Crime of Passion (Marcus Douglas 1)
“Do you think there's any connection between what Garrett told us about how Suzanne and Frank died and Dez?”
“Not really, Carmen. What it sounded like is Suzanne was into whatever she was into, and it got out of hand. Frank fell apart when he found out about his wife and shot himself.”
“But we really don't know that. There could be a whole lot more to it. Think about it Marcus, the police try to investigate Suzanne's death, but Frank wouldn't let them autopsy the body. I know Frank, he probably wasn't very cooperative. They tried to talk to Dez and she throws them out. Then Frank kills himself, then Dez is killed and they arrest Roland for her murder.”
“I see where you're going with this,” Marcus said. “So if there was more to Suzanne's death, the two people who could have told them anything are dead.”
“Which leaves it right where it is, with the police not calling it murder and with them not having any suspects.”
“Okay, so let's speculate,” Marcus offered.
“Okay,” Carmen said as their drinks were served.
“Let's start with Frank. Suppose him and Suzanne were having rough sex and as a result, Suzanne dies. What connection does that have to Desireé?”
“Doesn't seem like any, but what if he didn't do it?” Carmen asked.
“All right, let's say Suzanne could have known whoever it was, since there were no signs of forced entry. Maybe she was seeing somebody else.”
“Dez could have known who it was, and that would have given him a reason to kill her.”
“That's true, it could have.”
“Or it could be something that Frank was into.”
“It could be Carmen,” Marcus said. “But how do we know it had anything to do with either of them? There's one possibility that you don't seem willing to entertain.”
“What's that?” Carmen frowned.
“That it could be something your sister was into. Her killer might have been one of her other toys.”
“But I think if something like that was going on, she'd tell me,” Carmen said.
“How can you say that? Her best friend might have been murdered and she didn't tell you. She could have been in denial about that, too.”
“All right, Marcus, alright,” Carmen said loud enough that the people at the next table glanced over at them. She took a sip of her Bacardi and thought that maybe there was a lot about Desireé that she didn't know. Although they talked everyday, Carmen hadn't be
en to Atlanta in two years. Prior to that, her visits were infrequent.
“I have to accept that maybe I didn't know her as well as I thought I did. It's just hard for me to do that. But I know I have to. “
“I'm glad you see that. Carmen, I know how important this is to you, but don't let it consume you. Believe me, that's something I know about,” Marcus said quietly. “I allowed it to take over my life.”
“You're not quitting on me, are you?”
“No, Carmen, I'm just getting started and so are you. Tomorrow morning I'll go to Hudson financial. Bill Hudson and I are members of the same health club. I'll try to find out what Frank was working on. What you have to do is get to know who your sister was. Find out the things about her that no one would tell the cops.”
“I know somebody who might know where to find Porsche.”
“That's a place to start. But you have to do more than that.”
“Like what?” Carmen asked.
“Since you and Roland are all friendly and sharing pain, find out if he still has her stuff and go through it. See if you can find any kind of address or phone book. Talk to all of those people,” Marcus suggested. “Did she ever send you any e-mail?”
“Yes, why?”
“If she's like everybody else, I'm sure she's forwarded you some jokes. See who it came from and who else she sent it to. E-mail them and see what you can find out.”