Page 50 of Wild Wolf

Her brow knitted. "Don't you need a warrant for that kind of thing?”

I ignored the question. “You bought a bottle of wine at seven and a half months pregnant?”

Carolyn swallowed. “I was going to have a friend over, and she’d flip if there was no wine.”

"You mind if we take a look around your apartment?”

Her face wrinkled again. "Why would you need to do that?”

"Just to be thorough.”

"Am I really a suspect?" she said with an incredulous laugh. She tried to play it off like the notion was absurd.

“Like I said, just a matter of routine.”

"I'd have to ask my husband.”

"It won't take long, and we won't disturb anything."

"I would, but I'm running out, and I'm late as it is. I'll talk to my husband and get in touch with you. How's that sound?"

"You’re blowing us off.”

"Oh, it's not like that at all. But I just want to make sure I’m doing the right thing.”

"The right thing would be to assist us in our investigation,” I said in a calm voice.

"Yes, but it seems that you’re looking at me like I'm some kind of suspect. That makes me feel uncomfortable. I think I should consult with a lawyer before doing anything. But thanks for stopping by, gentlemen.”

Carolyn stepped back, closed the door, and deadbolted it.

I shared a look with JD.

"That girl definitely has something to hide.”

We plunged down the steps and followed the walkway back to the parking lot. With a glance around, I searched for Carolyn's vehicle. She drove a four-door silver import sedan. I spotted the vehicle, and we walked to the car and circled around it, taking a cursory glance.

Something unusual caught my eye right away.

26

"What does that look like to you?" I asked, pointing to a crimson speck above the door handle on the driver’s side.

"That looks like blood to me," Jack said.

I took a photograph of the speck and sent it to the sheriff.

I peered inside the car, blocking out the sun with my hands. There was a red speck of what appeared to be blood on the steering column and shift handle. Small.

We couldn’t use the information Isabella had given me about her cell phone history. A rust-colored stain on the door alone wouldn't be enough for a warrant.

I called Daniels and told him to send the forensic team.

It took about 15 minutes for them to arrive. Dietrich snapped a few more photos, and forensic guys scraped off a portion of the speck to field test it. Within a few minutes, it came back as a presumptive positive for blood.

I hoped it would be enough for a warrant. Combined with the fact Carolyn had filed a new petition to contest the will established motive.

Mendoza arrived on the scene. He stuck around and kept an eye on the car while we returned to the station and filled out paperwork and an application for a warrant.