On the other end of the line, Tony blew out an exasperated breath but still managed to laugh. Amanda hid her face behind her hand while Jacob stopped pretending he wasn’t listening to her conversation and snorted out loud, earning him an icy glare.

“Spense, I really wish I could help, but I’m buried,” Tony said.

“Tony, Tony, Tony,” she started. “I don’t come to you empty-handed. I was hoping we could work out some sort of trade.”

He was silent for a moment. “I’m listening.”

“Well, if I remember correctly, you’re a big-time hockey fan,” Spenser said. “What if I were able to secure you tickets behind the glass for the next Kraken game?”

There was a long pause on the line and hope flickered in her heart. One thing she’d learned over the course of her career was to find those things people wanted and what they needed, and then be able to use that knowledge to get what she needed. Some people might consider that manipulative, but she chose to think of it as a win-win since, in the end, everybody got something they wanted. Bartering had a long and celebrated history around the world.

“Behind the glass, huh?” Tony asked.

“Behind the glass.”

Tony was silent for several long moments as he pondered Spenser’s offer. He was sometimes difficult to read simply because there were times he was more flexible and open to lending a hand and others when he was a bit more by the book and stuck to his office’s protocols. Spenser needed him to be flexible. If she submitted the samples they’d collected for testing at Hamill’s house, they could be waiting for the results for weeks. Months. The crime lab handled the entire state and was notoriously backlogged.

“I only need one test run, Tony. It won’t take you long to do it. I swear.”

He sighed loudly. “What do you need, Spense?”

“I need analysis on a bottle of Anadrol we found.”

“What are you looking for?”

“We believe it was spiked with tetrahydrozoline.”

“Eye drops?”

“Eye drops,” she confirmed. “Our vic had lethal levels of it in his system. We believe somebody spiked his steroids with it and he unknowingly dosed himself.”

“Interesting,” he said slowly, sounding intrigued. “I’ve heard of that happening but have never seen it personally.”

“So, does that mean you’ll do it?”

“Okay, I’ll do it,” he finally said. “Behind the glass, Spenser.”

“You’ll be behind the glass, my friend.”

“Okay, send the samples up.”

“I’ll have them couriered over to you,” she said. “Thanks, Tony.”

Spenser clicked off the call and dropped her phone onto the table with a breath of relief. “Okay. The ball is rolling.”

“You have Kraken tickets behind the glass?” Amanda asked with a raised eyebrow.

Spenser offered her a look of feigned innocence. “Not yet. But I’m hoping Jacob can work some of that Internet magic and conjure up a pair?”

He laughed. “Fear not, boss. I’ll find a pair for you.”

“Bless you, my child.”

“Okay, so we’re a step closer to finding out whether your theory about Hamill’s steroids is correct. That’s the how. What about the who?” Amanda asked.

“I figure we’ll start within, then work our way out,” Spenser replied. “We’ll start by talking to his girlfriend, family, closest friends—people in his direct orbit.”

“Sounds good,” she said.

“Jacob, how are we doing on finding the person who posted those negative reviews?”

“Still working on it. I should have it for you soon.”

“Good,” Spenser replied. “Have you been able to pick through his laptop yet? Find anything worth looking into?”

“He’s got it pretty locked down. Heavy security on his system. It’s pretty impressive, actually,” Jacob said.

“Can you crack it?”

“Come on. Who are you talking to here?”

“That’s why she asked,” Amanda cracked.

“Bite me,” he said and turned to Spenser. “I can crack it. Just give me a little time.”

“Copy that,” she said.

“One thing I found that’s interesting is an email chain between Hamill and a guy named Joel Russell I was able to get into,” he said.

“And who is Joel Russell?”

“Seattle-based businessman. Made a fortune in tech. He founded an app-based ridesharing company that did really well. He sold it off for millions,” he replied. “The emails I found make it seem like Hamill and Russell were working on a deal to open a chain of gyms together. And judging by what I’m reading, Hamill spent the seed money and scuttled the deal.”

“And let me guess, Russell was less than pleased.”

“You could say that,” Jacob said. “If you consider him saying, and I’m quoting here, that he was going to open Hamill up and gut him like a lake trout which was followed by a string of expletives, less than pleased.”

“I’d say that sounds less than pleased,” Amanda said.

“I’d say so,” Spenser said. “What else can you tell me about this guy?”

“Well, here’s the kicker,” Jacob chirped. “Ready for it? Russell’s cell phone number came up as the last person Hamill spoke to that day… the argument that had Hamill roiding out.”

“Are you kidding me?” Spenser retorted.

“He’s got no criminal record,” Amanda piped in. “He’s clean as a whistle.”

“Really?”