"Afraid of what?"
"I thought it might make me look guilty."
"Are you?"
The look the woman gave her was unwavering. "No."
Jasi wasn't sure if she believed her.
"When did you find out about the life insurance policy?"
"I always knew about it. It was my idea." Marilyn straightened. "We each took out two million dollar policies."
Jasi's gaze drifted to James. "Did you know about this?"
The man nodded. "My brother didn't keep much from me. I handled all his legal matters."
How convenient, she thought. For James.
Brother James was looking more and more like their number one suspect. Perhaps he wanted everything his brother had, including Marilyn. It was certainly motive enough for murder.
"You handled his will then," she said.
"I drew this one up about two weeks ago," he said.
"Didn't he have one before that?"
James shifted nervously and she swore she could almost hear his bones rattle.
"Monty wanted to change some of the beneficiaries."
Marilyn's calm composure snapped. "Why would he do that?"
"Wait a minute," Jasi said slowly. "Are you saying you haven't read the will yet?"
Marilyn shrugged. "Monty specified that Deirdre had to be present for the reading, so we've had to wait."
Jasi bit back a smile. This could prove to be interesting.
Ben quickly scanned Monty Winkler's will, then passed the entire folder to Jasi. Her eyes latched onto the payout clauses.
Yes, very interesting indeed.
"Mrs. Winkler," she said, "your husband left a million dollars to Paragon Research Corporation."
Marilyn's anger deflated. "Well, that's more like it."
"Actually, he left it specifically to the satellite research department." Jasi shifted her gaze to Deirdre. "That's your department, isn't it?"
The look on Deirdre's face was one of stunned surprise.
"Oh my God. I can't believe it."
"What do you mean, you can't believe it?" Marilyn demanded, jumping to her feet. "I know you, Deirdre. You had something to do with this. What did you do, ask him for money for a new house or another car?"
Deirdre laughed. "I didn't ask him for a cent. I guarantee you, dear Sis, I had nothing to do with Monty's will."
Marilyn clenched her fists at her side. "Shut up! I don't want to hear your lies." She took a deep breath. "Agent McLellan, what else does the will say?"
"It looks like your husband left all the cars except yours to charity." Jasi perused the will, then glanced at James. "And your brother-in-law here was left a comfortable amount―"
"How much?" Marilyn demanded.
"Fifty thousand."
"What about the rest? His investments, properties, all that?"
Jasi handed the will to Natassia before replying, "Mrs. Winkler, I'm not sure how to tell you this."
"What?"
"It seems that your husband amassed some large debts. Most of his investments will be used to pay off that debt. He did, however, leave you this house and everything in it, plus your car and ten thousand dollars in a high interest savings account."
"Ten thousand dollars?" Marilyn's face paled. "That's it?"
"And the house," James said quickly.
"Plus the life insurance," Jasi added.
Sure seemed like a lot of money to her.
Marilyn appeared to be on the verge of collapsing. She sat down again and blinked back tears, while James moved to her side and rested a bony hand on her shoulder.
"Alrighty then," Deirdre said. "Am I done here?"
Jasi nodded. "For now."
Deirdre stood quickly and headed for the door.
"We may have more questions," Jasi called after her.
"I'll be at my apartment. Please call ahead."
After Deirdre was gone, there was a long silence. In the calm, Jasi heard the ticking of a clock. Tick…tick…tick.
It made her think of a ticking time bomb.
Who will explode first―Marilyn or Deirdre?
"I apologize for my sister," Marilyn said with a long sigh. "And for my outburst."
"No worries," Jasi said. "We understand that things can be difficult at a time like this."
"I haven't been getting much sleep." She gave a derisive laugh. "I'm turning into my husband."
"He had trouble sleeping?"
"Except when the television was on after supper."
Ben smiled. "Sounds like a guy thing."
"That's what I thought at first, but when I'd try to wake him he was always in a nasty mood. Then he'd go to bed later and have awful dreams."
"Was he always like that, Mrs. Winkler?" Ben asked.
