It was possible that the encounter had begun consensually before turning violent. Shed explored that theory a bit. But another theory, one shed mentioned to Decker in passing but never truly considered, was that the incident wasnt about sex at all. What if it was just made to look that way afterward to throw investigators off? What if Milly had been killed for another reason entirely?

If that was the case and this wasnt a moment of passion gone awry, it meant that whoever had killed her wasnt worried about time. People in a panicky rush dont methodically undo all the buttons on someones shirt.

And if the killer wasnt worried about time, that meant it was someone who wasnt afraid theyd be discovered in the residential wing, or even in Otiss personal space. It was someone who felt like they belonged there. Add that to the possibility that Milly knew her attacker and suddenly the pool of likely killers got pretty small. There were only a few people at the estate that night who both knew Milly and had free rein of the residential wing.

Clearly Jasper Otis was one of them. He had dozens of alibi witnesses, not even including his unnamed lady friend, though Jessie was skeptical of all of them. On the other hand, Davey Pasternak had zero witnesses but didnt seem like the type to have the run of the Otis Estate. But there were others.

Jessie got up from the bench and rushed to the Research department to see if Jamil could rule any of them in or out. When she walked in, she got exasperated looks from both him and Karen, who were hunched over the same monitor.

Glad you could join us, Karen said, trying to sound jokey but failing to hide her frustration.

Sorry, guys, Jessie said. Im currently juggling five balls with two hands. I understand youve got some updates.

Quite a few, Jamil said, returning his gaze to the screen. Youre not going to like any of them.

Way to sell it, Jamil, she replied.

Sorry, he said. I figured Id just rip the Band-Aid off.

Rip away, she said, waving her hand as she took a seat beside him.

Okay, lets deal with Nancy Salter first. I noticed that after she cold-cocked that caterer, she texted someone. It got me thinking. Even though I couldnt track her location using her phone, maybe I could track it using her texts. Turns out I could, kind of.

Jessie waited for him to continue but he seemed hesitant, as if she might shoot him down.

Go ahead, she said. Your job is to give me the facts, whether I like them or not.

That seemed to set him at ease a bit.