Found Innocent

by Carolyn Arnold

“That’s the easy part. She probably talked him into a bath afterward.”

  “He would have really been riding high. First time taking drugs. You’d think the last thing he’d want to do is have a bath. Why not stay in the bed?”

  “Good point actually. Lacy would have known how the guy would be feeling, using for the first time. If she loved him, she wouldn’t want him drowning in the—” Madison’s eyes enlarged. “Wait a minute, there wasn’t any water in the tub.”

  “So she didn’t talk him into having a bath.”

  Madison thought for a moment. “I remember from the file that the blood hadn’t been diluted by water, so it wasn’t drained.”

  “Could be suicide. He went in there so there wasn’t as much mess. Maybe there was an altercation, Lacy got angry and left. With everything going on, Thorne couldn’t take it. Maybe he was suicidal going into the motel room that night?”

  “But the clerk said they rendezvoused every Thursday night. Thorne would have expected her to show up. Why answer the door? Most suicidal people don’t want to be talked out of it.”

  “Okay, back to that. What if he wasn’t suicidal? She shot him up to weaken him. I don’t know. It seems like there’s a lot of speculation. We don’t even know if she was carrying his baby,” Terry said.

  “For that matter it could be Peter Hargrove’s.”

  “You’re still barking up that tree?”

  Madison rolled her eyes at the cliché. “I still can’t buy the fact that the guy is that nice, for no reason other than to just be—” Madison’s phone rang. “Knight.” She established eye contact with Terry. “All right, we’ll be right there.”

  “Let me guess. We know whose baby it is.”

  “No, but the full toxicology panel is back on Lacy.” Madison saw Commons headed straight for them. “Time to go,” she said.

  -

  Chapter 48

  JENNIFER ADAMS WORKED IN THE lab with Cynthia and specialized in serology and toxicology—basically she knew her bodily fluids and how to analyze them. She was only a couple of years younger than Madison, but the two of them had never bonded outside of work. Jennifer was particular in that she preferred to be called by the full version of her name. Abbreviations were not acceptable.

  Jennifer sat in front of a computer when they walked into the lab. Her posture straight, as always, shoulders back, everything at her station set up ergonomically correct. She turned to Madison and Terry as they walked toward her.

  Jennifer’s blonde hair was ironed straight and parted with the hair flipped to the right to frame her round face. Her chestnut eyes were deep pools and were usually hard to read.

  “The vic’s results show she was high at the time of her death. Stomach contents didn’t reveal anything special.”

  Cynthia had told Madison a while ago Jennifer was engaged. Madison looked to Jennifer’s finger and noticed the gold band there with a single diamond—nothing more than a simple setting would be expected.

  Jennifer continued. “Other results came back and indicated that the vic had given up drugs for a while. But she was definitely laced with drugs when she died.”

  “Was a profile run on the drugs found in her system?” Madison asked.

  “Yes. It was a cocktail of cocaine, meth, and heroin. We were also able to pull some residue from the needle puncture between her toes. When I looked closer at the parameters in the database, it looks like it was also the results on a man who died a month—”

  “Kevin Thorne,” Madison finished her sentence.

  Jennifer nodded.

  Madison turned to Terry. “If Lacy was going to give up drugs, as Peter Hargrove told us she was going to, what would make her shoot up? She did have defensive wounds.”

  “Hennessey forced the drugs on her,” Terry concluded Madison’s thought.

  “When she was high, he made her pull the trigger?”

  “It would have been easier to.”

  “Or he did it himself. To me, that possibility hasn’t been completely ruled out. He could have played on her low self-esteem. For one, she had a father who didn’t want her. Hennessey not only physically abused her, he likely did mentally as well. He could have told her that she killed her lover when it was in fact him, and possibly Bates, who did,” Madison continued.

  Jennifer cleared her throat, causing both Madison and Terry to turn to her.

  “As you know she was pregnant at the time of death. The results are still being processed to see if we can get a DNA match to those of highest interest—Hennessey, Bates, and Thorne.” She swiveled the chair to face the monitor.

  Madison glanced at Terry and thought, conversation over?

  “Thanks, Jenn. Jennifer,” Madison corrected with a laugh.

  “Why is it so hard for people to get it?” Jennifer spun around to face them again.

  Madison remained quiet.

  “My name is Jennifer, just as yours is Madison.”

  “And people call me Maddy all the time. It doesn’t bother me at all.”

  “I guess it’s what makes each of us unique. My mother put it into my mind not to abbreviate names.”

  There wasn’t any doubt to Madison why they had never connected outside of work. Jennifer was too serious.

  “Let me know as soon as the DNA results come back on the fetus.”

  “Will do.” Jennifer’s tone held an irritation as she swiveled back around to her computer.

  -

  Chapter 49

  “I THINK WE SHOULD GO see Peter Hargrove again to see if he was aware Lacy was pregnant,” Madison said. “See, that’s another thing that doesn’t fit. Lacy was cleaning up her life, she was pregnant, possibly wanting to make a go of things with Thorne. The defensive wounds were from her fighting off Hennessey. He killed her.”

