She turned to Weyler. âHave them copy as much as possible from the tapes that goes beyond last night. I want to see if sheâs had any visitors.â
Jane wrapped up what she could in the bedroom and walked downstairs. She needed a smoke badly. But before she exited the house, she ducked into a small alcove just off the entryway by the table that displayed the odoriferous lilies. One of the techno wizards from DH was reviewing the tapes. âNothing so far,â he offered Jane with a shake of his head. She was about to head out when she noticed a small digital clock on the security panel that housed the two video screens. It displayed 2:00 AM. Jane checked her cell phone. It was 9:30 AM.
âShouldnât this be the current time?â Jane asked.
The techie agreed, suggesting that there might have been a power glitch since the video he viewed so far showed the correct marker time on the screen. âOnce the
power goes back on, this clock is set up to start back at 12:00 until itâs manually reset.â
Jane meandered into the large, chic kitchen and checked the digital time on the stylish oven. It read the current time. Searching further in the house, Jane found another digital clock on a table in dining area. Again, there was the current time. The S.O.S. Security System seemed to be the only unit in the house that had a timing glitch. How convenient.
CHAPTER 3
Jane knew it would take at least a couple days before the Medical Examiner would determine Carolynâs C.O.D. and what was in her system at the time of death. But Jane wasnât about to wait for the M.E.âs report. She needed the names of the investors Carolyn had seemingly conned and the person who might be able to enlighten her was Joe Harvey. After talking to him again on her cell that day, they arranged to meet at his office the next morning.
Harvey owned a downtown Denver consulting firm in a two-story building that incorporated the industrial design that was so popular lately. To Jane, the steel columns and grey-themed palette reminded her of a prison complex. But when she was greeted by the soft splash of water emitting from the indoor koi pond in the lobby and later by the hiss of a handsome cappuccino machine, the prison motif was quickly eradicated. Across the walls of the lobby were more than two-dozen plaques and embossed commendations to Harvey, all pertaining to charitable
groups he either directly helped or aided through people who consulted with him. The groups ranged from Veterans associations and hospitals to Habitat for Humanity building programs. Above the plaques were the words BRINGING PEOPLE IN NEED TOGETHER in block letters. Carolynâs only next of kin looked like the ultimate networking kingpin.
Harvey greeted Jane in a rushed manner and led her back to his small office. He was all business and seemed like a man with far too much on his plate, mumbling about how he was waiting for a conference call and he hadnât had much sleep. She sat down and offered her usual line to open up the communication.
âIâm sorry for your loss, Mr. Harvey.â
âCall me Joe. And donât be sorry.â That was the second time Janeâs rote statement had been summarily shunned. âLook, I donât mean to be rude or insensitive but my aunt was a despicable human being.â He sat down, fuming under the surface. âShe lived like a queen off the sweat of her four, wealthy ex-husbands. Going without was not something Aunt Carolyn was into. She never gave a dime to help another human being, no matter how desperate they were. Entitlement was her goddamn birthright. She expected everyone to do for her, but she wouldnât do for them! So, excuse me, but her death is no loss to me.â
âIn other words, you crossed her off your Christmas card list?â
Joe was taken aback by Janeâs acerbic retort. âYes. Very much so.â
Jane quickly sized up Joe. He was a tightly