"We chase permanence,
like children catching smoke in their hands."
Jane blinked awake, the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. She shifted slightly, immediately aware of two things: the small, warm weight of Beni sprawled across her chest and the comforting presence of Maura curled into her side, her arm draped over Jane's waist.
For a moment, Jane let herself just breathe it in—the quiet, the warmth, the strange sense of completeness she didn't quite know how to name. But then the reality of her responsibilities came crashing back, and she sighed, knowing she had to get up for work.
As she carefully began to shift Beni, his little body tensed, and his face scrunched up. His cry started low and quickly grew louder, his small hands clinging to her shirt.
"Beni, buddy, it's okay," Jane murmured, trying to soothe him as she sat up. "I just need to—"
The movement stirred Maura, who blinked awake at the sound of Beni's cries. "What's wrong?" she asked groggily, sitting up and reaching for him.
"I think he's still warm," Jane said, her worry evident as she pressed a hand to his forehead. "He's definitely not feeling better yet."
Maura placed her hand gently on Beni's cheek, her face softening with concern. "He's definitely still feverish," she confirmed. "I'll check his temperature again in a minute."
Beni continued to cry, burying his face in Jane's chest and clutching her tightly. Jane sighed, leaning back slightly to hold him more securely. "I hate leaving him like this," she admitted, her voice low.
After carefully helping Maura settle Beni in her lap, Jane gave him one last kiss on the forehead. "Alright, buddy. Be good for Maura, okay? I'll be back soon."
Beni whimpered softly, clinging to Maura as she soothed him with gentle words. Maura looked up at Jane, her gaze steady despite the worry in her eyes. "We'll be fine, Jane. Go do what you need to do."
With a reluctant nod, Jane quickly showered and got dressed. She emerged from the closet to see Maura taking Beni's temperature.
"Jane, can you grab the Tylenol for me out of the bathroom?" Maura asked as the thermometer beeped. Jane quickly returned with the medicine and, pouring out the dose, handed it to Maura.
"I can call in," Jane paused, watching Beni, who scrunched up his face as he swallowed the medicine.
"No, Jane, go to work. I will need you here with him tomorrow." Maura replied as she rocked Beni as he drifted back to sleep. Jane hesitated for a minute and then kissed Beni's head and then gave a quick kiss to Maura's lips before grabbing her keys and heading out, her mind already shifting to the case.
At the precinct, Jane found Korsak waiting for her by the coffee station, a file folder in his hand and his usual calm demeanor in place.
"Morning," he greeted, handing her a cup of coffee. "How's the kid doing?"
Jane took a sip and sighed. "Still warm, still clingy. Maura's got it under control, though. She's a natural."
Korsak smirked. "Figured as much. You good to focus?"
"Yeah," Jane said, nodding as she set the coffee down. "Let's get to it. What do we have?"
Korsak flipped open the folder, revealing a list of names and photos. "We've narrowed down Derrick's dating profiles. These are the ones who had the most contact with him in the weeks leading up to his death. Frost and Frankie are taking three. You and I are starting with this one—Michelle Owens."
Jane scanned the profile photo of a woman in her mid-thirties with a sharp, confident smile. "Alright. What do we know about her?"
"Works in real estate," Korsak said, leading the way toward the elevator. "No criminal record, but her messages with Derrick got pretty heated. She accused him of ghosting her a few days before he died."
Jane raised an eyebrow. "Ghosting? How serious were they?"
Korsak shrugged. "That's what we're going to find out."
The drive to Michelle's office was filled with quiet discussion about their strategy. When they arrived, they were directed to her private office, where Michelle greeted them with a mix of curiosity and wariness.
"Detectives," she said, gesturing for them to sit. "What's this about?"
Jane didn't mince words. "We're investigating the death of Derrick Mallory. You were in contact with him recently?"
Michelle's expression shifted, her brow furrowing. "Derrick... is dead? What happened?"
"That's what we're trying to determine," Korsak said, his tone measured. "We understand you had a relationship with him."
Michelle hesitated, then nodded. "We were… seeing each other. But he wasn't exclusive, and I found out. I called him out on it, and he stopped answering my messages."
Jane leaned forward slightly. "When was the last time you saw or spoke to him?"
Michelle bit her lip, thinking. "About a week ago. He was supposed to meet me for dinner, but he never showed. I was upset, but I had no idea something like this happened."
Jane exchanged a glance with Korsak. "Did he ever mention anything about other women he was seeing? Or anyone who might've wanted to hurt him?"
