Page 5

Chapter Five

Brooklyn Sloane January 2025 Tuesday — 7:59 am

The elevator ascended with a gentle hum, its interior adorned with polished bronze and dark wood paneling that spoke of luxury and opulence. The soft lighting from the overhead fixtures cast a warm glow across the small space, and the classical music from the overhead speakers was set to a perfect level.

“You mentioned that Mara’s mother had passed away several years ago,” Brook said as she took a moment to remove her dress coat. Once she had straightened her suit jacket, she rested the coat over her forearm. “No father, no aunts, no uncles. Siblings?”

“One brother,” Sylvie replied, following Brook’s lead. Once she had her cream-colored coat in hand, she adjusted the cowl neck of her pink sweater. “Vaughn Queller. The man has no social media accounts, and Mara was very private about sharing any personal details online. All of her posts were in relation to her charity events. As for Queller, he has had some trouble with the law on and off throughout the years. Mostly regarding possession of drugs. The two of them didn’t have the best upbringing.”

“How did Jordan and Mara meet?”

“The gossip columns state the two of them met at a charity function, though we’ll have to confirm that with Jordan.” Sylvie gave Brook a curious glance, most likely wondering why Brook wasn’t already aware of such details. “Mara went to a community college and attained a two-year degree. From what we can gather, she was helping out the organizer of the event, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Once an investigation began to broaden, the team usually split the potential suspects and witnesses into categories. Sylvie would have already uploaded any personal background information into their software program.

Theo’s morning had consisted of numerous background checks on the household staff who rotated in and out of the Miles’ estate on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. While Jordan and Mara didn’t have full-time employees, a property of such size needed a lot of help to maintain throughout the year. Any one of the staff members could have had the administrative code to shut down the Miles’ security system.

As for Bit, he was still pulling double duty. While he hadn’t been able to figure out how Jacob made contact with Mitch Norona, there was a very good chance that Jacob had done so through a third party. No one besides Jacob’s initial public defender had been to the prison and spoken to him outside of S&E Investigations or the Bureau. Bit was at his best when thinking outside the box. He was vague on how he would go about rerouting his search, but that was probably for the best.

As the elevator doors slid open with a near-silent whisper, an extravagant foyer greeted them. Floor-to-ceiling windows allowed the morning sun to flood the vast room, casting long shadows across the marble tile and the tasteful artwork lining the walls. Jordan Miles stood waiting for them, the exhaustion in his chiseled features impossible to miss. Dark circles marred the skin beneath his dark eyes, and the cuffs of his white dress shirt were rolled up onto his forearms.

“Jordan.” Brook extended her arm in greeting. “I’m truly sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, Brook. Have you been in touch with the Montgomery County Police Department?”

“This is my colleague, Sylvie Deering.”

Brook intentionally didn’t respond to his question. She would cover the details of the case after he answered a few of her own injuries. While Sylvie stepped forward and shook the man’s hand, Brook casually swept her gaze over the penthouse.

The expansive living area featured sleek, modern furniture arranged around a minimalist fireplace. A commanding view of the city spread beyond the large windows, while the walls bore framed photographs of architectural marvels and abstract art, lending the space a distinctly masculine air. There was no trace of a wife's touch, no softening elements that would hint at a shared life. It was extremely apparent that this penthouse was Jordan’s escape.

A male figure stood off to the side near a beverage bar. His short brown hair was meticulously groomed, and his tailored suit spoke of success and professionalism. The man's sharp features gave him an air of precision as he held a familiar white porcelain mug while not hiding the fact that he was studying her from afar.

“Ah, let me introduce you,” Jordan said distractedly, gesturing toward the man. “This is Barry Ackles, my defense attorney. I believe the two of you spoke over the phone.”

“Actually, we didn’t have the pleasure,” Barry said as he approached them. His grip was a little too firm. Almost challenging. “That honor was given to Miss Deering.”

“Mr. Ackles,” Brook replied evenly, not intimidated by his presence in the least. It was becoming quite evident that he didn’t agree with Jordan’s desire to bring in outside consultants. Lawyers like Ackles tended to employ their preferred private investigators for such cases. “I’m sure you’re aware that my firm doesn’t usually handle investigations like this one. We are only doing so as a personal favor to Mr. Miles. I assure you, speaking with Miss Deering is a privilege.”

