For now, I’m still hunting for the victim’s clothes, and a survey of my surroundings has me walking through a hallway encased in mirrors and stepping inside a bathroom. I find a garden tub, double sinks, and a bathroom stall, all immaculately clean. There are no clothes. I backtrack to the mirrors that are actually closet doors. I slide the one to my right open and—Jesus. The immaculate cleaner saves her mess for here. The floor is carpeted in clothes and there is no way to know if any of them are what the victim was wearing before the dress. I open the second closet and find it much the same. I’m back to needing a look at the security footage.

I step into the hallway where various members of the investigative team bustle about and flag Jack, a sixty-year-old officer who worked under my father, and now my brother, his entire career. “Lilah,” he greets, all teeth. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Jack is one of the few people who call me Lilah, but then, he’s known me since I was in diapers. These are the territories of my roots, and those roots run deep with law enforcement. “Andrew called me in,” I say. “I need to find out if we have camera footage for the house.”

“I know we do,” he assures me. “I heard them talking about it downstairs.”

“And?”

“I don’t know anything else, but I can go find out.”

“I need to see the last twelve hours ASAP and then get a full review copy.”

“I’m on it.” He steps right and then pauses to eye me again. “I’m proud of you kids. Who knew you’d grow up to be a law enforcement dynamic duo, but you sure did.” He winks and hurries down the stairs.

I blink at his departing back. He’s proud of me? I’m confused. I didn’t know he knew much about the adult version of me, and I’m not exactly a person people compliment. I don’t handle it well. It makes me and others uncomfortable. And now, I’m the one who’s uncomfortable, but Jack isn’t, bless that old bastard’s heart.

I re-enter the bedroom and remove my mini camera from my bag. Yes, CSI takes photos, but I like to take my own for easier, quicker access. As I begin to shoot, I make observations. The room is tidy, the bed made. She wasn’t hanging out in here. Still, someone else might have and I ensure my images capture every part of the room.