“I was thinking about paying a visit to your brother in-law. Wanna tag along?”
“Of course I do. What time?”
“I'll pick you up about noon. That too early for you?”
“No, it's not too early; I'm always up at the crack of dawn, anyway. And this time I promise I'll be ready. What do you wanna talk to Roland about?”
“I want to ask him about Suzanne.”
“You think he'll talk to us?”
“Why shouldn't he talk to me, I'm his lawyer. Besides he should be glad to help find who killed his wife.”
“I'll be ready,” Carmen replied, but she was no longer smiling.
“What's wrong?”
“Dez and Suzanne had been friends for years. Now they're both dead,” Carmen said quietly. She said nothing else on the way back to her hotel, and Marcus let her have her space.
UNTOUCHABLE
After dropping Carmen at her hotel, Marcus checked into a Residence Inn. Once he was settled into his room, he called and left a message for Connie Talbert, Roland Ferguson's assistant, and requested to see him in the afternoon around one. Marcus poured himself a drink, and then checked his messages. Randa had called to say that she was sorry about everything in general, and mad about not getting to his house fast enough.
“But I still think we need to talk. Maybe we can meet somewhere, in public. I know you won't call me. So I'll call you.”
To delete this message, press seven. Marcus quickly complied.
The next message was from Garrett Mason. Garrett used to work for the city of Atlanta police, but he got caught up in a corruption scandal. Marcus defended him. He was eventually cleared of the charges, but the damage was done. He quit the force and went into business for himself as a private investigator. Garrett had done some work for Marcus, and over the years they've become friends. He returned the call.
“Hello.”
“What's up, Garrett, this is Marcus.”
“Congratulations, Mr. Big time lawyer. Here's hoping that this will create a financial boom for both of us.”
“Thanks. How's it going with you?”
“Going good. Busy, but busy gets you paid.”
“You working on something now?”
“Yeah; working on an embezzlement case. Real high tech stuff.”
“High tech? What do you know about high tech?”
“Enough to know that I don't know anything about it. And enough to know I needed to hire someone who does.”
“You hired an operative? You, Mr. go it alone Mason? Say it ain't so.”
“Not this time, Marcus. I hired a chick named Jamara Deneè. And Marcus, she is so damn fine.”
“She any good? As an operative, I mean.”
“She can get in there and hack with the best of them. But you know I know how good she is.”
“Where'd you find her?” Marcus asked.
“Her probation officer recommended her.”