"I asked Delgado to install a new security system at Juliet's house. We're only telling Juliet and Rob about it; and I'll make sure they know not to trust a single other person. I think it's our best chance of catching the perp."
"Good idea. If it helps catch the stalker, I'll bill it to my case expenses. That should clear Juliet and that's what my client wants."
"Your client wants her in prison," I reminded him.
"They want someone in prison, and I'm pretty sure they want the right person. Their evidence just points to Juliet, although even they admit they aren't one hundred percent sure." Solomon looked through the handful of photos I passed across to him. When he looked up, he said, "Given the perp had access to Juliet's computer, and since her trades came from within the firm, it seems most plausible that someone is setting her up from inside the firm. We should look for a potential stalker there too. Is there anyone from Juliet's personal world who crosses into her business world?"
"Yes," I said, reaching for a photo. "Penelope. She works part-time at the firm, and is a regular visitor to their house. Penelope was with her when one of the stranger potential stalking incidents occurred."
"Then let's go talk to Penelope."
En route to seeing Penelope, we stopped at Juliet's house to meet with Delgado, plus, I wanted to give my mom a well-deserved break. It took some persuading to make my mother leave, but gradually, we convinced her that the surveillance was best conducted by Solomon's team of professionals. After a final reminder to me not to forget about hosting our family dinner, she took off.
"I don't think your mom is too happy with me," said Solomon as we waved to her retreating car. "She keeps giving me that narrowed eye thing."
"She doesn't want to waste her spy training."
"It is a shame." Solomon didn't sound at all saddened by it, however.
"Where are your guys?" I asked, looking around.
He smiled. "Everywhere."
"I hope this doesn't get awkward," I told him as we crossed the road, heading to Juliet and Rob's house. "Play nice."
"I always play nice."
If the couple were worried about Solomon's presence as I made the introductions, they didn't show it. We greeted Delgado, already busy at work, and sat in the living room for what I hoped wouldn't be too unpleasant a meeting.
"So you're working for the people who want to put me in prison," said Juliet, appearing more curious than concerned. She was slumped in an armchair, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders,. Clad in loungewear and totally devoid of makeup, she still looked effortlessly pretty. The only strain that showed on her face was in the gray circles under her eyes and the red lines on her lower lids. She'd obviously been crying recently. Rob hadn't shaved, and his hair stood in little peaks as he perched on the arm of the chair.
"Your employers engaged me to look into the trading issues within the firm," Solomon replied, skirting deftly around the topic of Juliet's fate if we didn't work out what was going on.
"And that led to Juliet? All neat and convenient," said Rob, "but she didn't do it."
"We've already been through that," I told them, "and Solomon has agreed to look further into the case. I've worked for his agency and they're far better equipped than I to look into a case of this depth and complexity. We agreed to swap notes and combine forces."
Juliet turned her reddened eyes on me. "Do you really think that's a good idea?"
I gave an emphatic nod. "Yes, I do. I still work for you, and I am still aiming for your best interests, but Solomon has access to some facilities I might not have otherwise, and he also has a surveillance team that can watch over you night and day to ensure your safety. Plus, he’s already agreed to pick up the bill for the extra security." I waved a hand towards Delgado as he fitted a tiny camera behind an open panel.
"Why?"
"My client only wants to know the identity of the person who did this. If it isn't you, then we need to prove it isn’t so we can get the right person," explained Solomon.
"But you think it is me. The evidence tells you that. The police already showed it to me."
"Evidence can be planted," said Solomon. "If that's the case, we'll find out how. Then we'll follow the trail and find out who."
"Do you trust him?" asked Juliet, turning to me.
"Yes. Absolutely. Like I said, I've worked for his agency, and they're the good guys. We need a strong team of good guys."
Juliet shook her head wearily before looking up to Rob. Something passed silently between them. When Juliet looked to us again, first me, then at Solomon, she said, "Then thank you, I think. I just hope I don't regret this."
"We're going to follow up a lead," I told them, rising. "Delgado will stay here until the installation is complete and tested. Don't tell a single person about it. Not a soul."
"Not anyone?" asked Rob.
"No one can know. If the stalker is someone close to you, they need to believe they still have free access to your home. When they enter again, we'll be ready."
"I feel like a prisoner on some kind of awful, reality television show," said Juliet.
"I'm really sorry," I said, hoping I sounded it.
"So what happens next?" asked Rob. "We just wait here until they come back? Or until Juliet has to go to court?"
"Yes, I'm sorry. I know that's not the answer you wanted to hear, but Juliet can't leave under the terms of her house arrest. Someone should stay in the house at all times so she isn't ever alone."
"Don't worry," Juliet said, patting Rob's hand. "We'll be okay."
I doubted either of them believed her words, but I couldn't say anymore to reassure them. Instead, I produced the list of trades Solomon obtained along with the surveillance photos.
"Can you tell me about these?" I asked, passing them to Juliet.
She perused them. "This is my neighbor Alma, and this is our maid Angie who won't be returning until this is all over, and this lady minds Robbie on the few occasions we have him and have to go to a function."
"And the trades?"
"Detective Donahue already showed these to me. Apparently, those are trades I made, but I didn't. I mean, I could have, but I didn't."
"They're all logged in with your access codes."
"I know, but someone could have gotten them."
"What about the dates? Were you in the office each day when these took place?"
Juliet glanced down at the page again. "Yes, I think so."
"And the times?"
"Yes, I... wait, no, no! Not this one!" Juliet tapped the paper, smiling as she looked up eagerly. "I was at an antenatal scan for this one; but I didn't tell anyone where I was going. I definitely was not there when this took place. That's good, right? I have an alibi?"
Solomon and I exchanged glances. "It's a good start," I told her. "I'll check this out."
"What do you think of the boyfriend?" Solomon asked as we shut the front door behind us a few minutes later and walked to his car.
"Seems a nice guy. He's nuts about her. That's obvious."
"How nuts?
"Not crazy nuts."
"Crazy sometimes looks like normal. He can access their home, along with their alarm code. I bet he knows Juliet's passwords, or could easily figure them out. He could potentially get into her workplace and use her work computer too."