The woman shook her head. "He used to sleep like a baby. I thought it was his job that was keeping him up all night, but…I don't know." Her gaze drifted from Ben to Jasi. "I thought he wasn't happy. You know, with me."
"Were you arguing a lot?" Jasi asked.
"No, not really. Except about the TV. Every night he'd hide in his office. I thought he was watching…you know…porn." She whispered the last word and her face reddened.
"Was he?"
Marilyn's eyes widened in outrage. "Of course not! Monty wasn't like that."
"How do you know?"
The woman took a deep breath. "I listened at the door one night. All I heard was static, so I went in. Monty was just sitting there, staring at the TV. He didn't even notice I was in the room."
This piqued Jasi's interest. "What was he watching?"
"The emergency broadcast channel," Marilyn said with a snort. "Or should I say, static. The next time I walked in it was later, a bit after seven. Monty was passed out in his chair."
An invisible alarm went off in Jasi's mind. There was definitely a connection between the two men now. Winkler and Sampson had both received calls from a payphone around that time. They had both fallen asleep at their desks.
But what does that mean?
"I know," Marilyn said, catching her eye. "It doesn't make much sense. I asked him once if he was waiting for an emergency report."
"What did he say?"
"He never answered me. He acted like I wasn't even there. He kept staring at the damned TV." She eyed Ben. "And don't tell me that's just a guy thing too. Monty never used to treat me that way. We used to go for a walk every night after dinner and talk about our day."
"So what you're saying," Jasi said gently, "is that your husband's habits changed in the past couple of months."
Marilyn gave a nod.
Jasi felt a tremor of anticipation. They were on to something. She just wasn't sure what.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Ben remove his gloves and shove them in his pocket. He rose to his feet, holding out both hands to Marilyn. She glanced up, gave him a timid smile, then wordlessly placed her hands in his.
As Ben helped Marilyn to her feet, his smile faded, and Jasi's eyes narrowed. He saw something.
"We're sorry for intruding on your grief," Jasi said. "We'll need a copy of these documents."
"Take the folder," Marilyn offered. "I know we can trust the CFBI to keep them safe."
"I'll make a copy of anything we need and have this returned to you tomorrow morning."
"That's fine, Agent McLellan." Marilyn's bottom lip trembled. "When will Monty's…body…be released?"
"Later this afternoon."
"I have so much to do," the woman said, frazzled. "I'm worried I'll forget something. I have to make arrangements for the memorial service and call the pastor. Then I have to call Monty's friends and family." She eyed her brother-in-law. "Don't let me forget, James. And I'll have to buy Monty a new suit for the funeral."
Watching Marilyn and James, Jasi had one thought.
A new suit is the least of your worries.
Ben hesitated on the front porch. Time to see if Monty's brother was harboring any covetous thoughts about his brother's widow.
"Thank you for all your help, James," he said. "I'm very sorry for your loss." He held out his hand.
When James took it, Ben felt a sharp flash of sorrow and despair. The feelings intensified and took the form of a smiling face. Marilyn Winkler's.
Two objects came to mind. A heavy lock and a heart.
Ben smiled. Too easy.
There was no doubt in his mind that James harbored powerful feelings for his sister-in-law. He was in love with Marilyn. But he'd never told her the secret he kept hidden deep in his heart, locked away.
Marilyn's face quickly faded and was replaced by Monty's. James' emotions toward his brother were equally as strong and resulted in a symbol of two hands joining in a firm handshake. James had idolized Monty and was proud of his brother's accomplishments. He was devastated by his murder. The sooty cyclonic cloud that surrounded him was evidence of that.
Ben released his grip. He felt a twinge of guilt, as if he'd intruded on a deeply personal moment. In a way, he had.
"I hope you find who did this," James said.
Ben tugged on his gloves. "We will. Count on it."
When he reached the driveway, Ben motioned Jasi and Natassia to join him. From the expectant look on Jasi's face, she knew he'd seen something.
