Debra Webb - Colby Rebuilt

“Did you perceive that the things she kept from you were work related?”

Ms. Brooks considered Victoria’s question for a moment. “That, and, during those final weeks, her social life. We’d always discussed boyfriends and such in the past but with Jason that changed.”

More of those telltale signs of a possible setup: estrange the victim from those closest to her. “So, you didn’t know Jason Mackey at all?” Shane suggested.

Mary Jane shook her head. “I only met him once. But I knew that Rebecca was a little afraid of him.”

“Did your sister say she was afraid of him?” Shane pushed. “Or is that your perception of how she felt about him?”

“A couple weeks before she disappeared,” Ms. Brooks replied slowly as if she were taking pains to answer accurately, “she told me that he had been tense. That he made her nervous when he got that way.” Mary Jane turned to face Shane more fully. “You had to know my sister, Mr. Allen. She wasn’t afraid of anyone. This was not like her at all. I asked her why she didn’t break it off, and she refused to talk about it.”

“Anything else you might think of would be very useful,” Shane assured her. “Make notes whenever anything at all comes to mind. Frankly, my initial assessment would be that her former employer is responsible for her death, but your feelings regarding the boyfriend muddy the waters to some degree. I would suggest moving forward under the assumption that either one could be responsible.”

“The truth is all I want,” Ms. Brooks insisted. “She would do the same for me.” She looked to Victoria. “After Detective Bailen gave me the news about the possible connection between my sister and your agency, I did a little research. The Colby Agency is the best. I want you to find out what happened to her. So, how do we do this? I’m sure there’s a retainer fee.”

“Under normal circumstances,” Victoria agreed, “there would be a retainer fee. But this case is different. I had already decided that we would launch our own investigation after Detective Bailen’s visit today. There won’t be any fees involved with our taking this case, Ms. Brooks. We need the truth, as well.”

The lady’s relief was undeniable. “I appreciate that, Mrs. Colby-Camp.”

Shane’s senses went on alert. Something in her voice had changed. The change in inflection was so subtle that he might have missed it had he not noted the shift in her posture. She sat up a little straighter, poised for battle.

“But,” she continued, “you see, I need to be involved in this investigation. Fully involved. That may change the way you see things.”

Shane and Victoria exchanged a look.

Since Victoria was the boss, Shane let her take the lead. She asked, “Involved in what way, Ms. Brooks?”

Shane watched her chin tilt slightly as she braced to argue her position.

“My sister was murdered,” she said, “possibly for nothing more than her desire to do the right thing. As far as I can tell from the past eleven months, the only thing the authorities are worried about is finding a way to reopen their case. They don’t care about my sister. And I doubt that Chicago’s finest will get very far with the FBI and the U.S. Marshals running things to facilitate their own interests. I don’t want Rebecca forgotten, and that’s exactly what I believe will happen unless someone goes into this investigation with her interests as their primary goal.”

“Solving your sister’s murder would likely prove helpful to the Bureau’s case,” Shane countered. “Certainly, bringing down Horizon Software will be their goal, but don’t believe for one second that Rebecca will be forgotten.” He had to give credit where credit was due. Federal law enforcement took a bum rap for a lot of things. He couldn’t in good conscience fail to speak up when he was all too well aware of protocol.

Mary Jane Brooks shifted her attention to him. The doubt was crystal-clear in her eyes. “That may be, Mr. Allen. But I need to be sure. I’m not taking any chances where my sister is concerned. I want the truth. The whole truth. Not some version that serves the best interests of anyone else involved.”

“Rest assured, Ms. Brooks,” Victoria cut in, “we will find the truth, and it will not be diluted by anyone’s influence. You have my word on that.”

Shane couldn’t say whether or not Ms. Brooks understood what she was getting when she got Victoria Colby-Camp’s word, but he hoped she understood exactly how significant the offer was.

“Then you won’t mind if I follow this case with your investigator,” Ms. Brooks countered, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. “Generally when there’s nothing to hide, full disclosure isn’t a problem.”

“Full disclosure and shadowing an investigator,” Victoria reminded her, “are two very different things. Ms. Brooks, there are safety issues that cannot be ignored. We have to assume whoever murdered your sister doesn’t want to be revealed. Any attempt to do so will likely have dangerous repercussions.”

“I’m aware of that,” Mary Jane returned crisply.

“You need to consider carefully what you’re asking,” Shane said, jumping in and reiterating Victoria’s words. If this was going to be his case, and it seemed it would be, he had no desire to be saddled with a civilian. Especially not one emotionally connected to the victim.

The would-be client didn’t so much as spare him a glance. “I have to do this,” she announced, undeterred. “If you can’t allow me to participate, I’ll be forced to go to another agency.”

That could present a whole other set of problems. Not the least of which was the source of personal information the woman could provide.

“Ms. Brooks,” Shane spoke up again, “we completely understand your concerns.”

“You can’t possibly.” All signs of hesitancy or uncertainty were gone now. She looked at Shane with something bordering on contempt. “My sister was murdered. To the police this is just another case in a city where there’s likely to be another murder later today. And another one tonight and maybe tomorrow.” Her hand rested against her chest, over her heart. “She was my sister. I need this done right. For her .”

Shane looked to Victoria for confirmation before making a move he would likely regret. Victoria gave him a single, slight dip of her head as authorization to proceed as he saw fit.

“All right, Ms. Brooks,” he relented with a heavy dose of lingering doubt as to the intelligence of the move. “You’ve made your wishes perfectly clear. I’ll do what I can to facilitate your request. But—” he fixed her with a gaze that said his terms were non-negotiable “—you will be required to operate under my rules. No exceptions. What I say goes one hundred percent of the time. I make the decisions and set the pace.”

Surprisingly, she thought about his offer for a time before responding. He had expected her to jump at the chance.

“As long as your rules don’t prevent me from knowing and comprehending each step taken. I won’t be left in the dark, Mr. Allen.”

She’d definitely thrown down the gauntlet. The depth of her strength startled him just a little. She looked so delicate and fragile on the outside.

He might be about to make the first major mistake of his new career, but this woman had pretty much left him without any alternatives.

“Then we understand each other, Ms. Brooks,” he confirmed. “We’ll start today. If—” he directed his attention back to Victoria “—that’s what you had in mind, Victoria.”

She gave him another succinct nod of endorsement. “The sooner the better.” Her gaze moved between them. “For all involved.”

Mary Jane Brooks stood and turned to Shane. “I’d like to start with Jason Mackey. I’m certain he’s the key to what happened.”