Well, Acora Prince certainly liked the name, seeing as she didnt change it to her husbands and didnt allow her son to either, said Janine. Unusual for those times.
Rich families are weird, said Ren.
So, theres an Irish connection, said Janine. The Princes. The Flynns. Where in Ireland are they from?
The Princes? West Cork.
And Laura Flynns from?
Waterford, said Ren. She Googled a map of Ireland. Well, they werent neighbors, she said, theyre over one hundred and fifty miles apart.
8
Robert and Ingrid Princes holiday rental was eight miles south of Golden and designed to make the most of the spectacular view out over the front range.
Its like a hotel, said Janine. She drove up to the gates.
Its like a glass box, said Ren.
Janine pressed the intercom button. A woman answered.
Hello, said Janine, Im looking for Mrs Ingrid Prince?
Yes, speaking.
My name is Detective Janine Hooks, Im from the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, Im here with SA Ren Bryce from the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force in Denver. Wed like to speak with you about Laura Flynn.
Laura? said Ingrid. Why? What is it? Whats happened?
Could we please come through? said Janine.
Yes, Im sorry, of course, said Ingrid.
The gates swung open. Janine drove in and parked beside a gold Range Rover.
Do they own this place? said Janine.
No, but they could thats the main thing, said Ren.
Yes, said Janine. OK, now lets go hang with a Swedish former model, just in case we were feeling too good about ourselves.
Everything about Ingrid Princes face said model everything about her posture, her aura, the movement of her long limbs. She even managed to open the door with grace. She was wearing a floor-length gray strapless jersey dress with an oversized beige cotton cardigan. Her blonde hair was tied up and she had on a gray cotton headband. Her skin was flawless, unlined, glowing.
Come in, please, she said. Take a seat.
She gestured to an open-plan living area. There was a magnificent curved stone fireplace with a thick oak beam running the length of the chimney breast and an alcove beside it stacked with logs. On the floor in front lay a pristine rich cream rug. Three brown leather sofas were arranged in the center of the room around a solid, blocky coffee table in the style of a vintage suitcase.
After a moments seating panic, Ren and Janine sat side by side, and Ingrid Prince sat perpendicular.
Please, said Ingrid. Just tell me.
Janine leaned forward. Im afraid we found Laura Flynns body this afternoon close to Pike National Forest
Body? said Ingrid. Pike National Forest? Im sorry, Im not following...
Ren shifted forward in her seat. Mrs
And wheres Pike National Forest? said Ingrid.
Im sorry to tell you that we found Laura about sixty miles south of here, said Ren.
Relief flooded Ingrid Princes face. No, thats not Laura. Lauras in Chicago. She just didnt make it back. She must have missed her flight. My husband was just concerned that
Mrs Prince, Im afraid we have been able to identify her body, said Ren. She was the victim of a shooting. Her car was found
No, said Ingrid. She wasnt driving! She was flying, then she was getting a cab, then... a shooting? No. I dont understand... No. She started crying hysterically. No, she said. No, please. Please dont tell me this happened to Laura. Please. Her baby. Her baby. She was pregnant. The baby. Did... did they save the baby?
Im sorry, said Ren. Im afraid that was not possible.
Ingrid broke down. She clutched her stomach.
It was only then that Ren realized that Ingrid Prince had a tiny bump of her own.
9
Ingrid Prince followed Rens gaze down to her belly. She looked up at her.
I know... can you believe it? she said. Laura finds out shes pregnant and, two months later, I do.
So, youre four months along? said Ren.
Ingrid nodded. She welled up. This is not right. Poor Laura... the baby... and... I get to... She shook her head. Im still here. My babys here. Its too much.
Im going to make a call to our victim advocate, said Janine. She can come stay with you until... are you expecting your husband back tonight?
Ingrid nodded. Hell come back now.
OK, said Janine. Well have someone wait with you, if you think thats something youd like?
Thank you, said Ingrid. Yes.
Ren waited until Janine had made the call.
Was this a robbery? said Ingrid. Was anything taken from the car?
Her purse was there, her suitcase... said Ren. We dont know what else she may have had with her.
And she was just found, alone, in her car... said Ingrid.
Yes, said Ren.
What a horrible way to... I just didnt think this was going to be... the news I would hear. I was worried about her when she didnt return, but I was worried because she was pregnant, you know, that she might have taken ill. I thought maybe she had been admitted into hospital. Apart from that, I thought maybe she had met up with the father of her baby... I know the relationship didnt end well.
Do you know his name? said Ren.