“Then let's get down to business, shall we?” Ackles directed after a momentary pause. It was clear that his passive-aggressive mannerisms weren’t usually highlighted by others, but Brook would never allow anyone to diminish the value of her team. “Now, as I'm sure you're aware, my client—”

“I’d prefer to hear the recent version of events from Jordan.” Brook kept her tone polite but firm.

“Barry, it’s alright. I brought Brook and her team on board for a reason.”

Jordan ignored Ackles’ sideways glance of annoyance before motioning for them to follow him into a large living room. Brook and Sylvie chose to make themselves comfortable on the couch, but the distinct fragrance of coffee hanging in the air and the mug in Ackles’ hand had piqued Brook’s curiosity about something she had observed at the estate last night.

“Coffee?” Brook asked casually as she tucked her coat and purse on the left side of the sofa without taking a seat.

“Make yourself comfortable, Jordan,” Barry instructed as he crossed the marble tile toward a long beverage bar with an assortment of beverages. He waited for them to join him before lowering his voice when Brook reached for a white porcelain mug—the same set purchased for the Miles’ residence. “Miss Sloane, I didn’t mean for us to get off on the wrong foot here. We appreciate your assistance, but you should know that—”

“You have one responsibility to Jordan, Mr. Ackles.” Brook pressed the black tab of the large carafe while Sylvie silently did the same with the one containing hot water. Someone had seen to it that the beverage bar was set up for this meeting, and it hadn’t been Jordan or his lawyer. “Defend him in court. Jordan asked for my firm to investigate his wife’s murder, and we are here to do exactly that. No more. No less. There will be no middleman in this investigation.”

Ackles’ ire at being relegated to the sideline was evident, but she wasn’t in the business of handholding. Had she been aware of his demeanor, she would have suggested to Jordan that the law firm’s private investigator be responsible for proving his innocence. Her reason for deciding to take this case—discovering anything useful regarding Norona and his firm—had basically imploded the moment she had stepped out of the elevator.

Brook hid her disappointment as they each collected their preferred morning beverages in silence. Jordan remained near the gas fireplace, too agitated to take a seat. Sylvie finally led the way toward the couch, though Brook noticed the way she was studying a bookcase full of awards and framed pictures with ingress lighting pointed in such a way as to highlight the meaningful items.

Not one photograph included Mara Miles.

“Jordan, please sit down,” Brook instructed him gently as she made herself comfortable on the couch. Sylvie joined her, leaving Ackles to remain standing. Did he believe he could still control the narrative by asserting some type of control over his client and the conversation? “We’re going to need to hear from you everything that took place on Sunday, starting from when you opened your eyes first thing in the morning. I would advise you to not leave a single detail out of the account.”

“Sunday morning was uneventful,” Jordan began, his voice steady given his lack of sleep. He finally took a seat in one of the chairs facing the couch. “Mara and I woke up, enjoyed a light breakfast, and then drove to the shooting range.”

“You awakened…in separate beds, I assume?”

“Where the hell do you get off—”

“Barry.” Jordan cut off his attorney by raising his hand without ever breaking eye contact with Brook. This was the Jordan who she recognized from their previous encounters. He slowly lowered his hand. “Yes, Brook. In separate beds. We haven’t had a traditional marriage in quite some time.”

“Which leads me to wonder why Mara would go to the shooting range with you.” Brook took a tentative sip of her coffee. She should have expected the beverage to be of the highest quality without the typical bitterness associated with it. “I understand appearances for the sake of the media, but anything else would typically be out of the question. And please don’t waste our time with a spiel about the two of you trying to work things out, Jordan. You’re having an affair. I’d rather you just provide us with her name instead of us wasting time and billing you unnecessary hours.”

Brook’s bluntness had not only taken Ackles by surprise, but Sylvie’s tea had inadvertently gone into her airway. After a brief coughing spell to dispel the liquid, she set her teacup on a sandstone coaster. The one person who Brook’s candor hadn’t fazed was Jordan.

