Once more I sit in an ice-cold car on a freezing street in downtown Philadelphia. I think I’ve been doing this job too long. When I die and my life flashes before my eyes, about eighty percent of it will be me sitting in an ice-cold car on a freezing street in downtown Philadelphia.
Except this time is different, because this city is on the verge of exploding and I’m watching a bunch of volatile chemicals swirl around, ready to combust at any moment.
Speaking of volatile…
Hi, Maya Rain. Your lights are on. You awake up there? Cleaning up messes? Did you fall asleep studying? Or are you entertaining someone special at this late hour? Perhaps the same someone who is paying for that condo, since I know even a top-drawer nanny couldn’t afford a place like that.
Yes, I know this is sort of stalkerish behavior. Scratch that—this is straight-up stalker behavior. But Maya is the one piece that doesn’t quite fit. Doesn’t make sense that someone this special would be involved in this case by accident.
Okay, yeah, I heard what I just said about Maya being special. Victor, you can stop rolling your eyes.
Let’s talk about the other volatile chemicals at play. Starting with the chemicals in my own lab.
Francine is potentially the most volatile chemical of all. In a weird way, it’d be so much easier if I knew she did it, because then I could take steps to minimize the blowback. Hell, those psycho texts from Archie would acquit her in the eyes of most Philadelphians. The bastard essentially threatened to break her beautiful face. Not a good look, Mr. Greatest of All Time.
But I know she didn’t kill Archie, even if she’s not telling me everything. But why is that? Is it because she’s protecting her children? If so, from what? Let’s say Archie and the Sables were up to some shady Super Bowl stuff. Any kind of shame associated with fraud the children might feel is nothing compared to seeing their mother sent to prison for life. Must be something else.
Who can tell me about that something?
Maybe Lisa Marchese. Wait—of course she knows, otherwise she wouldn’t have handed me those text messages, right? Victor, redouble your efforts on her law firm’s servers. I know you’ve already searched them, but there must be something in a file somewhere. Maybe there’s a hidden server inside Marchese’s office, one that requires the talents of one of your secret sausage men.
Okay, I can’t believe I said that last part out loud.
Who else, who else…well, who else is obvious. I’m parked outside of her condo right now.
Maya Rain had a front-row seat to the Hughes Family Drama for the past few months. She’s in a unique position to know most, if not all, of what Francine is so desperate to hide.
Maybe I should just climb out of this cold car, walk up to Maya’s condo, and ask her in person.