Chapter 8
Charles Stone sat in the interrogation room at the police station with a female lawyer. Benson entered the room and sat across from him.
"This is ridiculous!" Charles shouted. "I did not murder those girls!"
"We have two witnesses who saw you outside San Jose St. Bonaventure watching as Briana Harietti was dying from stab wounds," Benson said.
"I was only there because I was meeting a friend for breakfast," Charles said. "Dr. Edwin Crocker."
Benson held out the threatening notes to Shaun and Claire.
"These threatening notes were addressed to Dr. Shaun Murphy and Dr. Claire Browne," Benson said.
"That's not my handwriting," Charles said.
Charles took a piece of paper and wrote "See?" on it in pencil.
"That doesn't mean you didn't hire someone," Benson said. "We also looked at your credit card history. How do you explain the purchase of a round trip plane ticket to Newark International Airport? The departing date was the day before the discovery of Katrina Harietti's body and the return date was an early flight, returning at 6 AM, 3 hours before the murder of Briana Harietti."
"I didn't even go into New York City," Charles said. "I had a conference in Newark, New Jersey. I was constantly in meetings the whole time I was there."
"Mr. Stone," Benson said. "Two young women are dead! They happen to be the sisters of the young woman you tried to rape back in 2015! Maybe you didn't kill them yourself, but I know you're behind this!"
"I did not try to rape Constance Harietti!" Charles shouted. "That bitch tried to come on to me, so I let her go! Then she makes up this whole rape scenario and I lose all my investors! I've been working hard for three years trying to get my company back up! She is a crazy person! That handwriting, it's her handwriting! Maybe you should be questioning her!"
Later, Benson and Charles arrived at Charles's office.
"I keep copies of all my former assistants' paperwork on file," Charles said.
Charles opened the file cabinet and took out Constance's paperwork. Benson compared Constance's handwriting it to the handwriting on the notes.
"It matches," Benson said. "You were right."
Benson got out her phone and dialed Rollins' number.
"Suspect in custody?" Rollins asked.
"No," Olivia said. "We have a new lead. It wasn't Charles Stone who killed Katrina and Briana Harietti. It was their sister, Constance. I need you to make an arrest."
"Already out the door," Rollins said.
Rollins arrived at Constance's apartment with a police team. She immediately knocked on the door.
"Constance Harietti!" Rollins shouted. "Open up! It's the police!"
There wasn't an answer, so Rollins kicked the door down. Once inside, they searched the house. There was no sign of Constance anywhere, and her place was cleaned out.
"She's fled," Rollins said.