  “We assume she fought off Hennessey. Was any epithelial pulled from her wounds?” Terry asked.

  “From my understanding, there was.”

  Terry was already on his cell inquiring about the results. He hung up a few minutes later. “Still on their to-do list.”

  “To-do list? It could be a direct link to her killer.”

  “Ours isn’t the only case, Maddy, and a case isn’t fully solved by forensics.”

  “Still doesn’t make me happy.”

  “Well, what are you going to do? That’s life.”

  She disregarded his correction. “We’ve also got to speak with Hennessey and Bates again, starting with the latter. He’s the weaker one. If we confront him about Thorne and Lacy, maybe he’ll roll on Hennessey.”

  “Off to see Hargrove first then. He’s not going to be pleased to see us.” Terry took a deep breath.

  “You didn’t become a cop to please people I hope, or you’ll be sadly disappointed.” Madison kept the full thought to herself. They risked their lives and received very little, if any, respect for it.

  ONE WOMAN SAT BEHIND THE front desk at Solarpanel Energy and she wasn’t one of the two who had been there on their first visit. Her skin was the color of mocha and her eyes near black. Her brown hair tousled over her shoulders.

  She offered a sincere smile. “May I help you?”

  Madison flashed her badge and made the formal introductions. “We’re here to see Peter Hargrove.”

  “Certainly, but he’s not in. His partner, Mr. Kendal, is in.”

  “He’s returned from his holidays?”

  Madison turned to Terry. “We could talk to him.”

  Back to the receptionist. “Please get him for us.”

  “Of course.” She pressed some buttons on the phone. “Mr. Kendal, I have two detectives here to see you…yes, okay. I will do.” She hung up and spoke to them. “He will be up just shortly.”

  Less than a minute later, Kendal rounded a bend of partitions.

  “I’m not sure what we would
have to talk about.” His body language said it all, I talked to you at my house and there is nothing left to say.

  “How was your holiday?” Madison asked, feigning interest.

  “Surely you didn’t come here for that.” Kendal led them to a conference room. He pressed a hand against his suit jacket as he took a seat. “I am more than willing to help you in whatever way I can, but I don’t see how I can be of any.”

  “Peter Hargrove was helping Lacy out. Did you know this?”

  “Of course I knew. He’s my business partner, and it’s my business to know what he’s doing.”

  “Even with his own money.”

  “With things that concern me.”

  “How did his use of personal money affect you?”

  “In business, over half of the generated revenue is reliant upon the reputation of its owners.” A hand gestured to the right. “The other half, upon product and service. Peter didn’t understand that.”

  “It really bothered you that he helped her.”

  “There wasn’t a need for it.” Kendal straightened his jacket and adjusted his necktie. “He always does this, though.”

  “Does what?”

  “He sees a charity case and goes for it. He claims it’s good for people to see that side of him.”

  “Do you think that’s all Lacy was to him? A charity?”

  Kendal’s eyes studied Madison. “She was a good-looking girl. If, and I mean if, she was my daughter, for that I would be proud. But the girl was messed up, broken. She showed up at my place high. She went on about how her boyfriend was abusive and she needed to make changes right away.”

  “Results showed that Lacy hadn’t taken drugs for some time before she died.”

  “She was on something when she came to my place, I tell you.”

  “Is that why you sent her away?” Madison played along. This man was lying to them.

  “I told her if she was mine, her mother was a cheap whore. I had my house assistant show her to the door.”

  This man was truly calloused and in love with two things—himself and his money.

  “Did you know she was pregnant?” Madison asked.

  Kendal cleared his throat. “She didn’t mention that.” He straightened his tie. “I remember her touching her stomach when she was pleading for help.”

  “How did she react to being shown out?”

  He snuffed out air from his nostrils, his jaw shifting askew. “She got hysterical. Pete ran in from my home office—where we were discussing business matters when she interrupted our evening—and I knew the minute he saw her he’d be a lost cause.”

  “Because she was beautiful?”

  “That, and desperate.”

  “Peter have a thing for pretty and desperate women?”

  “Oh, does he.”

  “Does his wife know?”

  “God no. If she knew, she’d divorce him instantly and take him for everything.”

  “This is why his actions bother you. You’re afraid she’ll touch the business.” Madison noticed Terry glance at her for her forthrightness.

  “Damn straight. And I can tell by the way that you’re looking at me with those judgmental eyes, you think less of me for it. Well, I don’t really care.”

  “So, did Peter ever mention her to you after that?”

  “No way. He knew better. It has been a constant source of conflict between us.”

  “The fact he helps desperate women?”

  “Yeah. One day he’s gonna get caught with that hand of his in the cookie jar and I’m gonna have to pay for it.”

  “Do you think he slept with Lacy?”

  “He set her up with healthcare, a condo, and a job. Yeah, I know about everything. Do you really think he did it out of the kindness of his heart? Even Pete’s not that generous.”

  “It’s interesting you brought up the condo and the job. Did you know that Peter set her up with those things about a month prior to the day she came to your house and met you?”

