The Sleeping Beauty Killer

18

The following Monday, Laurie’s thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of Grace and Jerry outside her office, comparing notes about their weekend. From what she could make out, Jerry had binge-watched an entire season of a show she’d never heard of, Grace had had a third date with someone named Bradley, and Jerry was now pressing for all the details.

It was rare that Laurie beat Grace into the office, let alone early-bird Jerry, but today she planned to tell Brett that she wanted to use Casey’s innocence claim for their next special. She needed to be prepared.

“So have you and Bradley picked out the china pattern yet?” she asked, popping open her office door.

“Sorry,” Grace said, “I didn’t realize you were here. You need coffee?”

Laurie held up the Starbucks Venti Latte she’d picked up on her way in.

“There will be no wedding,” Grace announced, “nor any more Bradley for that matter.”

“Oh boy,” Jerry quipped, “what’s wrong with this one?”

Grace had no difficulty finding fans among the opposite sex, but the reverse was not always true. “He asked me to be his date at a company party next weekend. And before I had a chance to accept, he said, ‘And of course I’d pay for an outfit that would be appropriate for the setting.’ ”

“And is Bradley still breathing?” Laurie asked with a laugh.

Grace smiled. “I let him live. I wouldn’t want to wind up featured in our next special, would I? But I blocked him from all my social media. He’s a ghost as far as I’m concerned.”

Laurie admired Grace’s talent in the sometimes cutthroat world of modern dating. Before Laurie met Greg, she had never felt comfortable navigating romantic relationships. She found nothing more miserable than a disastrous date. Grace, on the other hand, always found a silver lining. Even a bad date was worth a good story down the road. And, above all else, she loved herself just the way she was, and that was all that mattered.

“Speaking of our next special,” Laurie said, “I want to run my pitch past you before I roll it out for Brett. And tell me if you think it’s okay.”

They both pulled up chairs. “We’re all ears,” Grace assured her.

She had spent so much time preparing that she seamlessly laid out the core evidence against Casey, along with the new information she’d gathered since meeting her.

Jerry gave a quick round of applause when she finished speaking. “That was amazing. I’m not sure we need a new host after all.”

Grace held up a stern index finger. “Don’t you get between me and that Ryan Nichols. That could be a very dangerous place, Mr. Klein.”

Having met Ryan, Laurie had a feeling he might not find Grace’s banter quite as humorous as Alex had. “Please try to refrain from sexually harassing our new host, Grace. Besides, you may not be so fond of him once you meet him.”

“Uh-oh. Sounds like someone’s on your bad side already,” Grace remarked.

“Do tell,” Jerry urged, leaning forward for the details.

“Forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything. So what do you think? Is this case good for the show?”

When Laurie had first met Jerry, he was a socially awkward college intern fetching sandwiches at lunch for production crews. Over the years, he had grown, not just figuratively but literally, as he no longer slouched to hide his tall, lanky frame. Under Suspicion had begun as Laurie’s baby, but it was now a team project. Jerry had an eye for taking a reporter’s story and transforming it into a visually compelling television show. And Grace had become their most valued test audience, able to pinpoint in an instant how viewers would respond.

Jerry spoke up first. “You know me, I always think first about setting. I love the idea of recreating the gala at Cipriani. Very ritzy and elegant. Then the transition to the pastoral Connecticut setting of the country house will be very dramatic. So it works from a production perspective. The Raleigh family and Casey herself are major audience draws. I’m less confident about how to present the financial stuff with the foundation, but I’m sure we can find a way to spell it out in compelling terms. What else do we know about the former CFO of the foundation?”

“His name’s Mark Templeton,” Laurie said. “I did a news search. When he first resigned, a reporter looked at the foundation’s public filings and noticed that the assets had decreased substantially over the last few years, suggesting a possible link between his departure and the dwindling finances. But Hunter’s father, James, quickly put the speculation to rest by saying that fundraising had decreased since Hunter’s murder. He hired a new, full-time fundraiser and CFO, and since then, the foundation looks like it’s been on sturdy footing. As for Templeton, he’s now the director of Holly’s Kids.”

“What’s that?” Jerry asked.

“A nonprofit dedicated to shelters for homeless teenagers. Sounds like a solid group, but he had an eight-month gap after leaving the Raleigh Foundation. Could be time off, or a sign that those rumors took their toll on his employability. I left a message for him late Friday, but haven’t heard back.”

Grace was being uncharacteristically quiet.

“You look concerned,” Laurie told her.

“Don’t ever let me play poker. I can’t hide my thoughts with a blanket. Fine: I’ll say it. Casey Carter’s a nut. You can see it in her eyes. Even back then, I told my mom, ‘Mommy, that girl’s got crazy eyes.’ ”

Jerry was laughing. “Grace, we were kids when this happened.”

“Maybe so, but I knew how to spot a mean girl, believe me. She had a good thing going. She was going to be Mrs. Hunter Raleigh the Third. She probably had a gown all picked out for his presidential inauguration. And then she was a big sloppy mess at that gala, and he dumped her when they got home. Case closed.”

“And the missing picture frame?” Laurie inquired. “You didn’t find that convincing?”

“She probably threw it at him when they were fighting, cleaned up the shards, and buried the picture in the woods before calling 911, or she took it with her as a souvenir after she wasted him.”

Jerry wasn’t convinced. “Then why wait until now to mention the missing picture? Her lawyer could have used it back then to create reasonable doubt at trial.”

They were interrupted by the sound of Laurie’s desk phone. Grace answered, “Ms. Moran’s office.” As she hung up, she said, “Speak of the devil. Reception says there’s a Katherine Carter and an Angela Hart here to see you.”