Michelle shook her head. "No, but… there was something off about him. He was charming, but he kept things vague—like he didn't want me to know too much about his life."
"Anything specific stand out?" Korsak asked.
Michelle hesitated again, then sighed. "He mentioned money a lot. How he needed it, how things were tight. He even asked me to lend him some once, but I said no."
Jane frowned. "Did he ask for money often?"
"Not directly," Michelle said quickly. "But it was always there, this… hint of desperation."
Before leaving Michelle's office, Jane paused, turning back to the woman seated behind the desk. "One more thing," Jane said, her voice firm but not accusatory. "Did Derrick ever mention any of his friends to you? Or anyone who might've wanted to hurt him?"
Michelle's brow furrowed, and she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Friends? Not really. He wasn't the kind of guy who talked much about his personal life. At least, not with me."
Korsak stepped in, his tone more conversational. "You said things were vague with him. Did you ever get the sense he was hiding something—or someone?"
Michelle hesitated, clearly weighing her words. "There were times when he'd get a call or a text, and he'd step out of the room to answer it. It felt… shady, like he didn't want me to know who it was. But when I asked, he'd brush it off."
Jane nodded, her expression unreadable. "What about arguments? Anyone you know of who had issues with him?"
Michelle shook her head. "Not that I'm aware of. But Derrick wasn't exactly honest. If someone did have a problem with him, I doubt he would've told me about it."
Korsak tilted his head slightly. "Did he ever seem nervous? Like he was worried about something—or someone?"
Michelle tapped her fingers on the desk, thinking. "Not nervous, exactly. More like… on edge sometimes. Especially in the last couple of weeks. I thought it was just about me finding out about the other women, but maybe it was more than that."
Jane exchanged a glance with Korsak, filing the information away. "Thanks, Michelle," Jane said, standing up. "If you think of anything else, give us a call."
She handed over her card, and Michelle took it with a nod, her face still clouded with unease. "I will. I just… I can't believe he's gone. He wasn't perfect, but… he didn't deserve this."
"No one does," Korsak said evenly as he followed Jane out the door.
"Looks like his charm wasn't enough to get her money," Jane said as they headed back to the car.
"Yeah, but it confirms the pattern," Korsak replied. "He was using these women—and someone didn't take it well."
Jane nodded, her focus sharpening. "Let's see what the next one has to say."
In the car, Jane tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, her mind racing. "He was definitely hiding something bigger than just the women he was dating," she said.
Korsak nodded, flipping through his notes. "Sounds like he was playing a dangerous game—probably with more than one person."
Jane sighed, pulling out onto the road. "Let's see if the next interview gives us anything more solid."
As Jane and Korsak walked up the steps to the next woman's house, Jane's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A message from Maura, accompanied by a short video.
"What's that?" Korsak asked, noticing the small smile forming on Jane's face as she unlocked the phone.
"Maura," Jane said simply, pressing play on the video.
The clip showed Beni on the floor in Maura's living room, his little cars spread out around him. He was making vroom-vroom noises, his tiny hands guiding the cars along an imaginary track. Maura's voice could be heard softly in the background, offering encouraging words as Beni giggled.
Jane's smile widened, her focus locked on the screen. "Look at him," she murmured, almost to herself.
Korsak peered over her shoulder, his gruff demeanor softening. "Kid's having a good time. Looks like he is feeling better. Maura's got it handled."
Jane nodded, her chest warming at the sight.
She slipped the phone back into her pocket, her smile lingering as she and Korsak approached the door.
"You good?" Korsak asked, giving her a sidelong glance.
Jane nodded, her usual determination sliding back into place. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be? Let's see what this woman has to say." Jane knocked on the door and introduced herself.
Jane and Korsak stepped into the next woman's house, their eyes immediately drawn to the meticulously decorated living room. Framed American Revolutionary artifacts adorned the walls, including an antique musket and a yellowed map of colonial battle sites. Jane raised an eyebrow as she scanned the collection.
"Quite the historian, huh?" Jane remarked casually, gesturing toward the musket.
The woman, a vibrant and confident woman in her late fifties named Evelyn, smiled. "History's always been a passion of mine. My father was a collector, and I inherited his collection after he passed."
Korsak glanced at Jane with a knowing look before shifting back to Evelyn. "Thanks for talking with us, Ms. Palmer. We know this isn't easy."
Evelyn sighed, sitting down on her neatly upholstered sofa. "Derrick... he was something else. Charming, funny, always made me feel special."