Im sorry, I dont, said Ingrid. Laura mentioned an old boyfriend called Johnny once or twice, but she never gave the name of the babys father. She said that she didnt want anything to do with him. She just said that he was bad news. And, sorry hes Irish... thats the only other thing I know.
Did she say where he lived? said Ren.
No, said Ingrid.
But you thought she had met up with him in Chicago? said Janine.
No, no I thought that maybe he could have known her friend, or followed Laura... or waited with the friend if he had heard Laura was going to visit. Ive had all day to think these things... but nothing came close to the reality.
Does the father of the baby know that shes pregnant? said Janine.
I dont know, said Ingrid.
When did Laura tell you she was pregnant? said Ren.
About six weeks ago, said Ingrid.
And did she plan to continue to work for you? said Janine.
Absolutely, said Ingrid. Obviously she would be taking some time off, but... Her voice cracked and she began to cry again. Im so sorry, she said. I just cant believe this is happening. The baby, everything, its just so sad. Lauras had a tough time, she was a strong person to come through that, and this is what happens? Its so wrong.
I know, said Ren. So, Lauras baby was due in September...
Yes, said Ingrid.
And what was the plan in terms of work? said Ren.
Well we summer in the Hamptons, said Ingrid.
Summer is not a verb.
We were happy to hire staff there, said Ingrid, and Laura would be back to work when she was ready. This might not sound orthodox, but, as I said, were like family.
And, speaking of family, said Janine, do you have details of Lauras?
Thats another tragic story, said Ingrid. Her parents both passed away in Ireland within a few years of each other. Laura was still in college at the time. Lauras sister, Saoirse, had already moved to New York and Laura followed her over. Within months of Laura arriving, her sister died.
How? said Ren.
She was out... partying, said Ingrid. It was Lauras twenty-first. Saoirse fell down some stairs at a bar. Shed been drinking. It was just a freak thing.
Thats a lot for Laura to have gone through for such a young woman, said Ren. What kind of support did she have?
Well, me, said Ingrid. And some friends, but not many. She was a sweet, shy kind of girl.
And where did she hang out in New York? said Ren.
Different Irish bars, said Ingrid. I dont know which ones. You might find out more on Facebook... I presume youll be checking that? But she really hadnt gone out much in the past few months. She said she just didnt feel like it. Wed stay in and watch TV, watch movies if Robert was working late or traveling or out at a function that I wasnt attending.
Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to harm Laura?
No... but do you not think this was random? said Ingrid.
We dont know yet, said Ren.
Mrs Prince, said Janine, Laura had a return ticket from Denver to Chicago, but she chose to drive a rental car back.
What? said Ingrid. I have no idea why she would do that. Thats a long drive... especially if youre pregnant.
Did you speak with her over the weekend? said Janine.
She just called me on Thursday night from Chicago to say that she had arrived safely, said Ingrid. And she said shed see me Sunday. Last night...
Were you to pick her up at the airport? said Ren.
No, said Ingrid. She was going to get a cab home.
What time was she due back? said Ren.
I was expecting her around ten, said Ingrid. But I had gone to bed. I was exhausted. I didnt notice she hadnt returned until this morning.
And where was your husband? said Ren.
Roberts been in New York for the past five days, said Ingrid. He travels back and forth. I spoke with him last night, he asked about Laura. I said... she was late, but I was sure she was fine... Her eyes filled with tears. Im sorry.
No need to apologize, said Janine. Mrs Prince, can you tell us how long youve been staying in Golden?
Since November, said Ingrid. We were kind of using it as a base for ski season. Loveland is the closest resort to Denver, Goldens halfway between the two...
And now its May, said Ren. You decided to stay on...
Ingrid nodded. I love it here, so does Laura... did Laura. Robert is getting busier and busier...
Mrs Prince, was there anything unusual in Lauras behavior recently? said Ren.
Ingrid took a while to answer. No... Im trying really hard to think. No. She was a little upset about her friends mother...
What friend?
The friend she went to visit in Chicago. Nessa Lally. She was from the same town in Waterford. You might find her on Lauras Facebook... The trip was last minute. Nessas mother died back in Ireland, but Nessas illegal, so she couldnt risk flying back for the funeral. Laura said she was devastated. Oh God, youre not going to report the girl to immigration or anything, are you?
No, said Ren. We just need to speak with her, find out some more about their trip and why Laura didnt fly back to Denver. Were there any problems at work, Mrs Prince anything you can think of that might have made Laura reluctant to come back?
No, said Ren. We just need to speak with her, find out some more about their trip and why Laura didnt fly back to Denver. Were there any problems at work, Mrs Prince anything you can think of that might have made Laura reluctant to come back?