He hadn’t climbed to the peak of the pharmaceutical industry based on his appearance alone. He was ruthless, cunning, and enjoyed being in the limelight. His addiction to wealth and influence was not surprising, considering the legacy his father had established over time. However, those characteristics did not automatically make him a murderer. Beneath his public persona, Jordan displayed generosity towards those in need, placed great importance on loyalty, and would go to extreme lengths for his family and loved ones.

During their previous encounters, Brook had observed Jordan’s propensity for honesty. He loathed when others wasted time, and such a predilection was in her favor. It also helped the discussion in terms of his ability to focus. He was no longer agitated, though nothing could erase the exhaustion except sleep.

“Mara and I had more of a partnership than a marriage,” Jordan revealed over Ackles’ muttered expletives. “It didn’t start out that way, of course. We simply grew apart. Once we both accepted the new dynamic, we kept to our usual routine so those in our social circle wouldn’t talk unnecessarily, as they tend to do on a daily basis. You need to know that there was no animosity between us.”

“How often did the two of you go to the shooting range?”

“Once a month.” Jordan leaned back in the chair and crossed his ankle over his knee. “Afterward, we had lunch at the country club. I left for a business meeting around one o’clock.”

“And nothing unusual occurred? Either at the shooting range or the country club?”

“No.”

“What was the reason for the business meeting? It was a Sunday afternoon. What couldn’t wait until Monday morning?”

“Miles Therapeutics is attempting to acquire a medical device company. It’s part of our expansion strategy, and a potential complication was brought to my attention. I needed to ensure that no other surprises were coming our way.”

“What time did you arrive home?”

“A little after eight.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“Ten after eight.” Jordan shot Ackles a sharp glance when the lawyer muttered something along the lines of this meeting being a waste of their time. “I’m paying you by the hour, Barry.”

“I’m sure Mr. Ackles has your best interest at heart, Jordan.” Brook paused to meet Ackles’ direct stare. “I take it you already have a list put together of those individuals with access to the estate’s security system? We’re in the process of doing the same, but it would be beneficial to the investigation for us to compare the names on the list.”

“I’ll have my assistant send it over within the hour.”

Brook intended to rewind the conversation to those who attended the business meeting, but Jordan’s wary reaction to the underlying subject diverted the interview.

“I’m missing something,” Jordan stated in confusion as he shifted in his seat. “Barry?”

“The alarm system was completely shut off one hour before you arrived home. Remotely, by the way.” Ackles didn’t appear apologetic in the least for keeping such an important detail from his client. “There is no video to prove that you arrived home after Mara dialed 911. Don’t worry about it, Jordan. We have the situation under control.”

“Jesus Christ, Barry! Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

Jordan would have stood had Brook not interrupted the forthcoming argument.

“You didn’t notice the alarm was turned off when you arrived home?”

“I assumed that Mara forgot to set it. I didn’t even think—”

“Does your mistress have the security code?”

“Claudia didn’t kill my wife.”

“I didn’t imply that—”

“Claudia?” Sylvie rarely interjected herself into an interview unless she was overseeing the exchange. For her to do so indicated that the name held meaning, which meant she had come across the name at some point over the past twenty-four hours. “Claudia Hart? You’re having an affair with your personal assistant?”

“Yes, but as I just clarified for you, Claudia isn’t capable of…” Jordan pinched the bridge of his nose. He inhaled deeply before dropping his hand. “Claudia would never hurt Mara.”

“With all due respect, Mr. Miles, that was exactly what was being done every time Claudia Hart crawled in and out of your bed.”

Brook was pleased with how Sylvie had picked up on Jordan’s propensity for directness. He stared at her a moment before slowly nodding his approval. In an odd way, the man used every single conversation as a test of some sort, and Sylvie had passed with flying colors.

“I didn’t bring Miles Therapeutics into the twenty-first century without making my fair share of enemies.” Jordan stood from his seat before making his way over to the beverage bar. “Mara, on the other hand, was adored by everyone.”

“You loved your wife,” Sylvie murmured, though her voice had reached him as he continued to pour himself some coffee. She didn’t continue until he made his way back to them. “You loved her, even though the two of you had grown apart. Even though you were having an affair with another woman.”

