Page 77 of Holmes, Margaret and Poe

“That’s how the board member described them,” Martin said. “Seems Leigh Anne’s chief financial officer had connections through offshore companies based in the Bahamas with some very shady characters. Russians.”

“And Leigh Anne looked the other way?”

“That’s what they want us to find out. The board is going to stall the IPO until we can do a thorough investigation into all aspects of the company’s early funding and Leigh Anne’s death.”

“A terrorist shot her out of the sky, Elena,” Bree said, getting irritated. “I do not believe your friend was the specific target.”

Martin’s voice was cold when she said, “The board still wants to know why she was on that plane and why she disappeared under such strange circumstances.”

“That I can work on,” Bree said.

“Thank you. Call me if you need me.” She hung up.

Bree rubbed her brow, knowing she’d been a little curt withher boss. But Elena had a tendency to spout theories based on little or no evidence.

Jannie came into the room. “I’m going back to the dorms. Have you talked to Detective Creighton?”

“Not today,” Bree said. “I’ll try to give her a call later.”

Alex’s daughter crossed her arms. “I just hate the idea that Iliana’s death is going to fall through the cracks, you know?”

“It won’t. I promise.”

Jannie nodded and left.

After Bree finished a report on everything she’d found about the late tech entrepreneur, including Elena Martin’s disclosure of the federal investigation into her financing sources, she called Creighton.

“Chief,” Creighton said. “I’m driving, but I was about to call you.”

“Tell me.”

“I just left Iliana’s high school,” she said. “Nice place. Nice people. I did the interview with Hawley in front of the principal. He denied the affair with Iliana at first. But when I told him we knew about the blackmail, he broke down. Not that it matters, but he said the affair was consensual.”

“It’s what Iliana told my stepdaughter as well.”

“The principal is furious. He wants the guy locked up. Hawley is toast.”

“What about the blackmail?”

“Hawley was contacted anonymously in an e-mail by people who said they had the video he’d taken and they’d ruin his life if he didn’t give them fifty thousand in Bitcoin.”

“Did he?”

“After they proved they had the video. Took a second mortgage on his house. Bought Bitcoin and sent it.”

“Is he married?”

“Yep, and Hawley’s wife doesn’t know any of this yet.”

“Bad night coming.”

“He brought it on himself. This is what happens.”

“Where next?”

“Going to Paxson State to talk to her teachers and coaches.”

“Try her roommate as well.”

---