Milo’s shoulders tightened. “You are not going to believe this. Here, take a look.”

“At what?”

“Her.”

CHAPTER

38

Dual lenses highlighted a pleasant face framed by long rust-brown hair. Late twenties to early thirties, rosy-cheeked, clear blue eyes.

Milo said, “Our rookie C.I., Lara whatshername.”

I said, “Helpful Ms. Rieffen.”

Carlo Scoppio lifted three bags, left Lara Rieffen to carry two. No pleasantries exchanged between the two. No talk, at all.

They entered the house. The door closed.

Milo said, “This changes everything.”

During the drive back to the station, he reached Dave McClellan, the head coroner’s investigator, asked if Lara Rieffen’s assignment to the turret murders had been scheduled routine.

McClellan said, “She screwed up?”

“No, I just need to know, Dave.”

“Don’t have the schedule in front of me, I’m at City Hall trying to impress city council members. Why do you need to know?”

“Who do I talk to about the schedule, Dave?”

“Now you’re scaring me—tell me the truth, did Rieffen screw up in some major way?”

“Is she a screwup?”

“She’s new, tends to be a little lazy.”

“She gave the opposite impression at Borodi, Dave. Made herself out to be Eager Annie.”

“Maybe she likes you.”

“The burden of charm, story of my life. Where can I get hold of the schedule?”

“You’re not going to tell me why? All of a sudden, my gut’s churning.”

“It could be nothing, Dave.”

“Now my bowels are loosening,” said McClellan. “Call Irma, my administrative aide. She knows everything. Wish I did, too.”

Irma Melendez took thirty seconds to come up with the answer: A C.I. named Daniel Paillard had been next up for the Borodi call.

“He didn’t take it, Lieutenant Sturgis? My record says he did.”

“Lara Rieffen did.”

“Her?” said Melendez. “How come?”

“I thought you might know.”

“I have no idea, Lieutenant. The two of them must’ve worked something out—maybe Dan had an emergency. She doesn’t volunteer for anything.”

“Not a workaholic?”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

“Where can I find Paillard?”

“He’s off today.”

“Give me his cell and his home landline, please.”

“Dan did something wrong?”

“Not at all.”

“Good,” said Melendez. “Him, I like.”

Daniel Paillard was at Universal Studios with his girlfriend.

“This is a big deal?”

“Probably not,” said Milo, “but tell me about it.”

“Nothing to tell,” said Paillard. “She came to me the day before, said she needed time off next week, was I willing to swap. I said sure, why not.”

“What day did she need time off?”

“She never said.”

“She never collected on the trade?”

Silence.

“Dan?”

“I guess she didn’t,” said Paillard. “I guess I forgot—looking a gift horse, you know? Am I in trouble? I mean it was between the two of us.”

“You’re not in trouble.”