I was unable to wrap my mind around the idea that someone had actually murdered Susie, someone she knew. I tried thinking about who it could have been, but there was no one with that much hatred and such low morals in Susie’s life, and mine, considering I’d also been targeted. If we were, in fact, being tracked down by the same person.
Jared entered my study carrying two mugs of coffee. I thanked him as he handed one over to me and he sat down across the desk. He looked at me with sweet and comprehensive eyes, and I couldn’t stop my own from filling with tears.
“I miss her,” I whispered as I closed my eyes and two tears ran down my cheeks. “I was closer to her than to my brother and sister. We finished each other’s sent ences. Half the times we didn’t even need to tell each other what we were thinking, we just knew. And now she’s gone and…Susie’s gone.”
Jared remained quiet as more tears left my eyes. After a few more minutes of weeping, I dried my face with the palm of my hand and breathed in. I exhaled and drank some coffee.
“I want to get whoever did this to her,” I said clearly, looking at Jared with anger in my eyes.
“We will, Sam. For starters, the autopsy is over and you’ll have Susan’s body for the memorial.”
“She wanted to be cremated. I’ll make the proper arrangements so that she’s in an urn by tomorrow.”
“Okay, I’ll put you through with Samaire, who took care of the autopsy.”
“Thanks. What else did Aidan tell you?”
“Susan was suffocated and the tie that was used belonged to her. There was some epithelial tissue, but it didn’t match the DNA database for sex and criminal offenders; it’s someone without a record. Aidan spoke with Susan’s boyfriend over the phone, but he was so shocked, he didn’t say much. We need to check the DNA with him as well, to make sure it wasn’t him.”
“I’ll speak with him tomorrow. You can be by my side or brief me on what questions to ask. He’ll talk to me.”
“Great. I’ll need you to tell me about everyone who shows up tomorrow. You’re acquainted with most or all of them, and even if we can get alibis and statements, you’ll know best the nature of the relationship between Susan and them.”
“Sure thing.”
“The computer expert went through Susan’s laptop and found nothing out of the ordinary. Writs and transcripts from mediations, e-mails from and to clients, but not a single threat. Either she erased them or those mad at her realized it was both a waste of time and something stupid to do. Aidan spoke with Sandra, the assistant, but she seemed truly sad; plus she was at her father’s birthday on Saturday night.”
“It couldn’t have been Sandy, she admired and respected Susie. Besides, if she was suffocated, wouldn’t it have to have been a really strong person?”
“Not really. By placing pressure on certain parts of the neck, the trachea either shuts down or is broken and one dies. It had to be someone strong enough to keep her arms from her own neck or from the attacker, but by sitting with one’s legs on them or tying them down, it could have been managed by a woman or a thin man.”
“Were there marks on her wrists?”
“Yes, but they weren’t terribly marked. It could have been simple bondage from rough but consensual sex. Raymond didn’t say anything about their sexual relationship, but he’ll certainly be called in for questions. Do you know anything about Susan’s sex life?”
“She mentioned handcuffs once or twice, but she wasn’t into S&M, orgies, or filming. Susie liked her privacy, and she hated violence.”
“Okay. Would she ever have lied to you?”
“Not about sex, Jared. If there was one thing we were completely open and unabashed about, it was that.”
“Okay. Aidan had Susan’s finances checked and everything was fine; no debts, every bill and ticket was paid for, her credit cards were in order…”
“Yes, Susie disliked the thought of owing
Carol Wallace, Bill Wallance
Vic Ghidalia and Roger Elwood (editors)