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Florence shruggedin embarrassment. When Jessie realized she wasn’t going to get an answer tothat one, she moved on.
“So did you headright over or procrastinate because of that?” she asked, wondering if RayleneFlorence would pick up on the fact that she was reconfirming her alibi.
“Oh, I went rightover from work,” she replied adamantly. “I didn’t want to delay the inevitableand have it hanging over my head. Plus, Ms. Langley knew I was the oneassigned, so the later I got there, the more annoyed she’d be. I just wanted toget it over with and move on with my night.”
“So when did youleave work?”
“Just after 6:30,”she said. “From the office to her place took a little less than a half hour.”
Though her answerwas forceful, something about her manner caught Jessie’s attention. She washesitant to make eye contact and squirmed nervously.
“Raylene, I feellike there’s something else you want to tell us,” she said gently, “but you’rehesitant to do so. If that’s the case, it’s better to be forthcoming now,rather than have information come out later that you can’t explain.”
The young woman’sface turned pink.
“There is onething,” she acknowledged. “I should have brought it up as soon as I realized.But I forgot at first, and then when I remembered, I worried that I’d get in trouble.”
“What is it?”Jessie asked.
“I just want tomake sure that I’m not going to be charged with anything,” Florence said. “Canyou promise me that?”
“We can’t makethat kind of promise,” Jessie said reluctantly. “What I can promise isthat your motives and intent will be kept in mind. And in general, comingforward is always better for you than keeping valuable information from us.It’s the withholding that usually gets people in trouble.”
Florence got upfrom the loveseat and walked over to the kitchen counter. She picked up abusiness card.
“I found this slidin between the door and the frame when I arrived at Ms. Langley’s house lastnight,” she said, walking back over. “I pulled it out and was going to hand itto her. But when I started to get worried after I couldn’t reach her, I just shovedit in with the work materials. I forgot all about it and only remembered when Ibrought the materials back to work today to return to the executive teambecause they needed to reassign the account. I saw the card in there andrealized I should have given it to the detectives last night. I didn’t want tobe responsible for taking the evidence that could lead to the capture ofwhoever did this. I thought I might get arrested or something. But it’s beeneating me up ever since. So here it is.”
She handed Jessiethe card, who held it out for Ryan to see. It read: Gregory Ashton,Certified Financial Advisor, You do well but I can help you do better. Thatwas followed by his contact information.
“I’m sorry,” shesaid, her voice thick with shame. “I should have brought it up right away. Iwas just really freaked out.”
“Yes, you shouldhave handed it over immediately,” Jessie agreed. “But better late than never.We’ll look into this.”
She stood up toindicate that the interview was over. While one could never be certain, nothingin Raylene Florence’s demeanor suggested that she was being evasive about moresubstantial matters. Plus, she already knew about Florence’s alibi before she gothere. She was just testing that the young woman wouldn’t vary it.
Florence escortedthem out. As they walked down the hall to the elevator, Ryan took a photo ofthe business card and sent it to Jamil and Beth in research.
“It sounds like wemight have dozens of potential suspects at Clarissa Langley’s office,” he notedas they waited for the elevator to arrive. “She doesn’t seem to have beenpopular among the staff.”
“Yeah, but howmany of them have any connection to Tabitha Reynolds?” Jessie countered. “Thiswas a very specific targeting of two women, using a pretty unconventionalmethod of murder. This doesn’t feel like an abused employee getting revenge.There’s something more methodical and cold-blooded about it.”
The doors openedand they got in. Neither of them spoke on the way down, each consumed by theirown thoughts. They left the building and were halfway to the car when Ryan gota call. It was from Jamil.
“What’s up?” heasked.
“The financialadvisor whose card you sent me,” he replied immediately. “Tabitha Reynolds is aclient of his.”
Jessie and Ryanexchanged shocked looks.
“Are you sure?”Ryan checked. “That was really quick.”
“I’m sure,” Jamilsaid. “I’m looking at her financials and it’s not hidden in any way. She hiredhim last year. Apparently he specializes in wealth-building for the newlyaffluent.”
“But he wasn’tworking for Clarissa Langley?” Jessie asked.
“Not yet,” Jamilanswered. “Maybe the card was his first step to changing that.”
“Can you send ushis home address?” Ryan asked.
