“Well?” she said, looking over at him. “Do you have anything to say?”

  “Yeah. Now the payments have stopped. And you clearly had a motive to kill both Draymont and Lancer.”

  She leaned her head against the window. “I guess you’re right about that.”

  “But if you did kill them, why come here and confess all this to me? If you had kept quiet no one ever would have known. You would have been free and clear.”

  “But not up here,” said Roe, touching her temple.

  “So why did you tell me?”

  “I guess because if I want you to help me, I can’t withhold the truth from you.”

  “You mean, not anymore, since you’ve been doing a real good job of it up till now.”

  “What are you going to do with what I’ve told you?”

  “If you’re worried about me exposing your secret, stop. I won’t unless I have to in order to solve my case. I don’t get kicks out of embarrassing people just for the hell of it. Now, on the blackmail piece I guess I could nail you as an accessory, but I’m down here to solve a series of murders, not get bogged down in that shit.”

  “I guess that’s the best I could have hoped for.”

  “Do you love this married person?”

  “I thought I did. But then I found out I was just a brief diversion from a troubled marriage.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “If my father had ever known…it would have killed him. He was a very religious man. Adultery is a mortal sin.”

  “I’m not saying what you did was right. But you have to lead your own life, not the one your father may have wanted for you.”

  “It’s…difficult to meet men when you’re…”

  “…a highly successful woman? Yeah, I’ve seen that. Not your problem, though. The fault lies with the guys. But we’re not all like that, just so you know.”

  “But the results of their shortcomings impact squarely on women like me.”

  “I guess so. But the world of dating is not exactly my field of expertise.”

  “But catching killers is. And since Draymont and Lancer were blackmailing people, their targets would have motivation to kill them.”

  “Yes, they would. Do you have information to share on that score?”

  “I might. Under certain conditions.”

  “Such as?”

  “Such as you doing more to find out what happened to my father.”

  “Okay. Deal.”

  She looked surprised. “I didn’t think you would give up that easily.”

  “I didn’t give up squat.”

  “I don’t understand,” she said, clearly confused.

  “I think whatever happened to your father is connected to my case. So if I solve one, I’ll solve the other.”

  “How can you be so sure about that?”

  “The currency of blackmail is money. Lancer and Draymont were in that business. The problem is they ran into a mark that bit back, hard. And stuffed that currency right down their throats. But not any old money; they used the currency of your father’s homeland. So I’m thinking whatever Lancer and Draymont had on whoever killed them ties right back to Kanak Roe.”

  Chapter 58

  L​ATE THE NEXT MORNING DECKER was waiting for White at the airport with a cup of coffee for her.

  “Now that’s service,” said White, accepting the drink.

  “Things to fill you in on,” he said as they walked out of the terminal and got into the car.

  He told White about his conversation with Kasimira Roe and the blackmailing done to her by Lancer and Draymont.

  “Damn,” she exclaimed. “That lady really held a lot back.”

  “She probably thought she was caught between a rock and a hard place. And she still has her father’s disappearance to contend with.”

  “So we know what Draymont and Lancer were involved in. People would have motivation to kill them both.”

  “What about Judge Cummins?” asked Decker.

  “I know you think it was two different killers, but I’ve never fully agreed with that. It makes a lot more sense if it were just the one.”

  “A lot more sense does not always equate to the truth.”

  “So, are we back at square one again?” she said.

  “Do you think cases have this fine linear quality to them?”

  “No, but it would be nice to be making some progress. Whoever killed them might have been blackmailed. That’s a prime motivation. We just have to find out who that was and we have our murderer.”

  Decker didn’t appear to be listening.

  “I said—”

  “I heard what you said. I agree that blackmail is the motivation. For at least the murders of Lancer and Draymont.”

  “But not Cummins?”

  “Maybe a stronger motivation than blackmail.”

  “Which is?”

  “I’ll let you know when I think of it. And to my mind Langley’s alibi is a little shaky.”

  “How so? Would he have had time to do the murders and get back to her house?”

  “No, if Gloria Chase is telling the truth.”

  “And you have reason to think she’s not?”

  “We might find one,” said Decker.

  “Where are we going now?” she asked.

  “To check on some money.”

  * * *

  The internationally renowned investment house was large and distinguished and above reproach, or at least its marketing materials said so. Its Ocean View branch was housed in a granite building with marble floors and solid wooden walls and elaborate furnishings and other decorations. Oil paintings looked down upon Decker and White as they walked to their destination.

  “Client commissions on the wall. Always does my heart good to see that,” said Decker.