Jane leaned against the arm of a nearby chair, her notebook open. "Did you two ever talk about being exclusive?"
Evelyn laughed lightly, shaking her head. "No, no. I knew he wasn't the settling-down type. We had fun, and I was okay with that."
Jane nodded, jotting down a note. "Did he ever ask you for anything—money, favors?"
Evelyn hesitated for a moment before nodding. "He did, a couple of times. Nothing outrageous, just a few hundred dollars here and there. He said he was in a pinch, and I didn't have much but gave him a little."
Korsak raised an eyebrow. "He ever mention why he needed the money?"
Evelyn shrugged. "Bills, I think. He wasn't great with money, but he always sounded believable."
Jane paused and then asked Evelyn, "I have to ask, where were you four days ago?"
Evelyn looked startled. "I was out of town at a friend's place. I can give you my credit card receipts and the number of my friend. I assume you want my alibi." Jane nodded, and Evelyn continued, "I thought Derrick was a dear, and you must know I would never want any harm to come to him."
Jane exchanged a glance with Korsak before looking back at Evelyn. "Did the age difference between you ever bother you?"
Evelyn shook her head with a small smile. "Not at all. He was mature in some ways, and in others, he was like a kid. I liked his energy—it made me feel younger."
Korsak leaned forward slightly. "Did Derrick ever introduce you to any of his friends?"
Evelyn thought for a moment, then nodded. "Just his roommate once. His name was Travis."
Jane and Korsak stiffened, exchanging a quick glance. "You met his roommate?" Jane asked, her voice carefully neutral.
"Yes," Evelyn said, frowning slightly at their reaction. "He stopped by while Derrick and I were having lunch at Derrick's place. He was polite. Why?"
Korsak cleared his throat, recovering first. "His roommate didn't mention meeting anyone. That's… interesting."
Evelyn tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Is it important?"
"Could be," Jane said, her tone even. "Did anything stand out about him? Anything unusual?"
Evelyn shook her head. "Not really. He seemed pretty quiet. Just said hi, grabbed something from the kitchen, and left."
"Alright," Jane said, standing up and slipping her notebook into her pocket. "Thanks for your time, Ms. Palmer. If you think of anything else, give us a call."
Evelyn nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I hope you find out what happened. Derrick didn't deserve this."
As they stepped out of the house and back onto the sidewalk, Jane turned to Korsak, her expression sharp. "His roommate didn't mention meeting anyone Derrick was dating. Why would he lie about that? And also give us a different name?"
Korsak nodded grimly. "Something's not adding up. Either the roommate's hiding something, or he didn't think we'd find out."
"Let's find out," Jane said, already pulling out her phone to call Frost.
As Jane and Korsak walked back to their car, Jane pulled out her phone and hit Frost's number. The phone barely rang twice before he picked up.
"Frost," he said, his tone brisk.
"Hey, it's me," Jane began, unlocking the car as Korsak slid into the passenger seat. "Just finished interviewing one of Derrick's girlfriends, Evelyn Palmer. Guess what? She met his roommate once."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "His roommate? The same one who told us he didn't know anything about Derrick's personal life?" Frost asked, disbelief clear in his voice.
"Not sure; she called him Travis," Jane replied, starting the car. "She said he showed up while they were having lunch at Derrick's place. Didn't stick around long, but he was there."
"I'll dig deeper into the roommate," Frost said. "If he's hiding something, we'll find it. Frankie and I are still working through the other women on the list, but nothing major has popped up yet. Mostly just small loans or gifts—no big enemies so far."
Jane sighed, gripping the steering wheel as they pulled away from the curb. "It's starting to feel like Derrick was running a pretty elaborate game, stringing all these women along for cash. But there's got to be more to this."
"Agreed," Frost said. "We're also going through the messages between Derrick and the other women. We'll let you know if we find anything that points to someone who might've snapped."
"Good," Jane replied. "Let me know if anything breaks. We've got a few more names on our list."
"Got it," Frost said. "And Jane?"
"Yeah?" Jane questioned.
"How's Beni doing?" Frost asked, hoping he had started to feel better.
Jane smiled faintly, glancing at the phone. "Still a little warm, but Maura's got it under control. Thanks for asking."
"Tell him Uncle Frost says hi," Frost said with a chuckle.
"Will do," Jane said, ending the call as she pulled into traffic.
She glanced at Korsak, who was flipping through his notebook. "Think the roommate's our key?" she asked.
