The Wedding Guest (Alex Delaware #34) - Jonathan Kellerman Page 0,38
Peninsula.”
“Do you remember the name of the woman in Hawaii?”
“Marissa something.”
“No last name?”
“Oh, God, this was years ago. Please don’t go looking for her, it’s not like she’s the only one. He has no idea I’ve talked to a lawyer. I need time to get my financial ducks in a row, can’t afford to tip my hand.”
“Got it,” said Milo. “But if her last name does come up and you’re comfortable—”
“What would you tell her?”
“That someone ruined your daughter’s wedding by murdering a young woman and we’re looking at all former employees and anyone else associated with your business.”
“Fine,” she said. “I’m not going to remember, though. And you have to promise me you won’t rat me out to him.”
“Scout’s honor.”
“I was a Girl Scout,” she said. “Back in the Ice Age.”
“Let me ask you something, Corinne. Was there a point during the wedding when you and Denny weren’t together for an extended time?”
I scribbled a note and handed it to him. He read, nodded, as Corinne answered.
“You mean could he have done it without my noticing? Sure. There were all kinds of points. At the church we were together from the procession until we left for the reception but once the party got going, it was chaos. I went circulating by myself to be friendly because he’d already been drinking and brushed me off when I suggested we do it together. For most of the time, everyone was on the dance floor or up at the bar. I can’t tell you the longest period we were apart but I’m sure not going to give him an alibi.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“Working with the cops,” said Corinne. “This is kind of an adventure.”
He placed my note on the desk. “One more thing. Do you ever pay Denny’s phone bill?”
“I always pay his phone bill,” she said. “I handle all the bills.”
“Is the number registered to the business?”
“Of course it is.”
“And you’re a partner in the business.”
“I am—ah.” She laughed. “I get where you’re coming from. It’s in his name but I actually share it. Yeah, you’re right. You want me to ask Verizon for another copy of his bill.”
“If you’re okay with that.”
“If he had something to do with wrecking Baby’s big day, I’m more than okay. Minute I hang up, I’m on it. Very creative, Lieutenant. I can relate to that, I’ve always been the creative one. If we depended on him for ideas, we’d be living on Skid Row.”
CHAPTER
13
I’d just left his office and was halfway down the corridor when he called me back.
Waving a sheaf of papers.
Back I went.
* * *
—
Summary of the autopsy results on Jane Doe #5 of this year composed by Acting Deputy Medical Examiner Basia Lopatinski, M.D. He’d printed two copies from his desktop. We read simultaneously.
Well-nourished white female, approximately twenty-five to thirty, in excellent health prior to death by asphyxiation due to ligature strangulation, “most probably by a metal filament.” Tiny marks running diagonally along the neck wound suggested a wire topped by wound strands. Approximate gauge, making allowances for “skin compression and atmospheric changes subsequent to death,” .025 to .040 inch.
No alcohol or drugs in the decedent’s system but for a nonlethal dose of fentanyl mixed with heroin. That, combined with the pain and shock of the injection in a “nerve-rich site,” could have stunned the victim “possibly to the point of lost consciousness.”
I visualized it. Red Dress taken by surprise, drugged into submission.
Leaving plenty of time to finish the job.
Why not simply O.D. her on fentanyl? The drug was fast acting and easily lethal.
Why slow things down with heroin?
Fentanyl had begun as a Big Pharma profit well. Drug companies touting it to doctors for conditions far beyond its original use for intractable cancer pain. Causing one of the worst addiction crises in history.
Cheap to produce. Maybe a mixture was what you got on the street, nowadays.
Or someone had craved the prolonged minutes it took to choke the life out of a human being.
Full-face, hands-on kill, a helpless victim.
Watching the lights go out.
I sent an email to Robin and resumed reading.
Stomach content analysis revealed partially digested lettuce, corn, green beans, tuna fish, red peppers, and an egg-based liquid, probably diluted mayonnaise. All of that ingested approximately two to three hours prior to death.
She hadn’t intended to dine.
At the bottom of the report was a note by Dr. Lopatinski for Milo to call.