8:47 p.m. Just 90 seconds after Marcus was tackled. What kind of person leaves a party right after something that dramatic happens?
Most people would stay to watch, to gossip, to record more videos. Unless, unless they had a reason to leave quickly.
Rachel picked up her phone and called her partner Detective James Park. “Park, it’s Monroe.
I need you to look at something.” 20 minutes later, James Park sat in Rachel’s office watching the same videos.
“You see them?” Rachel pointed at the two men on the screen. “The guys in suits?”
“Yeah, I see them.” “So what?” “So they were moving toward Abigail Carter with a knife in their hand.
Then Marcus intervenes and they immediately abort and leave the party. Why?” James shrugged. “Maybe they got scared.
Maybe they didn’t want to be involved.” “Or maybe,” Rachel said slowly, “Marcus Reed saw something we didn’t see.”
James looked at her skeptically. “Come on, Monroe. The guy’s homeless. Probably has mental health issues.
You really think he was some kind of hero?” “I think,” Rachel said, “that we should at least check it out.
What if those two men were planning something? What if Marcus actually stopped it?” “That’s a pretty big what if.”
“Humor me. Let’s find out who these two men are.” James sighed but he agreed.
They spent the next 3 hours reviewing all the videos from that night trying to get clear shots of the two men’s faces.
Finally they got one. A clear image of both men. Rachel ran their faces through the police database and that’s when things got interesting.
The computer beeped. Match found. Rachel and James leaned closer to the screen. “Vincent Torres.”
Rachel read aloud. “Age 38. Multiple arrests for assault and battery. Suspected connection to organized crime.
Never convicted. Witnesses always mysteriously refused to testify.” “And the second guy?” James asked. Rachel clicked on the second profile.
“Marcus Delano. Age 41. Similar record. Assault, extortion, witness intimidation. Also never convicted.” James whistled low.
“These aren’t party guests. These are criminals.” “Exactly.” Rachel said. “So what were they doing at a charity gala?”
She started digging deeper. She found the guest list from the event. Vincent Torres and Marcus Delano were not on it.
“They crashed the party.” Rachel said. “Two known criminals with histories of violence crashed a high security event.
Why?” “To target someone.” James said understanding dawning on his face. “To target Abigail Carter?”
Rachel pulled up everything she could find about Abigail Carter. Tech billionaire. Recent business deals.
Enemies. “Look at this.” Rachel said pointing to a news article from 2 weeks before the gala.
“Abigail Carter’s company just testified against DataCore Industries in a major fraud case. Her testimony cost DataCore $50 million and got their CEO indicted.”
“Revenge.” James said. “Maybe. Or maybe they wanted to scare her into backing down before the trial.”
Rachel kept searching. “And look who has connections to DataCore’s CEO. Vincent Torres. He worked as security consultant for DataCore 3 years ago.”
The pieces were falling into place. Rachel stood up suddenly. “We need to talk to Marcus Reed now.”
Marcus sat in his jail cell staring at the gray walls. He’d been here for 5 days now.
5 days of bad food, hard beds, and the constant noise of other prisoners shouting and arguing.
His trial was scheduled for next week. His lawyer Thomas had visited yesterday to beg him one more time to take the plea deal.
