"Let's head over to Williams’s residence," Miles said."The wife should be able to provide the details that Glenn couldn’t.”He looked to Linhart and said, “Do you know if there’s already a police presence over there?"
She nodded with a frown.“Yeah.A unit was sent over to break the news of his death.”
“And the affair?”Vic asked
“I’m honestly not sure.”
“Maybe we need to find out,” Vic said.
Miles agreed but honestly, that was the farthest thing from his mind.Because as they headed for the exit, it was clear to see that with two victims in two days, the killer was confident, prepared, and motivated.He’d planned it all out, step by step, hour by hour, and he was so far ahead of them that it scared Miles.
He felt that they were running out of time….which was a terrifying feeling when he had no idea how much time they had before another victim showed up.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Miles drove toward the apartment building, once again reminded why he hated New York traffic as the hour wound down to six in the evening, while Vic scrolled through Michael Williams's social media accounts on her phone.The traffic had thickened while they’d been at the Douglas Hotel but was lightening up a bit now that they were heading away from Midtown.
"He's all over Instagram," Vic said."Corporate events, charity dinners, golf outings.The guy loved being photographed."
"Does he wear the watch in the photos?"
"Yeah, it’s present and accounted for in every single one where his wrist is visible.Here he is at some fundraiser last month.There's the Rolex.Here's him at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.Same watch.It's in literally every photo."
Miles took a left turn, following the GPS directions toward Tribeca."So, he was proud of it.Made sure people saw it."
"More than proud.It was part of his identity.Look at this caption."Vic held up the phone so Miles could glance at it during a red light.The photo showed Williams with his arm around another executive, both men smiling.The caption read:Closing deals and making moves.#Success #Platinum #NeverSettle
"Subtle," Miles said.“Andplatinumas a hash tag.”
"He wanted everyone to know what he was wearing without coming right out and pointing it out."Vic kept scrolling."And it's not just the watch.He mentions it in comments, replies to people asking about it.Someone asks where he got it and he writes back with the jeweler's name and everything."
"Which jeweler?"
"Whitmore Auction House, according to this.He bought it there two years ago.In the comments, he left a link to their website."
“Well, there we go.That’s an easy link between Rothschild and Williams.They both did business with Whitmore Auctions.Rothschild had her collection appraised there.Williams bought his watch there.”
“Yeah.I mean, it’s circumstantial but it’ssomething.”
"What about the infidelity angle?"Miles asked."Do you think the wife found out about the affair and hired someone?"
"It crossed my mind, but it doesn't fit with Rothschild.She was a widow, no jealous spouse in the picture.And the method is too specific, too symbolic.This isn't about revenge for cheating.It's about platinum and what it represents."
Miles turned onto a tree-lined street in Tribeca where the buildings were renovated warehouses converted into luxury residences.The Williams address was a three-story brownstone with tall windows and a small front garden behind wrought-iron fencing.The facade was red brick with white trim around the windows and door.It looked expensive without being ostentatious, the kind of place that whispered old money even though it was probably purchased with new.
Miles parked on the street, and they walked up the short path to the front door.He noticed that the unit that had been sent out was parked out front.Two cops were sitting in the car, one of them talking on the phone: apparently, they’d already spoken with the wife.A woman answered before they could knock.She was in her early forties with auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail.Her eyes were red and her expression was hostile.
"You're the FBI agents," she said.It wasn't a question.“Detective Linhart called and told me you were coming.”
"Special Agent Sterling and Special Agent Stone," Miles said, showing his credentials."We're here to speak with Mrs.Williams."
"She's barely holding it together,” the woman said.“The police already told her about Michael.She doesn't need you two making it worse."
“And who are you, ma’am?”Vic asked.
“I’m her sister, Leane.I’m trying to make sure she makes it through this nightmare as easily as possible.
"Listen, we understand this is difficult," Vic said."But we need to ask her some questions about her husband.It could help us find who did this."