"James isn't our perp," he stated bluntly.
"Are you sure?"
Jasi sounded disappointed.
"Fairly." He peered up at the house. "James loved his brother, looked up to him, even though he was in love with Monty's wife."
Jasi grinned. "I knew it!"
"He wouldn't be the first guy to kill someone for love," Natassia said.
Ben shook his head. "James doesn't have the strength, emotionally or physically. And he's never told Marilyn how he feels. He's not our guy."
Jasi let out an impatient huff. "What about Marilyn, then? Maybe she's in love with James and wanted Monty out of the picture. Did you see anything when you touched her?"
"Yeah, I saw a tall brick fence. Marilyn was on one side, her sister on the other."
"So there's no love lost between them?" Jasi asked.
"None at all."
"Well, we know one thing for sure. There's a solid connection between the two victims."
Ben nodded. "Their TV habits and the phone calls."
"Why do you think they were watching the emergency broadcast channel?" Natassia asked.
"I don't know," he said. "But I do know that something very strange is going on."
"It's too bad you didn't get a chance to read Deirdre," Natassia said. "There's something about her I don't trust."
"I was watching her," Jasi said. "She was stunned that her brother-in-law had left such a large sum of money for her research at Paragon."
"Do you have a copy of the first will?" Ben asked.
Jasi passed him the folder. He ruffled through the papers until he found two copies of the current will, the original and a photocopy. At the bottom of the stack was a will dated over ten years ago.
"This is interesting," he murmured. "Ten years ago, Winkler listed his wife as the sole beneficiary of all his assets, with the exception of James' modest inheritance and twenty thousand going to select charitable and political avenues."
Jasi's eyes lit up. "What if Marilyn thought she was still the main beneficiary? Maybe she has someone else on the side. Not James, but another man?"
"I'm not feeling it."
"That's because you're a guy, Ben. You always want to see the poor, helpless widow as an innocent."
He bit back a retort. She was right. But still, he didn't get the sense that Marilyn Winkler had offed her husband for money, even with help.
Jasi's data-com beeped. From the one-sided dialogue, he surmised that the trace report on Winkler's Mercedes was in.
"Anything?" he said after she'd hung up.
Jasi shook her head. "The car was clean."
Cursing under his breath, he opened the door of her SUV and waited for her to climb into the driver's seat. When she rolled down the tinted window, he said, "I'll have Matthew check out the emergency broadcast channel, see if maybe something had been broadcasted."
"I still say we need to take a closer look at Deirdre," Natassia said. "Don't forget, she managed to walk away with part of the Winkler fortune. And her sister wasn't too happy about losing a million dollars."
"We'll dig deeper into Deirdre's history," Jasi said, taking the file from Ben. "Technically, the money's still within Marilyn's control if it goes to Paragon, but she's bound to feel resentful toward her sister, even if she does have the life insurance money."
Natassia moved closer to the SUV. "What if Marilyn wanted it all? What if she didn't know Monty had changed his will?"
"He had quite a fortune," Jasi said. "Some people would kill for that kind of money."
"Maybe someone did," Ben said, thinking of Marilyn's taste for the rich life. "You could be right about Marilyn Winkler. Perhaps Paragon Research Corporation isn't as virtuous as its name suggests. We'd better check out Marilyn's financials, see if she has any outstanding debts."
"I have a question," Natassia said.
"Shoot."
"Why would Marilyn go after Porter Sampson?"
"Maybe Sampson was a decoy, to throw us off track," Jasi suggested.
"Frankly," Ben said, "I don't think Marilyn is strong enough to lift either man."
"Maybe she had help. James seems very devoted to her."
Ben snorted. "James wouldn't be capable of dragging his own body across the shore, much less a man the size of Winkler or Sampson. No, if Marilyn is involved and has a partner, I don't think it's the brother-in-law."
"Who else could it be?"
"That, my dear Jasi, is the question of the day."
21
While Ben and Natassia drove to the Sampson residence, Jasi decided to question the other woman in Monty Winkler's life. Karen Hampton.
