“No. There's no way I can be one hundred percent sure. But I'm looking at the patterns that are consistent in all the accounts I've gone into.”
“What are Asset Allocation Funds and Fixed Income Securities, anyway?” Carmen asked.
“Asset Allocation Funds are Mutual funds that feature a mix of stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents to meet the investment objectives of individual investors. In this case, the mix is mostly cash. Look here, you can see a steady pattern of deposits and pay-outs. Fixed Income Securities are Debt securities or IOUs for borrowed money,” Jamara explained. “They obligate the borrower to pay the owner interest during the term of the loan and to return the principal or face value, when the loan matures. And it was all tax-deferred, so payment of taxes were not due until sometime in the future, which never comes.”
“Get as much information on paper as you can, as quickly as you can, and get out,” Marcus said as he, Carmen and Garrett left the room. They went back in the living room and sat down.
“Money laundering. That's what it's all about,” Carmen said.
“Money is the oldest motive for murder since the world began. Other than woman, that is,” Garrett commented.
“So let's speculate,” Marcus said. “See where we are. Frank Collins is using accounts at Hudson Financial to launder money. Suzanne finds out about it and tells Desireé that something is going on.”
“But Suzanne is murdered before she can tell her what,” Carmen threw in.
Garrett stood up and began pacing, as Jamara joined them in the living room. “So now Suzanne is dead and he's upset about what happened. He's upset because he knows she was killed because of what he was doing. My guess would be he was going to talk and that's why he was killed. Mondrya Foster found out what was going on and they killed her. The question is; who is they?”
“My bet would be Bill Hudson,” Marcus offered. “Somehow he knew that Mondrya made a copy of those files and that I might get them.”
“What makes you think that?” Garrett asked
“He didn't tell you?” Carmen said coyly.
“Tell me what?”
“The day after Mondrya was killed, Hudson offers to back me for DA. He was counting on me keeping quiet about it in exchange for the position.”
“If Hudson knew that your girl copied those files,” Jamara said. “It's a safe bet that he knows we accessed the system tonight.”
“She's right, big dog,” Garrett said, plopping down on the couch next to Jamara. She moved closer to him. Which raised an eyebrow on both Marcus and Carmen. “What you gonna do now?”
“Take what we have to the police,” Marcus answered.
“Are you sure that's a good idea?” Garrett inquired.
“What do you mean, Garrett?”
“Well, this is just me thinking out loud, but the police investigated each of those murders, and you see how that turned out.”
“Are you saying the police are involved?” Carmen asked.
“I'm not saying anything. But I used to be a cop and I know how some of them operate. But, like I said, this is just me thinking out loud.”
“What do you think we should do then?” Marcus asked.
“I got a partner who works for the DEA,” Garret announced. “I'll give him a call and try to set up a meeting. Until then, I wouldn't trust nobody. And even then, you should cover yourself.”
Jamara stood up and started back to her den. “I'll go and make two copies of everything. One for you, Marcus, and one for you,” she said smiling at Garrett.
“Marcus, do you think Frank Collins told Dez?”
“I don't know. But it figures that he did and that may have been why she was murdered.”
“But who did all these killings?” Carmen asked.
“You think it was Hudson?” Garrett asked.
“Have either of you ever met Bill Hudson?” Marcus asked smiling. “He’s a scrawny little white man, he might weigh a buck fifty, soaking wet. He might have done it, but I would think he'd get someone to handle his light work.” Jamara returned to the room and handed Marcus the original CD and a copy and gave one to Garrett. “Keep that someplace safe, Garrett. I'm going back to the office and put these in the safe.” Carmen got up and started moving toward the door and Marcus followed behind her. “Give me a call when you set up the meeting with your friend at the DEA. When you do, I'd like you to sit in with us. You too, Jamara, in case they have questions about how we accessed the information.”