3 Likely Suspects

Coming up empty-handed at the Maroni's, Rachel and Jeff decide to drive over to the run-down trailer park on the town's outskirts. It was a monstrosity, the city's ghetto, a place that should've been condemned decades ago.

The two pull up to a rickety eyesore to find two young children playing in the yard. The preschoolers are filthy from head to toe, and their clothes are raggedy and torn. Their dirt-encrusted bodies are mere flesh covering bones, and their hair looks like it hasn't been brushed in weeks.

The sight takes Rachel back to her horrid childhood days, how she and her cousin Emma went for days without anything to eat or a week without a bath. She shakes her head. The poor things don't deserve to live this way.

Jeff inspecting the faded baby-blue, moss-covered home, turns towards her and says, "He must hate his mom as much as you to give up a life of luxury for this."

Rachel laughs. "I can't understand why, With his mom being such a sweetheart."

"And I'm Santa Clause."

The detectives reach the edge of the sidewalk when a heavily-accented voice asks;

"What the hell do you want?"

Rachel glances up to find a short, rounded woman glaring at them from the top of the stairs. "Are you Adina Maroni?"

The woman's body tenses up. She takes an unsure step back. "Who wants to know?"

Jeff flashes his badge. "We're with the Berryville PD, and we need to ask you a few questions about your husband's murder."

"He's dead. What more do you need to know?"

"We're sorry for your loss," Rachel says.

"I'm not. Carlo's death is a blessing to us all."

Puzzled by her statement, Rachel gives her a curious look. She then remembers where he came from. Inheriting a fortune would be an excellent motive for murder. It'd get you out of this rat's nest you call home.

"Did he have any rivals?" Jeff asks.

"He had lots of them. They came to our house all hours of the night, demanding Carlos to pay them what he owes." She pushes loose curl from her face.

"Can you give us their names?"

"He never said, claims it was safer for me that way." She anxiously scans the neighborhood.

"Would a friend or a coworker know who they are?"

"He doesn't have either. He used to have lots of friends when we first met. Then he screwed them out money with his phony get rich quick schemes."

Now we're getting somewhere. Rachel pulls a notebook from her pocket and asks, "Can you give me their names?"

Adina gets a horrified expression on her face. Her bronze tone turns ghostly white.

Rachel glances over to where she's staring but doesn't see a thing.

In a loud, stern voice, she says, "I'm not answering any of your questions, so you might as well go." Running inside, she slams the door closed.

Rachel glances behind her and then towards the trailer. "We need your help to bring his killer to justice," she yells through an open window.

Adina doesn't answer.

"He might come after you next."

Rachel glances over at Jeff and adds, "But we can keep you safe." I'll make sure the kids get food in their bellies.

"I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"What about them?" Rachel points to the shaken children hunched down in the corner. "It doesn't look like you can take care of them, much less keep them safe?"

"Get the hell off of my property and stay off," Adina yells, slamming the window closed.

Throwing her fists down by her side, Rachel yells, "I'm going to make sure something gets done about your neglect."

Jeff grabs his partner's arm. "I think it's time to go."

She pulls away. "I'm going to make sure the Department of Family Services knows."

Jeff chuckles. "I'm sure you will." Taking her arm, he leads her towards the vehicle.

Rachel glances around the trailer park one last time as she heads toward the car. "Someone or something spooked her, but I'm not sure what it was."

"Maybe they were warning her to keep quiet."

Rachel glances around. "That's possible, I suppose."

***

The sun is shining brightly through the window, promising a beautiful spring day ahead. After the horrid winter they'd just faced, it was a welcomed sight in everyone's eyes.

Joe is putting some last-minute touches on a pending case when he hears footsteps shuffling towards him. He glances up to find his detectives at his door. Closing his laptop, he asks, "What did you find out?"

"Not a darn thing, captain. Well, other than the Department of Family Services is refusing to do their job." They told her that there was a complaint against her, but they didn't find anything to substantiate the claim. Rachel told them on no certain terms that they should look again.

"We did find out that everyone is glad he's dead, including his parents, " Jeff adds.

"Tito will be happy to know he did the world a favor."

A curious expression crosses Rachel's face. "Tito, who, captain?"

"Tito Greco. The DNA at our crime scene confirms he's our killer."

"Do you want us to pick him up, sir?"

"I've already sent officers to his home." Noticing the perplexed look on the detective's face, he explains, "I would've sent you two, but I didn't want a repeat of what happened at the Greco's home a few years ago." He turns towards Jeff and continues. "I'm surprised he didn't file a lawsuit against you over your stupid stunt."

Rachel glances at her partner and then at Joe. "What happened, Captain?"

"He barges in their home in the middle of the night. Old man Greco gets mouthy, and Jeff decides to show him who's in charge."

"Captain put me on desk duty for four months, and I had to take anger management classes for nearly a year."

"You're lucky you weren't canned."

Jeff shrugs."I was a dumb rookie trying to make a name for myself."

"I think it's best if you work the sideline on this." Joe glances over to find the two officers he sent to pick up Tito step through his door. "Where's Tito, Larry?"

"He isn't home. His father said he and his mother have been in Italy for the past two weeks." He pulls a piece of paper from his pocket and continues. "Mr. Greco gave me a plane ticket receipt as proof." He hands Joe a piece of paper.

He hands it to his sergeant. "Make sure it's legitimate."

Jerry types information into his tablet. "Larry's right, boss, The airline shows Tito was on the plane."

Joe runs his fingers through his thinning hair. "He didn't take a flight back, did he?"

Jerry glances up from his computer. "Not that I can find, boss."

"Does Tito have a twin?" Rachel asks.

Jerry pulls up hospital records. His eyes light up. "Mrs. Greco did give birth to twin boys. Wait, there's a death certificate. Luigi, her second boy, was stillborn. According to vital statistics, the twins are her only children."

"Rachel, I want you to talk to the Greco's staff, see if they can tell you more.

***

Leo watches Rachel rush across the parking lot from across the street. "Where are you going in such a hurry?" Straightening up in his seat, he watches the door expecting her partner to follow. He looks over to find Rachel pulling away instead. "And you're all by yourself." Excitement surges through him as he pulls away from the curb.