“I went home to change. I didn't know how long we'd be working and I wanted to be comfortable,” Tiffanie said, as she walked by Marcus. As she passed Marcus noticed, maybe for the first time, what an attractive woman Tiffanie was.
“Well, you do look nice like that.”
“Thank you for noticing,” Tiffanie smiled as Marcus led her into the living room.
“Did you give your work to Janise?”
“Yes. And I stopped by and talked to Smitty. I didn't want him to get blindsided by it, or him to have any ill feelings about him reporting to me. And I gave him a little talk about his preparation and gave him some gentle suggestions on way that he can improve. He seemed to take it well.”
“Good,” Marcus said as he sat down across from Tiffanie. “And thank you for taking the time to talk to Smitty.”
“Marcus, you mind if I ask you a question?”
“Shoot.”
“Is there a future in this for me?”
“How do you mean?”
“Whether you intended it to be or not, you have given me supervisory responsibilities. Or one might assume that you have, since the only one who, prior to this, had supervisory responsibilities in the office was you.”
“Look Tiffanie, we are starting to experience some growth and with the outcome of the Ferguson trial, we will have more. I'm looking for somebody who is willing to step up and assume a greater role. I just told you that I am very impressed with you and the work that you have done for the firm.”
“Some people might think that is the definition of a partner.”
“Damn your ambitious, Tiffanie. But that's the thing I liked about you right from the start. But yes, some people might think that is the definition of a partner. But let's see how this works out before we start talking partner.”
“Fair enough. Let's get started.”
For the next two hours, Marcus went over all the details of the case. While Tiffanie reviewed the files, Marcus went over in detail all of the information related to the case. Then, they began to break it down. “There were no other prints found at the scene?”
“Just the maid, Desireé Ferguson and Rasheed Damali.”
“Anybody check out the maid?”'
“Alibi,” Marcus flipped through a few papers. “Confirmed.”
“No sign of forced entry, correct?”
“Correct.”
“Now, the perp is let in the cabin. No signs of a struggle at the door?” Tiffanie asked looking at the crime scene photos.
“None.”
“His body is found.” Tiffanie shuffled through the crime scene photos. “At the end of this entry hall. That would put him in clear view of Desireé Ferguson in the Jacuzzi.”
“That's right.”
“Well, if that's the case, I have a question.”
“What's that?”
“I'm going to assume that Miss Desireé is in the tub when Mr. Rasheed opened the door.”
“That's the accepted assumption.”
Tiffanie stood up, “So, Mr. Rasheed opened the door and walks back down the entry hall before the perp starts swinging, and all of this is going on while Miss Desireé is coolin' in the tub. What was she doing while all of this was going on?”