“Mara understood me.” Jordan appeared to debate whether to sit or remain standing, but fatigue got the best of him. “Whoever killed my wife did so to get back at me. Start there.”

Brook switched her attention to Ackles, who was already lifting a hand in acknowledgment. He would ensure that S&E Investigations received everything needed for them to investigate Mara’s death.

“What happened when you arrived home, Jordan?” Brook asked, using the opportunity to get the conversation back on track.

“I parked in the garage around back and entered through the kitchen. The house was quiet, but that wasn’t unusual since Mara preferred to turn in early. She likes to read before bed.” Jordan paused after his voice became thick with emotion. He took a drink of his coffee to cover such vulnerability. “I still had some work to do, but I decided to change into something more comfortable. I made my way upstairs, noticed the doors to the main bedroom were open, and called out Mara’s name.”

Brook and Sylvie had spoken about the timeline on the drive over this morning. Four minutes was the length of time between Mara’s 911 call and Jordan’s arrival at the house.

Four minutes.

If Jordan were depicting the truth, someone shot Mara while her husband was pulling into the garage. The killer had either somehow left through the front entrance or still been inside the residence when Jordan entered the kitchen.

“When Mara didn’t respond, I walked in to find her lying there in…” Jordan cleared his throat. “There was so much blood. Her chest was covered in blood, and my first reaction was to stop the bleeding. I put my hands over her chest and pressed down. I realized then that her eyes were wide open. She was already gone.”

“And the weapon?” Brook asked gently, needing to understand why he had chosen to pick up the firearm. When working on cold cases, those family members who were questioned had become somewhat numb to their past tragedies. It was easier to talk them through the chain of events. With Jordan, his pain was raw and fresh. “Where was the weapon when you first walked into the bedroom?”

“Right next to her.” Jordan’s humorless laugh was short and loud. “I have no idea why I picked up the gun. Reaction, I guess. I recall staring at it while trying to make sense of who would want to hurt me that much.”

Brook sensed Sylvie’s recoiled reaction to such a statement. Jordan had made Mara’s death about him, regardless that it was her life that had been taken. There was a good chance that Jordan was right in his assumption, though.

“Is that why you admitted to killing your wife?”

Silence descended until only the faint sound of fabric rustling together could be heard from Ackles shifting his stance in preparation to come to his client’s defense. It was Sylvie who glared his way with a warning to remain quiet.

“The police entered the bedroom, and the first thing that came to mind was that I was at fault.” Jordan frowned to the point of squinting his eyes in self-reproach. “I was in shock. Truth be told, I still am. But even after thirty-six hours, nothing has changed, Brook. As I said, I’ve made a lot of enemies throughout my life.”

“I’ll handle this so-called confession,” Barry said after he drained what was left of his coffee. “In the meantime, tell me what else you need to start your investigation. We’ll make sure you have everything by this afternoon.”

The next hour was spent discussing Mara’s day-to-day routine, her lack of close friends, and her estranged brother. Jordan described Mara as complex—intensely private, extremely meticulous, and composed under pressure. Brook took that to mean Mara had obsessive tendencies, yet she handled the spotlight that was constantly on them at all times with grace.

Upon inquiring about each point in depth, Brook discovered that Mara kept an electronic calendar and a physical daily planner. Her laptop had been taken into evidence, but Brook couldn’t recall the written planner as being logged into evidence. The topic of Mara’s brother had been relatively brief—summarizing Vaughn Queller as unpredictable and volatile, with a deep-seated bitterness aimed at his sister. According to Jordan, the siblings hadn’t spoken to each other in well over a year.

“Whoever killed Mara did so to get back at me, and from what you’re saying about the security system and the 911 call, someone wants to see me spend the rest of my life behind bars.” Jordan leaned forward and set his empty coffee mug on the coffee table, not bothering with one of the sandstone coasters. “Like I said, Barry will send you a list of names whose business dealings fell short in the past year. Start there.”