"Could be," Korsak replied, his tone thoughtful. "If he's lying, there's a reason. We just have to figure out what it is."
"Let's finish these interviews," Jane said, her determination renewed. "It's time to dig deeper."
Jane and Korsak exchanged a glance as they walked up the long, immaculately landscaped driveway to the next woman's house. The mansion loomed above them; its sleek, modern lines are a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding Derrick Mallory's life.
Korsak smirked but said nothing as they rang the doorbell. A moment later, the door was answered by a woman in her fifties, dressed in a tailored silk blouse and slacks, her jewelry understated but undoubtedly expensive.
"Detectives," she greeted, her voice smooth and polished. "Please, come in."
Jane and Korsak stepped into the pristine foyer, their shoes clicking on the marble floor. The woman led them to a sitting room, where plush furniture and tasteful art pieces hinted at her wealth.
"Thank you for speaking with us, Ms. Beaumont," Korsak began, his tone respectful.
"It's no trouble," Ms. Beaumont replied, settling into a high-backed chair. "What can I help you with?"
Jane leaned forward slightly, her notebook in hand. "We're investigating Derrick Mallory's death. We understand you were… involved with him?"
Ms. Beaumont's expression softened, a hint of sadness crossing her face. "Yes, Derrick and I were close. He was… special to me. I can't believe he is gone."
"Did you provide him with financial support?" Jane asked, keeping her tone neutral.
Ms. Beaumont nodded without hesitation. "I did. Derrick wasn't wealthy, and I didn't mind helping him. It wasn't much to me, but I wanted him to live comfortably."
Jane raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Instead, she asked, "Did Derrick ever introduce you to his friends? Or his roommate?"
Ms. Beaumont frowned, confusion evident. "Roommate? No, he never mentioned a roommate. I assumed he lived alone."
Jane exchanged a quick glance with Korsak, but before she could press further, Korsak chimed in. "Were you aware of any other relationships Derrick might have had?"
The question hung in the air for a moment before Ms. Beaumont's expression shifted. Her calm demeanor cracked, giving way to anger. "Other relationships?" she repeated, her voice rising slightly. "What are you saying?"
Korsak hesitated, but Jane stepped in. "We've uncovered evidence that Derrick was involved with several women simultaneously."
Ms. Beaumont's face darkened, her hands gripping the arms of her chair. "Are you telling me he was using me? That I wasn't the only one?"
"We're still gathering information," Jane said carefully. "But it's important we understand the full picture."
Ms. Beaumont stood abruptly, pacing the room. "I gave him so much—my time, my money, my trust. And this is what I get in return? A con artist?"
Jane leaned back slightly, letting the anger play out. "We understand this is upsetting, Ms. Beaumont, but we need to know if there's anyone who might've had a reason to hurt Derrick."
Ms. Beaumont turned to them, her eyes blazing. "Anyone who found out he was lying to them, clearly. Including me!"
Jane and Korsak shared a look. The anger was genuine, but whether it hinted at motive remained to be seen.
"Did Derrick ever mention feeling threatened? Or anyone he was worried about?" Korsak asked, keeping his voice calm.
Ms. Beaumont shook her head, her movements stiff. "No. But I don't know what to believe anymore."
Before they left Ms. Beaumont's pristine home, Jane stopped in the doorway, turning back to the furious woman. "Ms. Beaumont," Jane said, her voice steady despite the charged atmosphere. "When was the last time you saw Derrick?"
Ms. Beaumont paused in her pacing, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her anger hadn't dissipated, but the question made her hesitate. "The last time?" she repeated, her tone sharp.
"Yes," Jane said, her notebook still in hand. "When did you last see or speak to him?"
Ms. Beaumont thought for a moment, her gaze distant as she tried to recall. "It was about two weeks ago. He came over in the evening. I made dinner, and we talked."
Korsak tilted his head. "Did he mention anything unusual that night? Anything that seemed off?"
Ms. Beaumont shook her head. "Not really. He was… distracted, I suppose. He kept checking his phone, which wasn't unusual for him, but it felt different—tense. Like he was waiting for something."
Jane's brow furrowed. "Did you ask him about it?"
"I did," Ms. Beaumont replied, her tone bitter. "But he brushed it off, as usual. Said it was work-related."
Korsak leaned forward slightly. "Did you notice anything else? Maybe he seemed nervous, or someone called him?"
