“What’s he looking for this time?”
“More on Colonel James Bruno.”
“Well, there’s good news on that front: Colonel James Bruno ate his gun the night before last and is no longer a problem to anybody.”
“Did he, now?”
“He did.”
“Anyone know why?”
“He left a note expressing remorse for raping and killing half a dozen women.”
“You’re sure it’s suicide?”
“I’m not even sure he’s dead, but I have the word of the Orchid Beach Police Department, which I used to lead, and a special investigative unit of the Florida State Police. Both agencies have investigated thoroughly and confirmed the details.”
“Lots of tests?”
“Autopsy, DNA, ballistics-the works. Plus, they found panties in Bruno’s house containing the DNA of each of the victims, along with the vaccination gun he used to subdue them.”
“Sounds like there’s no doubt.”
“Not much.”
“You have doubts?”
“Not exactly. It was all just a little too pat, but I can’t find any holes in it.”
“How do you feel about the passing of Colonel Bruno?”
“I regret only that it didn’t occur much sooner.”
“So he had a bad conscience?”
“He had enough in his life to have dropped dead of guilt, without benefit of the Glock. Only problem I can see is, he didn’t have a conscience, so why off himself?”
“I have the impression you think he might have been a victim of homicide?”
“I think it’s a possibility, but I don’t have a suspect, and neither does anybody else.”
“How about whoever’s using our mainframe for research on Bruno?”
“Tell you what, Lance, you name a suspect, and I’ll look into it.”
“How about your father?” Lance offered.
Holly sat up in bed.
“You still there, Holly?”
“Yeah.”
“You asked me to name a suspect, and I did, and I haven’t heard a demurral from you.”
Holly still didn’t speak; she was thinking too hard.
“I mean, one wouldn’t think Ham would possess the necessary codes to enter our mainframe, but he is close to someone who does. In fact, does he even possess the computer skills to get in, even with the codes?”