Last Seen Alive

Chapter Nineteen

Early the next morning, Kelsey went straight to Michael's office before the morning briefing to discuss their latest discovery in the Amanda Desser case. 

"So James Murdock married Amanda and they were divorced 2 months later, then James was arrested 3 days after that for fraud and embezzlement of funds," Kelsey summarised as she read through the rap sheet Michael's friend had sent him. 

"Yep."

"And the police docket says the information leading to the discovery of the evidence against James was submitted anonymously by 'an individual who only identified herself as Veritas.'"

Michael nodded, drumming his fingers absentmindedly on his desk. 

"Knowing what we know about Amanda's extracurricular activities as a hacktivist who digs up the truth about people, is it crazy to think she's this Veritas, the goddess of truth?"

"No, it's not. Especially if you consider the lifespan of her marriage to James. It's possible she only married him to get close enough to get the information needed to expose him and send him to jail."

"Wow," Kelsey said, rubbing her temples. "That's pretty messed up."

"Yeah, but if it is her, how come she exposed James and not the Bandieers?"

"Maybe James couldn't afford her silence?" Kelsey shrugged. 

"Maybe. I was also thinking if it wasn't for his air-tight alibi, James kind of fits the killer profile you came up with."

"How so?"

"He was a bank manager at a bank where Amanda had an account, which might explain why she didn't like using her credit card because he could access the records and track her movements."

"Yeah," Kelsey said slowly, "But after James was arrested, he couldn't check her credit card records to track her down. Why did she still avoid using it?"

"Maybe she was hiding from someone else who could access the records as well."

"It still baffles me that she used to use the card for some purchases like she didn't care about exposing herself sometimes, which doesn't make sense."

"A lot of things about this case don't make sense. One thing that's for sure though, is that James Murdock didn't kill her. His history of crime is limited to white-collar stuff."

"It still could have been a crime of passion, but anyway, James has an alibi so he's definitely out."

"Yeah," Michael said, checking the watch on his wrist. "Time to go for the briefing." He sighed and held his hand in his hands. 

"Doesn't seem like you're looking forward to that."

"I have to throw Lydia under the bus and paint her as some criminal who destroyed evidence and went on the run, even though I know she's the complete opposite."

She gave him a sympathetic look. "You're doing it to protect her and Scottie from whichever cop might have been involved in her disappearance. When we get them back, she'll understand why you had to do it."

He smiled appreciatively at her words and they walked out together, heading to the briefing room. Michael gave updates on the latest crime stats and open cases, before talking about Lydia. He gave details of the plan to search for her and Scottie and delegated a task force to work with other stations around the city and state to track her down. When he was done, he dismissed everyone and went back to his office where Kelsey joined him again. 

"I'm heading for my morning shift at Dispatch, then classes, and I'll be back here for training. Since I no longer have to hang around Lydia's lab, is training going back to the original time?"