I dont know about that. The last guy I married is the main reason that my lifes in the toilet right now.

Yeah, but your Ryans not like that, right? Itll be different this time.

Something about the comment threw Jessie. The idea that she might one day marry Ryan Hernandez wasnt new to her. But ever since his injury, shed put thoughts like that on the back burner. The fact that someone else seemed to think it ought not to be made her wonder why she wasnt so sure.

So Estrada just volunteered to let us come here? Karen asked, snapping her out of her personal crises.

No, I asked him. But I think he was anxious to do anything that would prove he was helping.

She proceeded to fill the detective in on the particulars of the interview.

Do you like him for this? Karen asked when she finished.

He has no real alibi and the ex should always be near the top of the suspect list, as I can attest to. But he was pretty straightforward with me and seemed to genuinely want this solved. If hes lying, hes very good at it. Plus, its clear that he still loved her. The question is whether that got twisted somehow.

Your people are doing facial recognition from the party, right? Karen asked. To see if he showed up?

Absolutely, Jessie assured her. I dont trust his phone GPS. He could have left it at the house. Thats why I called our top researcher, Jamil Winslow, on the way here. Hes going to do a deep dive on Estradas tech tomorrow. Maybe the guy ordered food last night. Maybe he was posting online. Maybe a security camera caught him leaving the house. Anything he finds will be more than we have now.

You dont want Ernie Purcell to honcho that stuff? Karen asked jokingly.

I think that the less we involve Purcell in this case, Jessie replied, the more likely we are to solve it. And I get the sense hes happy to step aside so he can avoid getting squeezed from all sides.

Before Karen could respond, the door opened.

Im sorry, said a young man in a sweater vest and jeans. I saw you on the security camera. Is one of you Jessie Hunt?

Jessie raised her hand.

I am. And this is Detective Bray.

Wonderful, he said. My name is Simon. Mr. Estrada let me know youd be coming by and asked me to make Ms. Estradas client and case lists with synopses available for your review. Ive set everything up in the large conference room.

He led them down the hall in silence for several seconds, then looked back.

I was so sorry to hear about Ms. Estrada, he said.

Did you know her well? Karen asked.