“Have to keep you on your toes, boss,” he said. “Anyway, I’ve tried to get them to unlock his phone, but they won’t do it.”
“Did you tell them we can get a warrant?”
“I did,” he said. “And they referred me to their attorneys.”
It was what Spenser had feared. Getting something like GPS data from the phone was one thing. Getting into the phone itself and into the personal, sensitive data was something else entirely and Spenser knew that even in cases of a murder, the telecom companies were loath to help out by giving law enforcement free access to somebody’s phone. She’d encountered it before, and it burned her butt every single time.
“They can tie it up in court for a really long time. It’s going to take forever to get them to agree to unlock the phone,” Amanda said.
“We don’t have forever,” Spenser grumbled.
Getting to her feet, Spenser started to pace the room, twirling the pen between her fingers as she worked the problem in her mind. Not being able to get into Hamill’s phone was a problem. There was a good chance there were things on his phone that might not be on his laptop, and they needed to know what it was. She understood the need to maintain the privacy of their customers. But they were trying to solve a murder, for God’s sake.
“Jacob, can you find a way into that phone? Is there a workaround?” Spenser asked.
He grimaced. “I’m good, but I don’t know if I’m that good.”
“I need you to be,” she said. “I need you to work that magic you’re always going on about.”
Amanda chuckled. “Come on, big bro. You’re the one always talking about how good you are. Let’s see how good you really are.”
He arched an eyebrow at her. “Calling me out like that is a cheap and manipulative tactic. That’s beneath even you, little sister.”
“It’s really not.”
“Yeah, I suppose not,” he said. “Give me some time and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Good,” Spenser said.
“I guess we’re hitting the road?” Amanda asked.
“We are. Jacob, divide up that list for us, please. Give us each a list of the names that are in close geographic proximity to each other,” Spenser said.
“On it, boss.”
“Work smarter, not harder, huh?” Amanda teased.
“Exactly right.”
Jacob’s fingers flew over the keys as he sorted the names as she’d asked, then quickly printed out two lists of names and addresses and handed each of them one. As she looked at the list of unfamiliar names, her mind kept dragging her back to a name she already knew. That itch in the back of her mind was getting worse. She had a hunch. She had a sudden insight she’d been blind to before and the only way to satisfy it was to play it out.
“All right. Let’s go knock on doors,” Spenser said.
“Where are you headed first?” Amanda asked.
“I’m going to see Layla first,” she replied. “I want to update her on where we’re at, but I also have a few follow-up questions for her.”
“Copy that,” she said. “See you later then.”
As they headed out of the office, Spenser thought Layla Li might be able to help her scratch that nagging itch in the back of her mind. And as she headed for the Bronco, she felt that inexorable pull of momentum.
Passion comes in many forms and cab inspire a person to climb to the greatest heights. But it can also compel somebody to do the more horrible things. It was as true in Seth Hamill’s case as it was in her own life. Rafe Johansen and Alex Ricci’s passion for retribution drove them to do terrible things to her in their quest to avenge their loved ones. But it also moved Ryker to do some of the kindest things a person had ever done for her.
Passion was a double-edged sword, and if you weren’t careful, it was likely to skewer you.
As had been the case the last time she’d come by, Spenser found Layla out back with the music blaring as she worked on her sculpture for the gallery on the Muckleshoot reservation. Layla cut the music and took her welder’s helmet off, setting it down on a bench with some of her tools. After that, she’d stripped off her gloves and set them down on her helmet, then pulled her coveralls down to her waist. She grabbed a rag and wiped the sweat from her brow.
“Sheriff, hi. What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I just wanted to check in with you. How are you doing?”
She shrugged, looking disconsolate. “Just throwing myself into my work.”
“It’s probably good to keep your mind busy.”
“Yeah. It’s about all I can do right now.”
“I hear you.”
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“Yeah, sure,” Spenser replied. “That would be great.”
She followed Layla into the house and took a place at the high table in the rounded nook again. She watched the woman closely as she poured out a pair of glasses of iced tea. Layla looked up and saw Spenser watching her and accidentally slopped a bit of tea over the side of one of the glasses. She offered Spenser an uneasy look and quickly cleaned it up. That done, she brought the glasses over and set one down in front of Spenser.
