Cut and Run (Lucy Kincaid #16) - Allison Brennan Page 0,118

day. But I’m good.”

“I was ready to go home after my shift and binge watch Netflix, but this is more fun.”

Max definitely had the wrong impression of Detective Reed, Lucy thought. She was a good cop, she liked her job, and she was willing to go above and beyond. Reed likely put up every barrier for reporters, Max included.

“Did you suspect anyone else before Stanley Grant confessed?” Lucy asked her.

“No. We looked at both her partners, Grant and Corta. But they didn’t click for me, and while Grant’s alibi was weak, he seemed to be sincere in his grief. But I’ve seen people kill and regret it—their grief is real, even if they have a streak of self-preservation. I looked heavier at Corta because ex and all, but his alibi was solid. I talked to the people up in Bandera, and there’s no way he could have gotten back in time to kill her. But the manner— She knew her killer. No defensive wounds, up close and personal like that.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“She didn’t have enemies that we could find—no restraining orders, no lawsuits against her or the company. And she hadn’t even dated much after her divorce. One ex-boyfriend we talked to—he didn’t click at all, he’d moved on, they hadn’t even dated that long. I wondered if she and her ex were still doing it, if you know what I mean.”

“Did you ask him?”

“Sure. I’m blunt. I wanted to know. He said that they were still good friends and worked well together, but didn’t answer the question. Seemed almost embarrassed that I’d asked, which I thought was both hilarious and weird. But I got the impression he still loved her, so I was looking at him—maybe he wanted her back, she didn’t want to go back, he stabs her in a fit of jealousy, I don’t know. But it didn’t fit, and again, his alibi was solid.” Jennifer glanced at her as she pulled into a visitor parking spot outside a pricey condo off the River Walk. “What’s with this Harrison Monroe?”

She explained what they knew about Harrison and his circle of friends, plus the illegal gambling accusation from college and the likelihood that he had a new operation locally. “Now three of the six are dead, and proving money laundering of ill-gotten gains has been difficult. Our white collar team is looking deep into Albright’s records, and as soon as I get them a thread they’ll look into Monroe as well. But I need that connection.” She hesitated, then added, “I should also tell you that Max is dating a federal agent—a white collar crime expert out of New York. She’s talked to him about it, though I haven’t. If I talk to him, I can’t keep it off the record, so to speak. I’ll have to go through channels or risk stepping all over my own office. And right now I have a good relationship with our White Collar Crimes unit.”

“What do they say?”

“They’re digging in, but it’s a long-tail investigation. Ryan told Max and Sean one thing, though, that they’re focused on—and that’s why I reached out to you. He talked about Al Capone, how hard it was to get him on murder and conspiracy, but easier to get him on tax evasion. We think the opposite is true with Monroe.”

“Why would he kill her? If she’s part of his conspiracy, why knock her off?”

“Max thinks it has something to do with Denise Albright’s body being found.”

Reed laughed. “Yeah, I’ll tell that to the judge. Great motive.”

“Hence, my dilemma. The Albright case is three years cold—but Victoria’s murder is fresh. It’s still open—even though you said you handed it to Vice.”

“Technically, I handed the Stanley Grant homicide to Vice. Gambling, eh?”

“That’s where Max leans. She talked to someone who was part of Monroe’s old network.”

“And Grant was a gambling addict.”

“That’s how Max started down that path, though everyone thought he was clean. And Grant told her he wasn’t gambling again.”

“I’ve dealt with addicts before. My ex-boyfriend was an alcoholic. I couldn’t take it anymore—the on and off the wagon. And he was a mean drunk, so I cut him loose. I had to for my sanity. When he was on the wagon, he was the nicest guy on the planet. But he couldn’t stop. My grandpa? He knew he couldn’t handle his booze, never drank. Gambling is like alcohol. Some people can overcome their addiction and stay clean, others can’t. Grant may have been clean for