Chapter 7 - The Midnight Hand-OffI didn't go home.
By 2:00 a.m., I pulled my car up alongside the curb outside the downtown Chicago police precinct, my fingers gripping the digital video recorder and the fireproof lockbox resting on the passenger seat like a live grenade.
The lobby was quiet, staffed only by a sleepy desk sergeant nodding off behind a computer monitor.
“I need to see Detective Delgado. Right now,” I said, placing the lockbox down on the reception counter with a heavy thud.
The sergeant blinked, waking up instantly at the tone of my voice. “Ma’am, it’s the middle of the night. Do you have an appointment?”
“Tell him it’s about the Maple Street homicide,” I said, my voice cutting through the quiet lobby. “Tell him I have the motive, the forged documents, and a video confession from the victim.”
Ten minutes later, Detective Delgado stood in his shirtsleeves, his tie undone, staring down at the open metal lockbox on his desk. He watched the digital video recorder play Sarah Parker’s final warning twice, his jaw tightening with every second of footage.
“Well,” Delgado exhaled slowly, running a hand through his graying hair. “This completely destroys Richard Vance’s entire defense strategy.”
“What about the forged power of attorney?” I asked, leaning against his desk.
“Our handwriting experts can run a forensic analysis by sunrise,” Delgado replied, a grim smile finally touching his lips. “And the Cayman Islands offshore accounts? I’m calling federal financial crimes division right now. We’re going to freeze every single dime Melissa Ward and her associates have stashed away.”
He looked up at me, his eyes softening with genuine respect.
“Mrs. Bennett... breaking into a sealed crime scene is technically a felony, you know that, right?”
May you like
“Technically,” I agreed evenly.
Delgado let out a soft huff of laughter, sliding the digital recorder into an evidence bag and sealing it. “Good thing I was too busy reviewing case files to notice you weren't sleeping at home tonight. Go home, Mrs. Bennett. Get some sleep. Tomorrow morning, this nightmare is finally going to come to an end.”
