“Probably six months ago,” Hamilton continued, not really looking at them. “Let’s see … November. That sounds right. Trooper Lyons arranged an outing to Foxwoods. Many of us attended, including Brian Darby. Personally, I took in a show, blew my fifty bucks in the casino, and called it a night. But Brian … When the time came, we couldn’t get him to leave. One more round, one more round, this would be the one. He and Shane ended up in an argument, with Shane physically pulling him off the casino floor. The other guys laughed it off. But … It seemed pretty clear to me that Brian Darby should not return to Foxwoods.”

“He had a gambling problem?” Bobby asked with a frown.

“I’d say his interest in gaming appeared higher than average. I’d say that if Shane hadn’t yanked him away from the roulette table, Brian would still be sitting there, watching the numbers spin around.”

Bobby and D.D. exchanged glances. D.D. would like this story better if Brian didn’t have fifty grand sitting in the bank. Gambling addicts didn’t normally leave fifty grand in savings. Still, they studied the lieutenant colonel.

“Have Shane and Brian returned to Foxwoods lately?” Bobby asked.

“You would have to ask Trooper Lyons.”

“Trooper Leoni ever mention any financial stress? Ask for extra shifts, more OT hours, that sort of thing?”

“To judge by the duty logs,” Hamilton said slowly, “she’s been working more hours lately.”

But fifty grand in the bank, D.D. thought. Who needed OT when you had fifty grand in the bank?

“There is something else you probably should know,” Hamilton said quietly. “I need you to understand, this is strictly off the record. And it may have nothing to do with Trooper Leoni. But … You said the past three weeks, and as a matter of fact, we launched an internal investigation exactly two weeks ago: An outside auditor discovered funds had been improperly moved from the union’s account. The auditor believes the funds were embezzled, most likely from an inside source. We are trying to locate those monies now.”

D.D. went wide-eyed. “How nice of you to mention that. And to volunteer it so readily, too.”

Bobby shot her a warning glance.

“How much are we talking?” he asked in a more reasonable tone.

“Two hundred and fifty thousand.”

“Missing as of two weeks ago?”

“Yes. But the embezzlement started twelve months prior, a series of payments made to an insurance company, which it turns out, doesn’t exist.”

“But the checks have been cashed,” Bobby stated.

“Each and every one,” Hamilton replied.

“Who signed for them?”

“Hard to make out. But all were deposited into the same bank account in Connecticut, which four weeks ago was closed out.”

“The fake insurance company was a shell,” D.D. determined. “Set up to receive payments, a quarter of a million dollars’ worth, then shut down.”