“They also had the results for the bullet that killed Claire. It was fired from Logan’s gun, Amanda.”
She let that hit sink in, but she couldn’t say she was surprised. “Just means whoever is trying to pin this on Logan has done a damn good job.”
“Good enough that unless we find something substantive in his favor, he’s going to prison for a murder he didn’t commit.”
She had promised Logan that she’d help him and so far she was failing miserably. “What were the results on Claire’s gun?”
“They’re why I was smiling. It’s tied to a coldmurdercase.”
“Unsolved murder makes you happy?”
“When it could bring answers that take us close to Claire’s true killer, it does. We might even close the cold one. Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Talk to me.”
“The victim was Martin Lawson, fifty-six. He was a wealthy businessman who made a hobby of collecting antiquities, fine artwork, sculptures. He was shot during the course of a robbery.”
“Oh. When was this?”
“Fifteen years ago this August.”
“Claire opened the safe deposit box that year. Also in August.” Chills spread over her arms. The theory about Claire holding on to a gun that was involved in a crime seemed to be firming up. But was she the one who had pulled the trigger, or had an accomplice? One would think the latter as she wound up murdered. “Did police have any strong suspects?”
Trent shook his head. “Of course, everyone in Lawson’s world was suspect and interviewed at great length.”
“Where was he killed?”
“At his investment firm in Washington. Guess he had an entire floor of his building dedicated to his collection.”
“Let’s say she’d had the gun in her possession since the shooting, why keep it? Why not destroy it? Was it as we discussed before? She kept it for insurance so if her partner ever turned on her, she could produce the gun.”
“You should know only Claire’s prints were on the gun.”
“The killer planted them for the reason we discussed before. He or she wanted us to dismiss the prints. Then if ballistics were run and tied to the Lawson case, Claire would look guilty.”
“Right, while they walk off scot-free. For at least two murders—Lawson’s and Claire’s. Possibly Rita’s.”
“Okay, so do you have the investigators at the lab examining it closer? Seeing if they can spot even the teeniest of smudges that could put anyone else’s fingers on the Glock? DNA even? He or she might have missed something.”
“Yes. I have them doing the same to Logan’s gun, just in case the real shooter messed up there too. We still need to answer how the killer knew where to find Logan’s gun and ammo. Or did they get lucky? But there’s more. I uncovered several reports of valuables stolen in Prince William County and DC areas in the last twenty years.”
“Claire would have been sixteen. Rather young if she was involved going back that far. And what makes you think they’re connected?”
“I’m not talking stereos and flat-screen TVs. In the cases I’m referring to, the targets were all very wealthy and prided themselves on their artwork and antiquities collections.”
“Any witnesses? Video at any of these places?”
“Some described a blond woman who befriended them.”
“Claire was a brunette, but she could have worn a wig.”
“Thought the same. Other descriptors such as weight and height could fit Claire. We’d have to track down the victims and show them her picture to be sure.”
“How many are we talking?”
“Twenty-two heists that I believe are connected in the twenty-year period.”
“Wow. What’s the estimated value of the items stolen in these heists?”
