Hollywood Murder by M. Z. Kelly Read Free Book Online

our secretary. Molly was a single mom, doing her best to raise two small children. She was hard-working and dedicated to her job, something that helped make Section One feel like home to me.
    After Oz joined us, he gave Bernie some attention before getting down to business. “Let’s summarize where we stand and map out a strategy. I guess you all know the victim’s cause of death is making headline news.” He nodded at Selfie and Molly to begin.
    Selfie used the overhead monitors to show video of the crime scene as she spoke. “Our homicide victim is Maria Chavez, age twenty-seven. She was found by her sister just after midnight last night in the kitchen of the Hancock Park residence owned by Vincent and Allison Marsh.” Several images of the horrific crime scene flickered on the overhead monitors. “We all know the COD. The victim’s head hasn’t been recovered. The coroner tentatively puts the TOD between seven and ten last night. The murder weapon was a large knife, taken from the kitchen during the assault. SID has already determined it was negative for prints. They’re waiting on DNA analysis.”
    “What do we know about the victim?” Leo asked.
    “She lived with her sister, Paula Ramirez. They rented a small apartment in Studio City. She was single and, according to the sister, hadn’t been in a relationship in recent months. When she wasn’t working for the Marsh family, she was attending school part-time to become a medical assistant.”
    Molly took over, filling us in on the missing family. Our secretary was wearing a green blouse that complemented her shoulder-length red hair. “Allison Marsh and her two children were last seen by her husband, Vincent, when he came home around six last night. The attorney had to work late. One of the partners in his law firm confirmed that he saw him arrive back at the building just before seven.” Molly picked up some paperwork. “One noteworthy fact we’ve uncovered is that Allison is the daughter of Henry Montreal. He’s an extremely wealthy investment broker who lives in Beverly Hills. According to some estimates, he’s a one percenter—as in a billionaire.”
    “Has anybody talked to him?” Oz asked, looking at his four detectives.
    I shook my head and started to answer when Mel said, “Just the press. I saw on the news, one of the reporters went by his house for a statement about his daughter. Montreal was heading to his car and said he had no comment.”
    “Let’s make it a priority to get with him today,” Oz said. “While it’s too early to say anything definitive, if this was a murder-kidnap, we need to get to him before there’s a ransom demand.”
    “I’ll call and set something up,” I said.
    “I also want a knock-and-talk on the Marshes’ neighborhood. Maybe someone saw somebody at the house.” Oz turned back to Molly. “Anything else?”
    Selfie answered. “We ran record checks on everyone. Vincent had a DUI about ten years ago. Nothing on Allison, the maid, or her sister.”
    “We’ve also compiled a list of the family and friends of both Chavez and the Marshes,” Molly said. “Nothing looks remarkable.”
    “There is one other thing,” Selfie said. “As SID was wrapping up at the house, a woman came by, saying she was a friend of Allison’s.” She checked her notes. “Deidre Cole. I have her contact information if you want to call her.” She handed me a slip of paper.
    Oz looked around the room. “So, where does this leave us?”
    “With a missing head,” Darby deadpanned.
    Leo ignored him, asking Molly and Selfie, “What do we know about the Marshes’ finances?”
    “There’s a lot of debt,” Molly confirmed, showing us a credit report. “The house is heavily mortgaged, and it looks like they’re balancing a lot of credit.”
    “Maybe the kidnappers don’t know that,” Mel suggested. “On the surface, the Marshes looked affluent. Vincent worked for a high profile law firm and his wife is the daughter of