Ms. Beaumont hesitated again before nodding. "There was a call, now that I think about it. He stepped out of the room to take it, and when he came back, he seemed agitated. I asked if everything was alright, and he said it was fine. But he left shortly after that—didn't even finish his drink."
Jane exchanged a glance with Korsak, her mind racing. "Do you remember anything about the call? Did he mention who it was?"
"No," Ms. Beaumont said, shaking her head. "He didn't say anything. But whoever it was, it clearly upset him."
Korsak shifted on his feet as he asked, "Where were you four days ago?"
"Oh, you think I did this, please. Believe me, now I want to kill him, but I didn't actually do it. I was in Miami and will have my lawyer send you all the documentation you need." Ms. Beaumont angrily stated.
Jane rose, slipping her notebook back into her pocket. "We appreciate your time, Ms. Beaumont. If you think of anything else, please give us a call."
Ms. Beaumont didn't respond, her back turned as she stared out the window, her fury still simmering.
As Jane and Korsak left the house, Jane exhaled sharply. "Well, she took that well."
Korsak shook his head. "Another woman who didn't know about the roommate—and another angry ex. This guy was juggling too many people for his own good."
"Let's see what Frost finds on her financials," Jane said grimly, climbing into the car. "Someone in this mess snapped, and we're going to figure out who."
Jane and Korsak pulled up to the modest suburban home, the small yard neatly kept with flowerbeds lining the walkway. As they approached the door, they exchanged a glance. It was clear this woman's lifestyle wasn't as extravagant as some of Derrick's other companions.
Jane knocked on the door, and after a moment, it opened to reveal a woman in her late thirties. She looked frazzled, glancing over her shoulder before stepping onto the porch and closing the door behind her.
"Detectives," she greeted, her voice low. "What can I help you with?"
"Ms. Daniels, we're investigating the death of Derrick Mallory," Jane began, her tone professional but firm.
The woman's eyes widened, and she glanced over her shoulder again, as though making sure no one inside the house could hear. "Derrick's dead? What happened?"
"That's what we're trying to determine," Korsak said, his tone gentler. "We understand you were in contact with him recently."
Ms. Daniels nodded hesitantly, her arms crossing over her chest. "We were… seeing each other. But it wasn't serious."
Jane raised an eyebrow. "Does your boyfriend know about Derrick?"
Ms. Daniels flushed, her gaze darting to the door behind her. "I don't think we need to bring him into this."
Jane exchanged a glance with Korsak but didn't press. "Did Derrick ever mention his friends? Or a roommate?"
Ms. Daniels frowned, shaking her head. "He never talked about a roommate. I always thought he lived alone. As for friends, he never brought anyone up—he kept things pretty private."
"Did Derrick ever ask you for money?" Korsak asked, keeping his tone light.
She hesitated, then nodded. "A few times. It wasn't much—fifty dollars here, a hundred there. He always said he'd pay me back, but… I didn't expect him to."
"Did he seem nervous or on edge when you last saw him?" Jane asked.
Ms. Daniels thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Not really. He was always charming, a little too smooth, if I'm being honest. But no, he didn't seem nervous."
Korsak tilted his head. "When was the last time you saw him?"
"About a week ago," she said. "He stopped by for a bit, but I couldn't let him stay long. My boyfriend was due home, and… well, you can imagine."
Jane gazed into her house and then asked, "I have to ask, where were you four days ago?"
Ms. Daniels leaned back, looking to make sure her boyfriend wasn't coming. "I was here with Victor." She pointed back toward the house. "I can pull all my home security cameras and send them over, but please leave Victor out of this."
Jane nodded, slipping her notebook back into her pocket. "Thank you for your time, Ms. Daniels. I will send an officer by to collect it later. If you think of anything else, give us a call."
The woman gave a tight nod, her eyes flicking nervously back to the door. "I hope you figure out what happened to him."
As Jane and Korsak walked back to the car, Jane let out a sharp breath. "She's scared to death her boyfriend's going to find out. That's why she's being so tight-lipped."
"Yeah," Korsak agreed. "But she didn't give us much—just another confirmation that Derrick was borrowing money from everyone."
"Let's get back to the precinct and see what Frost and Frankie found," Jane said, determination hardening her tone.
As Jane walked into the precinct, she pulled out her phone, typing a quick message to Maura.
Jane: Just got back to the office. How's Beni doing?
The reply came almost instantly, and Jane smiled faintly as she read it.
Maura: Still warm but resting. He asked for you earlier. Let me know when you're heading home.
