“I’m missing something,” Sophie said. “When I’m missing something, I can’t sleep. I need to find it.”
Grady shifted himself, pushing her body forward from the chair she was leaning on to give himself room to slide into the opening behind her. He pulled her between his legs, his arms around her waist, and rested his head on her shoulder so he could watch her work. “Tell me what we’re looking at.”
“When I talked to James on Tuesday afternoon, he said the prostitutes told him that the woman who killed Cole was supposed to pay him,” Sophie said. “But what I didn’t remember – or maybe it just didn’t click at the time – was the other part of that. According to the prostitutes, Cole said the money was supposed to be transferred into a bank account.”
“Wouldn’t that be the normal way of transacting business like this?”
“Yeah, but Cole Gordon was homeless,” Sophie said. “How does he have a bank account?”
Grady was quiet, thoughtful. “That’s a really good point. You’re so smart.”
Sophie smiled, shivering slightly as Grady kissed her exposed neck. “The question is, how do we find the bank account?”
“What good will finding the bank account do us now?”
Sophie shook her head. “It’s a good thing you’re pretty, because your mind doesn’t always fire on all cylinders when your sleeping pattern is interrupted.”
“It’s a good thing you’re pretty,” Grady challenged. “Because I could find any number of women who wouldn’t verbally abuse me to take your place. I get offers all of the time.”
“Yeah, but they’ll just want you for your body,” Sophie said. “That would cheapen you.”
“And what do you want me for?”
Sophie leaned back, kissing him deeply. “Everything.”
Grady sighed, rubbing his thumb over her hip. “So, you were telling me why the bank account was important?”
“Oh, yeah,” Sophie said, turning back to her documents. “I’m thinking that there’s no way anyone agreed to kill someone without getting at least half of the money up front. I mean, why do a job like that without getting a split of the funds? It’s not like he could go to the cops if he was ripped off. Even someone who was mentally ill would have to realize that.”
“That’s actually a really good idea,” Grady said. “How do we find the bank account?”
“Well, I managed to pull Cole’s records from the VA over at the county,” Sophie said. “I was hoping it would give me an idea.”
“And?”
“Nothing.”
“Can you call the bank?”
“Which bank?” Sophie asked. “Because if you know what bank he had an account at, that would be a great starting point.”
Grady frowned. “I didn’t think about that.”
“I’m guessing his bank was one he could access if he needed to,” Sophie said. “He was sticking close to Mount Clemens.”
“And how many banks are represented in Mount Clemens?”
“Three.”
“Well, that narrows the field down considerably,” Grady said. “Just check those banks.”
“And how do you suggest I do that? Do you think they’re just going to give me what I want because I ask nicely?”
“Can’t you do one of those FOI things?”
“The Freedom of Information Act is for public entities and government,” Sophie said. “Banks are private, and banking records are a mess to try and get access to.”
“Oh. Right.”
“I do have another idea,” Sophie said.
Grady grinned. She always had another idea. “What’s the idea?”
“You’re not going to like it.”
Grady’s grin faded. He knew what she was going to say before she said it.
“I’m going to ask Peter for help.”
Grady groaned. “You’re going to ask your mobster foster father to dig into financials for you?”
“Do you have a better idea?”
Grady shrugged, feeling helpless. “No … but … .”
“We have a ticking clock here,” Sophie said. “James has managed to keep Mandy locked up for three straight days, but she’s already going stir crazy, and I don’t blame her. Don’t ever try that shit with me, by the way.”
“Duly noted.”
“We need information, and the information we need is not something we can get without a little help,” Sophie said.
“And you think Peter can help you?”
“I think he’s the only one who can help me,” Sophie said.