“I’ve got nothing to hide,” Ethel lied. “But I don’t know if I’d discount him as a suspect, not unless he has an ironclad alibi. He wasn’t here at the time of either death.”

“His alibi is a little shaky. There’s a married woman in the mix.”

“Oh, dear, and she won’t confirm, will she?”

“That’s about the size of it,” Bradshaw admitted.

“What about Jonathan Finch’s laptop and phone? Were they in Norwood’s apartment?”

“No. Maybe he never had them. Maybe they’re in some garbage dumpster.”

“Or maybe the phone and laptop are keys to what’s still going on. Why someone broke into Finch’s house looking for something more. I think you didn’t find Norwood’s apartment key because he was murdered, and someone took that key to get into the apartment ahead of you. I believe Norwood had the computer and the phone.”

“And something on the computer is more than incriminating evidence,” Bradshaw speculated. “Something they want.”

“I don’t have a gambling problem,” Ethel said, “but that’s where I’d place my bet.”

“If it’s the Parker case and the embezzled millions, then that casts a shadow over Jonathan Finch. Had he found more than he claimed?”

“Maybe. Maybe he was bluffing in an attempt to bring the rats out of the shadows. Willing to take a risk because he knew he was dying.”

“It also explains why Rudy Hauser is so interested. You know he showed up at Roosevelt Island, allegedly offering the FBI’s help?”

“And you don’t think the offer is genuine?”

“Oh, it’s genuine, especially if it links back to Parker.”

“Any proof that Norwood’s death wasn’t a suicide?”

“You inquired about the cartridges in the magazine. There was room for two more. We found only one shell casing. So, I figure Norwood knew his attacker or attackers. They held him at gunpoint and forced him to give up his own pistol. They immediately used it to shoot him through the temple before he could react, and then they wrapped his dead hand around the grip and fired a shot in the air to create the expected powder residue on his skin. They picked up the second shell casing, quickly dressed the scene, took the apartment key, and left. Everything could have transpired in a matter of minutes.”

Ethel studied the three photos again. “So, it comes down to Carver, Ellison, and O’Hara. Maybe two of the three were involved. Don’t forget to see who has an alibi for when Jesse was attacked. And just because I saw one suspect doesn’t mean any of the eight couldn’t be the third accomplice, the person who attacked Jesse.”

“Ethel, you’re not going to let me forget anything, are you?”

She disconnected. It was time to bring in Pete Varner.

He answered on the first ring. “Is this Amelia Earhart?”