Jane's heart swelled at the thought of Beni missing her, but she quickly tucked her phone away as she joined Korsak, Frost, and Frankie in the bullpen.
"Alright, let's compare notes," Jane said, settling into her chair and pulling out her notebook. "What do we have?"
Korsak leaned back in his seat. "Evelyn Palmer knew about the roommate and mentioned Derrick being tense after a phone call the last time she saw him. Said the roommate stopped by briefly while she was having lunch with Derrick. She was with a friend at the time of a murder.
"Alright," Frost began, sliding into a chair and opening his folder. "Here's what we've got from the three women we talked to."
Frankie leaned against the table, adding, "And let me tell you, this guy had his hustle down."
Frost smirked before diving into his notes. "First woman, Lydia Monroe. Mid-forties, runs her own bakery. She admitted to giving Derrick money on a couple of occasions—nothing huge, a few hundred bucks here and there. Said she thought they were exclusive, but when she started noticing inconsistencies in his stories, she pulled back. Last time she saw him, about five days ago, he was trying to convince her to invest in a 'business opportunity.'"
Jane raised an eyebrow. "Did she buy it?"
Frost shook his head. "Nope. She said she wasn't comfortable loaning him more money without knowing what it was for. He got frustrated, and they argued. That was the last she saw of him."
"Alright," Jane said, jotting down notes. "What about the second woman?"
"Second one's Carol Grayson," Frankie chimed in, flipping through his own folder. "Late fifties, retired schoolteacher. She was a little more willing to talk. Said Derrick was charming, made her feel young again. She gave him a few small loans, too—said she liked helping him out. Last time she saw him, he mentioned being stressed about money, but she didn't press for details. She didn't know anything about a roommate or his other women."
Korsak frowned. "So, same pattern. What about the third?"
Frost leaned forward. "Third's the most interesting. Her name's Tasha Brooks. Early thirties, works in tech. She was definitely not happy when she found out Derrick was seeing other women. Said she'd given him money a few times—probably around a thousand total over the past six months. The last time she saw him, she said he seemed nervous, like he was watching over his shoulder. She asked if he was in trouble, and he just brushed it off."
Jane leaned forward, her brow furrowing. "Did she know anything about his roommate?"
"Not directly," Frost said. "But she did say something weird. She mentioned Derrick saying he had 'a guy' who helped him handle things. She assumed it was a business partner or something."
"A guy," Jane repeated, exchanging a look with Korsak. "That's got to be the roommate. Travis Walker, or whatever his real name is."
"Looks like it," Frost agreed. "She didn't know much else about him, though."
Jane tapped her pen against her notebook, her mind racing. "Alright, we've got a pattern. Multiple women, all giving him money, and this Travis guy lurking in the background. Let's keep digging into him. He's the common thread here, and I'd bet anything he knows more than he's letting on."
"Agreed," Korsak said. "Frost, Frankie, keep working on background checks. Let's see if we can find a crack in this guy's story."
"Michelle Owens didn't know about the roommate and has an alibi," Frost chimed in, scrolling through his notes. "She was at her kids soccer game."
Jane raised an eyebrow. "So, we've got at least one woman now who knew about this supposed roommate, but everyone has alibis. What about Vanessa Carter?"
Frankie shook his head. "Vanessa had no idea about the roommate. She was mostly in the dark about Derrick's personal life and was in New York at the time of Derrick's murder."
"Same with Ms. Daniels," Korsak added. "Didn't even know he had a roommate. She has security camera footage and a boyfriend as an alibi."
Jane sighed, running a hand through her hair. "So, he's clearly hiding the roommate from most of them. But why?"
"Money," Frost said simply. "Almost every woman we talked to gave him some. Small amounts, mostly, but it adds up. And the roommate could've known about it—or even been part of the con."
Jane frowned, considering. "Do we have anything concrete on this guy yet? A real name? Anything?"
Frost nodded, pulling up a file on his laptop. "I dug into Derrick's rental records. His lease lists 'Travis M. Walker' as a co-tenant. But here's the kicker—Walker's background is squeaky clean. No priors, no debts, nothing shady."
"Too clean," Korsak muttered.
"Exactly," Frost said. "I've got a request out for more records, but it's slow going."
Jane leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. "Alright, let's focus. We've got a lot of women with motives, but none of them seem to know enough about Derrick's life to piece it together. The roommate's our best lead, and he gave us a false name originally."
Frost nodded. "I'll keep digging. If this Travis Walker guy has skeletons, I'll find them."