  “What? No. How would I have any way of knowing that?”

  “Thought it was your business to know.” Madison stood and tossed her card on the desk. “Call us if you think of anything else.”

  -

  Chapter 50

  “THAT GUY IS A LYING SACK OF—” Madison looked over at Terry in the passenger seat.

  “Thank you for not finishing that.”

  “You notice too?”

  “Oh yeah. First he knows nothing and then he knows everything.”

  “It makes me wonder what his motives are. Why lie about when he met Lacy? Why say she was high when he knows that’s something we could disprove? Do you really buy his line about not knowing she was pregnant?”

  “Not fully, no.”

  “And then his comments about Hargrove. Was he still lying or telling the truth? He said he had a thing for young, beautiful women. You must be the only faithful one out there.” She glanced at him and asked the rhetorical. “Tell me you’re faithful.”

  “Maddy, I’m either with you or my wife. You both keep me busy. When would I have the time to?”

  “So it’s a matter of time?”

  “Let me start again.”

  “No, it’s okay. I get it. Men are easily attracted to loose women.” She shifted her position so she was angled more toward Terry. “If a woman threw herself at you, what would you do?”

  “Run.” Terry laughed. “No, seriously. Annabelle would kill me. I would be a dead man. Forget being taken for all I’m worth, I’m not worth much anyway, but I’d be dead.”

  Madison turned to look out the front windshield, her thoughts on Hargrove’s wife. “Do you think she knows about her husband’s affairs?”

  “Doubt it.”

  “See, I think a woman always knows. But she’s taken care of, so why upset things? I couldn’t live like that.”

  She thought back to Sovereign—their recent kissing session and their past. She finally believed she was strong enough to let it go now. She didn’t need him. She did fine on her own.

  She lifted her cell phone and dialed the Hargrove residence. Beverly answered after four rings. Madison announced herself and asked to speak with Peter. She was advised he was at work. Madison slowly put the phone down.

  “According to the missus, Hargrove’s at work today.” She squeezed the steering wheel and didn’t look at her partner. “I told you, didn’t I? I told you he wouldn’t do all that for Lacy without sex being involved.”

  “You’re assuming—”

  “Come on, Terry. The man has a history of helping women out.”

  “Says his business partner.”

  “Yeah, a man who makes it his business to be involved in Hargrove’s life. Remember when we first went to Kendal’s house. He told Hargrove, that’s what you get with a ten-dollar whore.”

  “He could have meant it about himself. Besides we’ve already proven the man is a liar.” Terry lifted his brows. “Besides not every man on the planet is guilty of being unfaithful, or even capable of it.”

  “What about Christina Dunn, the woman from the computer store? She knows Hargrove, he convinced her to hire Lacy.”

  “So, you think they had an intimate relationship?” Terry laughed.

  “I’m being serious here. We have to think of it from every angle.” She dialed another number then said to her partner, “I just have a feeling.” Back into the phone after it was answered, “Is Christina Dunn in?” When she received her answer, she smiled and hung up. “The dirty bastard.”

  “Maddy?”

  “I called Modern Computers and Dunn isn’t in today either. Coincidence?”

  “Quite possible.”

  Madison reached over and jabbed his shoulder. “Seriously? This is how you’re going to play it?”

  “Well.
It could be.”

  Madison rested against the headrest. “Where would I go if—” She lifted her hand. “I got it. He’s at the condo.” She changed directions. “I’ll give you one more chance to change your bet. Peter was sleeping with Lacy.”

  “You said he factored into her death.”

  “And I stand by that.”

  “Good because once it’s said, it’s done. No reneging.”

  “Reneging?” Madison laughed.

  CHRISTINA DUNN WAS COMING OUT of the Luxor Apartments when Madison and Terry reached the front door.

  “Detectives?” She wore a fitted, beige trench coat that was the length of mid-thigh. Beneath it, she wore black dress pants. A gold chain with bulky links dangled around her neck and was paired with diamond-studded hoop earrings.

  “You live here?” Madison asked.

  “No, I was just here visiting a friend. I really must be going.” She offered a weak smile.

  Madison stepped out of her path.

  “Good day to both of you,” Dunn said.

  Stepping inside the building, Madison held out an opened palm to Terry. “Would you like to pay up now, or later with interest?”

  “Not yet. And you are just assuming her friend is Hargrove.”

  “My assumptions are usually right.”

  Terry laughed. “Don’t think so.”

  “What are the chances?”

  “How many units in this building?”

  Madison jabbed his shoulder.

  He rubbed it. “You’ve got to stop doing that.”

  “Why, you like it? You miss it when I don’t do in a while. I’m being thoughtful. I don’t want you to have to miss it.”

  “I see.” He continued to massage his shoulder as they headed for the elevators.

  They stood outside the condo door and knocked.

  “He might not even—”

  The door opened.

  “Hello?” Hargrove’s single word arched with an enclosed question as to what they were doing there.

  “We thought we might find you here,” Madison said.

  His eyes fluttered. “Am I missing something? I’ve been very cooperative with you—”