The Silence That Speaks (Forensic Instincts 4)

Casey pulled the folded list of numbers out of her purse. She unfolded the page, smoothed it out and handed it to Janet.

“What is this?” Janet asked, scanning the page.

“Numerical data from one of Ronald’s files, given to us by a source I’m not at liberty to name. Unfortunately, it seems to be encrypted. We’re trying to figure out why Ronald would encrypt it and what the contents are.”

“All I see are random numbers.”

“That’s just it. We don’t think they’re random. We were able to decipher number 266, which is the sixth number down.” Casey leaned forward and pointed. “It’s a complete file on Valerie Pintar.”

“Valerie Pintar?” Janet looked shocked. “Why?”

“We’re not sure. But we’re wondering if each of these numbers corresponds to a woman Ronald was sexually involved with over the years. You worked with him for a long time and knew him better than anyone—maybe even his own wife.”

“Why do you need this information? How will it help Madeline?”

“We want to interview all these women. Maybe one of them knows something about Ronald’s health—his irresponsible use of medication, his overactive physical activity—anything that might have contributed to his death. That would help cast reasonable doubt, should things progress that far.”

Janet looked back down at the list. “So Ronald encrypted the entire file?”

“Yes.”

Biting her lip, Janet continued to stare at the numbers. “Do you know the encryption key? Maybe if I think about it, I could see a relationship between Valerie, the number 266 and the encryption key that could help you crack the other files much faster. Would that help?”

“More than you know.” Casey had already whipped out her iPhone and was busily texting Aidan. “I’ll get you the encryption key now.”

She pressed Send, and waited.

A minute later, Aidan’s reply arrived: veaLmarsalA$187.56 penneputtanescacannoli.

“Here you go.” Casey texted the information on to Janet, carefully leaving Aidan’s name and information out of the text.

Janet’s phone went bing, and she looked down at it. Her eyes were huge. “I feel as if I’m being disloyal to Ronald.”

“How?” Casey asked. “It’s not as if it isn’t common knowledge that Ronald’s charisma resulted in a lot of sexual affairs. But if anything, or anyone, other than fate was responsible for his death, doesn’t that deserve to be known? Shouldn’t the right person be punished?”

Nodding slowly, Janet replied, “Yes.”

“So then you’ll help us?”

“I’ll do everything I can.”

* * *

Emma was in the largest of the FI bathrooms with her makeup case spread out across the countertop.

She brushed on two coats of mascara, smoothed on her glossy lip stain and then stood back to check out the total effect.

Nice job, she congratulated herself. Too bad she was wasting it on Roger.

She’d made sure to pick out a party dress. After all, she wasn’t going to some sleazy bar. Thanks to Ryan’s influence, she was meeting Roger at a hopping Tribeca club—one she’d actually been dying to try. So her outfit had to be up to the decor.

And it was.

Her sapphire-blue minidress was formfitting with a keyhole cutout in the sheer illusion neckline that showed off the top of her cleavage. The back was also sheer, plunging down to the small of her back. Sexy but not slutty. Her legs were bare, showing a good amount of thigh. Completing her look were four-inch stiletto, open-toe strappy silver sandals and a blinged-out statement necklace with matching drop earrings. Her hair was down, arranged around her shoulders in loose curls.

The total package would turn the loser on like a lightbulb.

And hey, you never knew. Maybe some hunk would sidle over and ask for her phone number, which she could give him on the sly. That way the evening wouldn’t be