective Lennox. Check out everyone who’s sailed with her.”
“Already planned to. Sergeant Ryland, can you walk me through the crime scene?”
Ryland looked surprised, but he agreed and the two of them walked from the room, leaving Sam alone. Alone with all the photos of Akiko, which Kit would want to see.
Sam huffed a laugh. Lennox was giving him the time and space to record the scene for Kit. As he used his cell phone to photograph the walls, he decided that he liked the woman.
He almost dropped his phone when it buzzed in his hands.
Oh. It was Ricky Nicchi. “Hey.”
“You gotta come,” Nicchi said, and his voice sounded thick. He was crying.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Paolo. I f-f-found him. Please come.”
Sam looked over his shoulder. He was alone. “Is he alive?”
Nicchi’s voice broke on a sob. “No. Hurry.”
Shit, shit, shit. First these photos of Akiko on her boat, and now Paolo? Shit.
He needed to tell Lennox. But he found himself reluctant to do so.
He wanted a moment alone with Nicchi because he wanted answers that he might not get if the man was hauled away by SDPD before he could get there.
“Text me the address. I’m on my way.” Sam rushed to the living room, waving at the others.
“I need to go. Call me if you need me, okay? Thank you.”
Ryland and Lennox waved back, and Sam gathered his composure before leaving the house. If Tamsin Fucking Kavanaugh was still out there watching, he didn’t want to give her any more fodder for her newspaper.
He had his hand on the doorknob when his phone buzzed again. It was Kit. “I’m on my way out,” he said when he answered.
“Good. Baz called. He was supposed to be resting, but he went to sit in front of Paolo’s house, waiting for him to come home. Instead, Nicchi went inside.”
“I’ll be out in a minute.” He ended the call, drew a deep breath, then calmly walked to his RAV4, saying nothing to Kit until he was in the driver’s seat with the door locked. “Don’t say a word.”
He started the engine, drove out of Laurette Curry’s neighborhood, then pulled into the first gas station he came to. Kit had been watching him, her gaze sharp, but she’d said nothing.
Sam exhaled. “I didn’t know if Kavanaugh was still around and what kind of listening device she might have. We need to talk.”
“We need to get to Paolo’s house. Nicchi is there.”
“Paolo’s dead. Nicchi called me.”
Kit sucked in a breath. “Goddammit.”
“That’s not all.” He checked for Nicchi’s text, memorizing the address. He knew about where it was, so he could start driving while Kit processed what he was about to show her. He handed Kit his phone. “This is the dead woman’s bedroom.”
Kit’s gasp filled the quiet of his SUV as all the color drained from her face. “What the fuck? Sam?”
“I know.”
Kit was staring in horror at his phone, just as he’d known she would. “Why?”
“We’ll find out. Lennox knows to check Akiko’s passenger lists since Christmas.” He put the SUV in gear and headed toward Paolo’s address.
“Christmas?” Kit sounded detached. Numb.
“The coat she’s wearing,” he said gently. “You want me to call your father?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Please.”
Sam pushed the button for his hands-free to place the call to Harlan McKittrick, then abruptly changed his mind and dialed Baz. “It’s Sam. You’re at Paolo’s?”
“Yeah,” Baz said. “Nicchi showed up here about five minutes ago. I should call it in since there’s a BOLO for him, but I wanted to give you two a moment to talk to him first.”
“He called me. Paolo’s dead. We’re on our way.” Sam ended the call and dialed Harlan. “Hey. It’s Sam.”