Page 70 of Dirty Valentine
Jack nodded, then looked at Doug’s screens.“The courthouse database access you found—six months of research into these families.That takes dedication.”
“And knowledge,” Doug said.“Margot’s been helping me map the search patterns.”
“The individual demonstrates sophisticated understanding of both historical research methodology and database architecture,” Margot said.“They also show emotional investment patterns consistent with personal vendetta rather than academic inquiry.”
“How can you tell?”I asked.
“The timing and frequency of searches correlate with emotional triggers,” she explained.“Increased activity following news reports about local history, Colonial celebrations, and genealogical discoveries.This is not dispassionate research.”
Doug pulled up more data.“The timeline bothers me too.Greenhouse break-in three weeks ago, voice-modulation software purchased three months ago, but database searches going back six months.”
“Classic escalation pattern,” Margot observed.“Planning phase, tool acquisition, action implementation.Very methodical.”
“Someone with research experience,” I said.“Academic background, maybe.Legal training.”
“Or law enforcement,” Jack added.“We’re trained to dig through records, follow paper trails.”
“I have been analyzing the voice modulation software purchase,” Margot said.“High-end equipment, professional grade.Not consumer level.”
Doug’s fingers flew across the keyboard.“She’s right—this stuff is expensive.Purchased locally with a credit card, King George County billing address.”
“That narrows it significantly,” Margot said.“Cross-referencing with the other parameters you’ve identified.”
Jack leaned forward.“What parameters?”
“Doug has been feeding me data points throughout the investigation,” Margot said.“Professional knowledge of crime-scene processing, access to courthouse databases, local residence, recent electronics purchases, and now genealogical connections to the 1725 events.”
“Margot,” Doug said suddenly, “run a full probability analysis.All county residents and employees, weighted for the factors we discussed.”
“Processing,” Margot said.“This may take a moment.”
We sat in tense silence as data cascaded across the screens.I could almost hear Margot’s electronic brain churning through thousands of variables.
“Analysis complete,” she announced.“Results are…unexpected.”
“Show us the top ten,” Jack said.
The screen filled with names, photos, and probability percentages.My blood ran cold when I saw number three on the list.
Deputy Potts, Beverly A.- 73% probability match.
“That can’t be right,” I said automatically.“Check it again.”
“My calculations are accurate,” Margot said, and there was something almost apologetic in her synthetic tone.“Deputy Potts meets nearly all specified criteria.”
Doug stared at the screen.“Her profile—Massachusetts background, forensic training, database access, recent local purchases including electronics.”
“She has also been present at every crime scene this week,” Margot added.“Often volunteering for assignments outside her scheduled duties.”
Jack had gone very still.“Show me those duty rosters.”
More data appeared on-screen.“Tuesday morning cemetery scene—Lieutenant Daniels assigned her standard CSI team, but Potts requested to be added even though she wasn’t scheduled.Mills’s scene at the boat launch—again, Potts volunteered for the call when she was supposed to be off duty.Margaret’s scene at the mill—Potts asked Daniels if she could work overtime to help process the scene.”
“She wanted to be there,” Jack said quietly.
“At every single scene,” Margot confirmed.“According to department records, Deputy Potts has never before requested additional assignments or overtime for major crime scenes.This behavior pattern began only this week.”
“She’s been controlling the evidence from the start,” I said, the implications making my stomach turn.
