Always reassuring to know the folks who most want to kill me are being physically prevented from doing so, at least for now.

We can have units do extra patrols by your place, if it sets your mind at ease, Decker offered.

Thanks, Captain, Jessie replied. I might take you up on having folks stop by to hang out with Ryan. But I think were good on security for now. One good thing about inheriting the home of the most celebrated criminal profiler on the West Coast in the last quarter century is that it comes ready-made with elaborate security. Im still familiarizing myself with everything he had installed. But Im pretty sure were set, even in the event of The Purge.

Well, let me know if you change your mind, he said, either unaware of or unamused by the reference. We want Hernandez back and anything we can do to expedite that, we will. In the meantime, shall I tell you about the case?

Please.

He sat down at his desk and folded his hands.

Details are still sketchy for reasons that will become clear, he said. But Millicent Estrada, forty-two, was found dead a few hours ago at a huge party in Holmby Hills. Her neck was broken.

Should I know who that is? Jessie asked.

Not necessarily. She was a well-regarded attorney, one of those lawyer to the stars types. She and her husband, Beto, are both partners in the same firm, which handles everything from contracts to civil cases to criminal defense work. He does a lot of the civil stuff. She specialized in keeping clients off the police blotter and out of jail. They were considered a real power couple until about six months ago, when they announced they were divorcing.

Ouch, Jessie said. That sounds awkward.

Not as much as you might think, Decker corrected. Ive heard that it was fairly amicable. They still worked together. But theyve taken very different social paths since the split. Hes a homebody and she…lets just say shes spread her wings since they parted ways. Thats where it becomes HSS-worthy.

Pray tell.

Decker tossed her the thin file as he continued.

Estrada was found at the estate of Jasper Otis.

The billionaire? Jessie asked, unable to hide her curiosity.

Right, Decker confirmed. And by the way, according to Forbes, its about fourteen billion.

Is he a suspect?

Youll have to tell me, Decker advised. The first call reporting the death came in at 3:58 a.m. so its pretty fresh. I know West L.A. station sent out a detective but I think he might be out of his depth so I snapped it up.

Jessie flipped through the file skeptically.