Tracy Hayes, P.I. on the Scent (P.I. Tracy Hayes 8) by Susanna Shore

Author:Susanna Shore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: murder mystery, police procedural, private detective, amateur detective, woman sleuth, amateur sleuth, private eye, cozy mystery, crime fiction, detective fiction
Publisher: Susanna Shore

Chapter Fourteen

Travis called us when we returned to the car. “I was at Cheryl’s interview. They have nothing on her, but they won’t release her either.”

My heart dropped. “That’s not good.”

“It’s fairly standard in a murder investigation. If you want her freed, I suggest you find the real killer.”

“We’re working on it.”

Easier said than done. Hopefully, Hale’s laptop would give us new leads.

“What should we do next?” I asked Jackson after the call ended.

He rubbed his face with both hands before starting the car. “Well, since both suspects for Maryann’s death have alibis, if only from one another and the other is dead, I’d say we have nothing.”

“That’s encouraging.”

He smiled. “We have two options. Either the deaths are linked, or they’re not. If we assume the latter, then we’ll let Trevor handle Maryann’s murder investigation and we’ll concentrate on Hale’s. If we assume they’re connected, and Mrs. Hale isn’t the killer, we have two options again. Either the killer is one of the women who have been scammed by Hale, or someone who has nothing to do with it.”

“In which case, we have a large pool to choose from.”

“There can’t be that many people who connect Hale and Maryann. Maybe someone from her school?”

Had Mrs. Rosenfeld been a bit too distressed over Maryann’s absence, as if trying to cover her tracks? She did have the key to her apartment…

“Let’s get the laptop to Jarod.”

The drive across the bridge wasn’t any faster on the return journey, which left us plenty of time to mull over the case. “If the murders aren’t connected, do you think the Ukrainian mafia killed Hale?”

Jackson’s brows shot up. “Execution would probably be more their style than, say, a librarian’s, but why would they?”

I shrugged, as I hadn’t really given it a thought yet. “Maybe he’s provided them with intel about suitable earthmovers to steal, and then he double-crossed them or something.”

“Timing would be a bit of a coincidence though…”

“Not necessary. After the mafia arrests, there’s probably all sorts of shuffling going on.”

He nodded. “The laptop will probably reveal that too.”

Because of the traffic, it was well past two in the afternoon when we entered my apartment. And despite the hour, Jarod had only just woken up and was having breakfast in his underwear on the couch. He worked nights, so it wasn’t unusual. I gave him a quick onceover. He’d bulked up a little over the winter, thanks mostly to giving up his recreational pot smoking and a new girlfriend who I still hadn’t been introduced to, but who made sure he ate regularly.

He gave us a drowsy smile. “Twice in two days. I’m honored.”

I grinned. “That’s because we need your expertise again. Can you get into this laptop?”

He perked. “Of course I can.” He put the bowl of cereal on the coffee table and I gave him the laptop. He got to work immediately, and I could see he had already forgotten we were there. But when we turned to leave, he remembered us again.

“I checked the company you gave the tax number for.

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