Poisoned Politics by Maggie Sefton

over the rose bushes. “That’s not good, either. She needs to establish her whereabouts for that evening. If she was still in the house while Wilson was there, well … it raises questions and invites speculation. You know that.”
    â€œYes, I do,” I said, exhaling an exasperated breath. “Believe me, I’ve been trying to convince her and so has her lawyer. Police are bound to become suspicious of her refusal to answer. That’s where I’d like to ask you a favor, Casey.”
    He arched one of his bushy brows. “If you’re asking me to find out what the Fairfax County Police will do, I’m afraid I can’t help you much. Most of my connections are here in D.C. But I do have an old friend from the Marines in the Fairfax Department, so I could ask him to update me if he learns anything. Sounds like this death is being handled as a suicide, so there shouldn’t be anything unusual. Of course, Ms. Calhoun still needs to inform the police where she was that night so there won’t be any problems.”
    â€œBelieve me, I’m working on her.” I paused for a second, debating what I was about to say next. “There is one more thing.”
    Casey leveled his gaze on me. “And what would that be?”
    â€œYesterday morning, Samantha called me to her place early to see a video her surveillance camera recorded. The camera is directly over her front door, so it shows everyone who comes and leaves.”
    â€œDid you know she had a surveillance system?”
    â€œI knew she had a very reputable security company taking care of her properties, but I didn’t know about the camera over the front door. The video showed Wilson entering the house that evening, then later on, it shows some guy who looked like a repairman come to the door. Wilson went outside with him, then returned to the house. We figured the guy had car or truck trouble. Anyway, no one comes in or leaves the house for the rest of the evening. Samantha arrived about six thirty a.m. But something else caught my attention before Wilson even arrived that evening.”
    â€œWhat was that?”
    â€œIt was something I noticed when Samantha was reversing the video. A guy showed up in the late afternoon. A young guy. Looked to be in his late twenties. Blond, short hair, kind of spiked. Casually dressed but nice. He was carrying some kind of envelope. Samantha said people stop by frequently, asking her housekeeper for directions. But I watched and he never rang the doorbell or knocked. Instead, he just left the envelope beside the door. But he looked all around first, then looked straight up into the camera.”
    I noticed that Casey’s gaze had sharpened on me. “Did Samantha recognize him?”
    â€œNo, But she did get upset. When I asked if she’d ordered something to be delivered, she said no, but she knew who did.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œQuentin Wilson. Apparently he used some Hill staffer with doctor connections to supply him with prescription sleeping pills and painkillers.” I watched Casey’s eyes widen. “Samantha said Wilson took Vicodin whenever he was really agitated and the sleeping pills weren’t enough.”
    â€œDid Wilson ever tell Samantha the guy’s name?”
    â€œNo, but she remembered Wilson said the guy worked at the Congressional Research Service.”
    Casey stared out across the garden for a long minute. “And Ms. Calhoun told you about that video yesterday, which was Monday. That was a whole day after she discovered Wilson dead in her home. Did Ms. Calhoun tell the police about the video when they came to the house Sunday morning?”
    â€œShe told me she just remembered it yesterday. But she did say she called her lawyer. He was supposed to deliver the video to the police yesterday afternoon. And I can tell what you’re thinking. This looks bad.”
    â€œIt sure does. Waiting more than a day to remember