Brook made a conscious decision to keep her beliefs to herself for the time being. Jordan had already pointed out that someone had gone to great lengths to set him up as a patsy. The strategic manner in which only four minutes were left to kill Mara, exit the residence, and ensure the police discovered Jordan in the bedroom had taken extreme premeditation on the part of the killer.

Brook found it difficult to believe someone would go to such lengths over a business deal.

“Get some rest, Jordan,” Brook advised before collecting her belongings. Sylvie followed suit, taking the time to slip her arms into the sleeves of her coat. “We’ll get started on our end. I’ll follow up with you as questions arise. In the meantime, listen to your attorney. Mr. Ackles, would you care to walk us out?”

Brook could sense that she took Ackles by surprise, but he didn’t hesitate to escort them to the elevator bank. Jordan remained seated, and he had already leaned his head back and closed his eyes as exhaustion finally took over. He made no move to determine who had been trying to reach him by phone for the past hour and a half. His phone had been set to vibrate, and the device had continually made noise from inside his suit jacket tossed over the arm of his chair.

“Mind if I ask you a question, Miss Sloane?”

“Brook.” She reached out to press the button for the elevator. “While I’m sure that you didn’t plan on working with an outside agency, I’m reasonably certain we can put aside any misgivings we may have about one another.”

“How did you know Jordan was having an affair?” Ackles had cut right to the chase. “I didn’t even know about Claudia until this morning.”

“You mean besides the fact that Jordan is sleeping in one of the spare bedrooms at the estate?” Brook had listened closely to Jordan’s explanation of how he and Mara had grown apart, but people tended to rationalize their decisions to lessen any judgment that may come their way. Jordan was no different. “Mara didn’t drink flavored coffee. She preferred to use flavored creamer instead.”

It took a moment for Ackles to understand that Brook was referencing the hazelnut coffee pods over on the beverage table. While someone, most likely Claudia, had taken the time to brew several carafes of coffee for Jordan’s guests, the single-serve machine was undoubtedly used by those who resided or stayed in the penthouse from time to time. Mara’s preferred brand of coffee from the house hadn’t been included in the choices kept on hand in the suite.

“Trust me when I say that we could be here for another hour if Brook listed off the other reasons she came to such a conclusion,” Sylvie interjected with a small smile. “She is the best at what she does, Mr. Ackles. You have nothing to worry about if your client is innocent.”

Sylvie had gotten her point across, causing Ackles to emit a dry laugh.

“Call me Barry.” He reached into the interior pocket of his suit jacket. “Here. This is an address where you can find Vaughn Queller. I haven’t revealed to Jordan that Mara was in contact with her brother recently. I don’t work for Miles Therapeutics. Jordan and Mara employ my firm separately, and she asked that I keep certain details from him. Most recently, Mara had me transfer a large sum of money into Vaughn’s checking account last week.”

“Isn’t that a conflict of interest, Barry?” Brook asked pointedly as she took the small business card. Sure enough, Vaughn Queller’s home address had been written on the back of the stock card in blue ink. “I take it you’re going to inform Jordan of this money wire?”

“Later, after he’s had some rest,” Barry said as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, Jordan has a lot of people in his life. A lot of selfish people. They only stick around because of his money or influence. One of the two. Does any of it really matter now? Anyway, Jordan wasn’t lying to you about his marriage. They grew apart, but they still cared for one another. She wanted to protect him from Vaughn this time around, that’s all.”

“This time around?”

The faint chime of the elevator pinged before the doors slid quietly open, allowing Brook and Sylvie to step inside. Barry reached out and pressed a hand against the door, allowing them to finish the conversation.

“Vaughn is a drug addict,” Barry stated with a sneer, his opinion of Mara’s brother evident in his tone. “Mara did her best to keep him out of their lives. To do that, she would pay her brother off from time to time. If anyone should be at the top of your list, it’s Queller.”

“Why do you say that?” Brook inquired warily, not willing to trust anything at face value.

“Queller wanted fifty thousand dollars this time around.” Barry shrugged in a manner that suggested he believed Mara should have paid it. “Mara wasn’t having it, and she capped off the amount at ten thousand dollars. A guy like Queller? Trust me. He wouldn’t take that lying down.”