Page 34 of When Fashion Turns Deadly

Grateful for a distraction from his newfound feelings for Isabelle, he glanced at his computer screen again. Isabelle and Marit had done a nice job of placing the cameras. One covered the window of a bedroom. Another revealed the back half of the living space, including the window they had looked out a short while ago. His other two views were of the door, one from inside the kitchen and the other from the hall.

Cole pulled up the link on his phone so he could access it on that device as well.

A new email from Jasmine popped up on his screen. The police reports. Finally.

While Lars downloaded his photos, Cole scanned the report on the robbery. Everything lined up with what Ralph had told him, right down to the timeline of when the suspected theft had occurred. Two links to security footage were included, each of them spanning a forty-five-minute segment.

“Who’s taking first watch on Marit and Isabelle’s flat?” Lars asked.

“You pick.” Cole motioned to his laptop. “Would you rather watch their building or view security feed?”

As expected, Lars pointed at the window. “I’ll keep watch. There’s no way I want to get roped into watching security feed.”

Cole suppressed a smile. He had hoped Lars would say that. He pulled up the feed of a hallway. The image began with Ralph walking out of his office.

Cole sped it up to eight times speed, slowing it to normal only when someone came into view. James arrived only moments after Ralph left. He didn’t emerge again until after Marit arrived eleven minutes later.

Marit left the room, her bag over her shoulder, and James gripped his messenger bag in his hand.

After they disappeared from view, he sped it up again until the custodian entered Ralph’s office. As reported, he went in only long enough to empty the trash.

According to the police report, no one else was spotted for the rest of the night.

Cole checked the other security footage, this one of the lobby. He watched this one more slowly, at only four times normal speed so he could identify everyone who came in and out. But no one came in except for Marit, when she went to the elevator to go back upstairs. After she exited, James appeared. He had his bag with him when he walked out, so where was it now?

Cole scanned the rest of the footage. Again, nothing of note occurred after James left.

“I can see why the police questioned Marit,” Cole said. “She was the only one who didn’t work there who entered Ralph’s office. Besides her, only James and the custodian went in during the time frame when the theft occurred.”

Lars looked up from his camera, which was once again on the tripod and aimed at Marit’s window. “You think James is the thief?”

“It had to be him unless someone overrode the security feed, but the police didn’t find any evidence of it,” Cole said. “I didn’t either.”

“If he’s the one who stole the designs, then who killed him?”

“I don’t know. A partner maybe.” Cole pulled up the crime-scene photos from the murder scene. “But if that’s the case, those designs might still be out there.”

“What do you mean, they might still be out there?” Lars asked.

“Someone tore through James’s hotel room, and Marit’s room was searched. It makes sense that whoever killed James was looking for something important.”

“Something like the designs.” Lars leaned back in his chair. “I don’t like this.”

“Me neither.” He eyed his cousin. Lars needed a distraction. “I’m going to run out and grab a piece of cheesecake.” Cole stood. “Do you want anything?”

“I thought you were going through security feed.”

“I was. I finished.”

“Already?”

“I guess I didn’t mention that it was only forty-five minutes’ worth.”

Lars scowled. “No, you didn’t.”

“I’ll bring you back a dessert. We may need fuel if we’re going to stay up all night.”

“I’m not staying up all night. As soon as you get back, I’m going to bed.”

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