She programmed the SUV's navigation system for Karen's address, an apartment on the east side. When she arrived, she had to park on the street. Between the security doors, she located the buzzer for room 1702.
"Okay, Karen. Let's see what you have to tell me."
She pushed the buzzer.
"Yeah?" The woman sounded in a hurry.
"Karen Hampton?"
"Yeah, what do you want?"
"I'm with the CFBI. I'd like to ask you a few questions about Monty Winkler."
The only answer was the droning buzz of the door.
As Jasi rode the elevator up to the seventeenth floor, she consulted her data-com for stats on the woman. Karen Hampton, also known as Monty Winkler's former mistress, had a clean record, no arrests, not even a parking ticket. She'd been a nobody until she went public about her relationship with Monty. This announcement came after tabloids released photographs of the two of them dancing very close together in a nightclub. According to one article, Hampton openly professed, "I love everything about Monty, his kindness and humor, but mostly he knows how to treat a lady."
Jasi almost gagged.
Funny thing, love. It makes you do stupid things, things you often regret later.
One knock brought the apartment's occupant to the door, and Jasi was caught off guard. Karen Hampton's head and face were wrapped in bandages. Only her deep teal eyes and augmented lips were visible. She wore a navy-blue satin robe and matching slippers with three-inch spiked heels.
Hollywood starlet came to mind.
Jasi showed her badge. "Ms. Hampton?"
"Hurry up. I don't want my neighbors to see me." An impatient hand pulled her inside.
Jasi couldn't help but stare. "Were you in an accident?"
Karen Hampton laughed. "No. I had a rejuvenation lift."
Facial rejuvenation, SEE eye color enhancements, liposuction, vaginal and sexual sensitivity rejuvenation…
Christ! No one's happy with how they look anymore.
Jasi studied her. "I honestly don't get why you'd put yourself through such torture."
> "Why, to look beautiful, of course."
"Then my definition of beauty must be a bit off."
The woman shrugged, then led Jasi into a cozy living room. Sliding doors led outside onto a small balcony. The view was so breathtaking that Jasi couldn't resist taking a peek.
"Ottawa is a beautiful city."
"You should see it at night," Karen said behind her.
Jasi turned to her host. "I have." With Zane.
"Have you ever had facial surgery, Agent McLellan? Your skin is so smooth."
"Ivory soap."
Karen flinched. "You're kidding, right?"
"I never kid about such things."
Jasi caught sight of three black and white photographs on the nearby wall. The girl in them had luxurious dark hair and eyes. She was exceptionally beautiful. And very young.
"You?" she asked Karen.
"Yeah. I was seventeen and at the beginning of my modeling career. Then I hit a few roadblocks."
"I hear it's a tough business."
"Yeah, you have to stay young and beautiful forever." She indicated her bandaged face. "And youth and beauty don't come cheap."
"I suppose not."
"So…shall we start, Agent McLellan?"
Jasi reassessed the woman. She was used to hesitation, stalling. Not head-on confrontation. This made Karen Hampton stand out.
As a suspect.
Let's see what you've got to hide.
"Have a seat," the woman said, pushing an obese Garfield wannabe off the sofa. The cat left behind a clump of pumpkin colored fur the size of a mouse. "Sorry. Max started shedding in clumps the day I got home from my surgery. I hope you're not allergic."
"No problem." Setting her data-com on the coffee table, Jasi kept a wary eye on the monstrous feline. "I'd like to record our conversation."
"I'm guessing you want to know about me and Monty."
"I understand you used to be Marilyn Winkler's secretary at Paragon Research Corporation. Is that when you first met Mr. Winkler?"
Karen settled into the armchair across from Jasi. "Yes. Monty would often drop by PRC to see Marilyn. Since I took her messages, I often talked to him. He always took the time to ask me how my day was."
Karen's voice was wistful and her expression seemed sad, from what Jasi could make of it behind the bandages.
"When did you start seeing Monty? Personally, I mean?"
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