The Rich and the Dead Read Online Free Page B

January 1, 2015, no one knew what to do or whom to call. It wasn’t until the news of the Star Island massacre broke that people began putting two and two together. By the time that forensic accounting confirmed it, the media had been saying it for days: the Star Island twelve were the members of the Janus Society. And so the murders became the crime of the century.
    I KNOW ENOUGH ,” Lila said in answer to Teddy’s question, watching as he walked to the wall of windows overlooking the ocean. He slid open an enormous glass door, filling the air-conditioned room with a damp, ocean-scented breeze.
    â€œHere’s a question,” Teddy said, changing the subject. “When you’re in pursuit of a criminal, what’s the most important yet most quickly depleted resource you have at your disposal?”
    â€œPatience,” Lila shot back. “I’m running quite low on it now, as a matter of fact.”
    â€œWhat I’m talking about,” Teddy went on, ignoring her, “is time. When you’re solving a case, time is of the essence, isn’t it? The more time passes, the farther the murderers can run, the hazier the memories become.”
    â€œYeah, something like that.”
    â€œTime goes on and people just want to forget about the past. Especially if it involves something like a mass murder.”
    After a long pause, Teddy sat back down in the chair next to Lila. “Exactly how long did you look for the Star Island killer?”
    â€œA little over two years.”
    â€œAnd why did you stop?”
    â€œIs there a point to all this?” Lila asked impatiently.
    â€œThere is,” Teddy assured her. “Just tell me why you left the force.”
    â€œMy chief pulled me off the case. But I’m guessing you already knew that.”
    Teddy nodded.
    She continued, “He said I’d burned too many bridges. That I was doing more harm than good. After that, I knew it was time to go. I mean, what’s the point if the bad guys get away with it?”
    Silently, Conrad walked across the room and slid the door shut. The room instantly became ice cold once again.
    â€œSo you gave up?”
    â€œI didn’t have a choice. I wasn’t getting anywhere. My chief was right. I’d pissed off too many people. No one likes it when a cop comes knocking on their door,” Lila said. “But the rich seemed to take particular offense.”
    â€œIt’s not that we take particular offense,” Teddy said with a smile. “It’s just that we can usually buy people’s silence. It’s one of the few really valuable things that can be bought in this world.”
    Lila let out an exasperated sigh. “You said all you needed was five minutes. So tell me. Why am I here?”
    â€œI’ve already told you. To catch the Star Island killer, once and for all.”
    â€œWhat makes you think this time will be any different?”
    â€œThis time,” Teddy said with a hint of a smile on his lips, “you’re going to solve the murder before it happens.”
    Lila let out a sudden snort of laughter. “And how exactly would I do that?” she asked in a mocking tone.
    â€œForget about that for now,” Teddy replied. “Let’s just say it’s a given. What if you could go back to several months before the murders. Do you think you’d be able to catch the killer?”
    For once, Lila was at a loss for words. What was he getting at?
    â€œDo you?” he asked again, emphatically.
    â€œYes,” she blurted out. “Of course I could. Knowing what I know now, I’d be able to find that sick fuck in a matter of seconds.”
    At that, Teddy began to nod his head, a smile lighting up his face. “I knew you were the right person,” he said.
    â€œThe right person?” Lila repeated, still uncertain what he was getting at.
    â€œWhat I’m about to tell you may sound unbelievable.”