The team stood in the study of media mogul, Xander Harrington. They stared at a letter opener and the pool of blood on the floor.
"That's what killed Xander Harrington, and this is where he was attacked," said Cho. "Now the blood trail starts here, right where the letter opener was found. The deputy coroner says it was a single stab wound to the neck."
Teresa hummed.
"Now the blow sends him backwards. He slams his head; goes down. He's dazed, slowly bleeding out for a good 20 minutes or so, then somehow gathers himself up and goes for help. Coroner couldn't believe he even made it out to the party."
"Party which was for him," said Rigsby. "Guy just got a big promotion. Had a wife and kid. How sad is that?"
"Yeah," agreed Kenzie. "Anything else?"
"Well, according to the victim's father, there was a confidential business file on this desk that's gone missing. Nothing else taken."
"What was the file about?" asked Patrick.
"Plans for the 'Daily Observer' newspaper. Debt restructuring, cost cutting, layoffs."
"Layoffs?" asked Teresa.
"Any 'Observer' employees invited to the party?"
Patrick and Kenzie walked outside where the reception was hosted. They stopped at a table.
"So you're reporters for the, uh, 'observer.' Xander Harrington, man of the people, huh? Inviting the ink-stained wretches."
"Xander was a good guy," said a man.
"Did any of you hear about the layoffs that were coming up soon?" asked Kenzie.
"Layoffs? What layoffs?"
"Well, actually, there's, uh, quite a long list. Yeah. It appears that no one is safe. Must be very scary in the newspaper business these days." Patrick turned to a young woman in a red dress. "That's a very lovely dress. Great color."
"Well, thank you. I'm Heather Evans."
"Hello, Heather Evans. You're very attractive. Mm. It's probably why your name's not that list. Good-looking women live in a different world."
"Excuse me? What's this list you keep mentioning?"
"Oh, come on, Heather. The list that was in the file that you took off Xander Harrington's desk." Patrick gestured with his hands. "Everyone here, we mention layoffs, and everyone here reacts except you, because you've read the list."
"Oh, that's ridiculous. I didn't go anywhere near Xander's desk."
"Bravo. Very well played, considering the stress you must be feeling right now. You know, I was hoping to dazzle you all with my uncanny detective skills, but you force me, you force me to just reveal the humdrum facts and point out that you have blood on your shoes, Heather."
"Wha..."
"Could you step out of your shoe, please?" asked Kenzie.
"'Stop the presses?' That's the phrase, right? Stop the presses. Yeah. Got it. Always wanted to say that."
🙂
Kenzie and Teresa were standing in the observation room, watching Cho interview Heather. Heather explained that Xander's brother said that there were going to be layoffs when she came back to work, so she wanted to see if she still had a job.
Hightower walked in.
"Ma'am?" asked Teresa. "Is there, uh, is there something specific that you wanted?"
YOU ARE READING
I Bet on Losing Dogs - Patrick Jane
Fanfiction"I bet on losing dogs, I know they're losing, and I'll pay for my place by the ring, Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down, ...