  “Capitalism at its finest.”

  Julia Cummins’s personal financial manager was Stuart Jones. He ushered them into his large corner office and offered them tea, coffee, and water, all of which they declined.

  Jones was a man of fifty with hair so carefully styled, Decker thought he could see the gel still gleaming among the whitening strands. The man’s suit was custom. His shoes looked expensive and no doubt were. His tie was a work of art. His teeth were too perfect to be real.

  “It was awful what happened to Julia,” he said as he plopped into his leather chair. “Just terrible.”

  “Yes it was. And we’re trying to find those responsible for it,” said Decker.

  “And I wish you good luck and Godspeed on that,” said Jones heartily.

  “I alerted you in my phone call as to what we needed,” said Decker.

  “Yes, yes.” Jones sat forward and coughed into his hand. “I hope you can understand that client confidentiality is our utmost priority.”

  “And I hope you can understand that finding who killed your client is our utmost priority,” replied Decker. “So I think my ace beats your king.”

  Jones noticeably winced and looked down at his leather-topped desk. There wasn’t a scrap of paper on it. Decker strongly suspected that it, like the office, was mainly for show. He had the impression of a bank of computers with proprietary algorithms loaded in doing the work that people like Jones would later take credit for.

  But honestly what do I know? I don’t have any money to invest.

  “I understood from your phone call that you were thinking Julia was the target of some blackmail scheme?”

  “She was wealthy. People are unscrupulous. That makes her a target.”

  “So you need to know if she made any large or irregular withdrawals or payments?”

  “Yes.”

  Jones turned to a computer on his desk and started typing. “I would meet with her every quarter to go over her accounts. She was a very excellent investor and client. Her net worth was growing by leaps and bounds. It was so exciting.”

  “Yeah, I’m getting all tingly just hearing you talk about it,” said White, the comment drawing a rare smile from Decker.

  Jones continued, “For any truly large transfers she would have had to get on the recorded line and authorize it. That ensures there are no mistakes and the client intends for the transfer to happen.”

  “And that covers your end, too,” said Decker. “No liability.”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  “So you would know if she made any large transfers,” said Decker.

  “Yes, but she could have done it through her checking account. I don’t monitor that as regularly. And after all, it is her money.”

  He scrolled through some screens and shook his head. “I see nothing out of the ordinary. And I’ve gone back six months.”

  “All right,” said Decker. “Are there any transfers of monies or checks written to Alice Lancer, Alan Draymont, or Gamma Protection Services?”

  Jones typed a search request in and waited a few moments. “No, nothing under those names.”

  “And no large cash withdrawals?”

  “No. Those would have been flagged. So, it doesn’t look like she was being blackmailed,” said Jones.

  “Well, blackmail doesn’t always involve payments of money,” noted White.

  “Right, yes.” Jones suddenly looked alarmed. “Oh my God, right. Oh, I hope that Julia…I mean…”

  “Thank you for your help,” said Decker.

  Outside, White said, “Well, that was a dead end.”

  “No, it checked a box.”

  “So if they weren’t blackmailing her, how did Cummins and Draymont hook up?”

  “I think you already gave the answer to that. We just came here to rule out the blackmail piece.”

  White looked surprised. “I already gave the answer?”

  “I think Draymont caught Cummins’s eye. You used the phrase to explain how Lancer and Draymont hooked up on Capitol Hill.”

  “Yeah, that’s right. Young and handsome. It happens. But with Cummins?”

  “Gamma worked protection in her neighborhood for other clients, including the Perlmans right next door. They recommended Gamma to Cummins when she asked about getting security protection. And we’ve confirmed that Draymont was part of her security rotation. Maybe Cummins simply saw him and became infatuated. And from what I’ve heard of Draymont, he could be very charismatic, and the man would not hesitate to jump into bed with a rich, lovely woman like Cummins.”

  “Okay, but then why the whole rigmarole about her needing protection because of threats? I know we went over this before, but it still seems a muddle.”

  “She really didn’t want someone to know she was dating or sleeping with other men. Look at the precautions she took with Dennis Langley. They drove all the way to Miami to have sex in a hotel. He was never invited over to her house. But the only way she could get Draymont into her house was by pretending he was protecting her. That was probably another appeal for her to latch on to Draymont. He had that cover built right into his job.”

  “Decker, she must have really been afraid of someone to go to all those lengths.”

  “Well, as it turned out, she was right to be afraid, wasn’t she?”

  “You still think it was her husband, don’t you?”

  “He’s the most obvious choice. But he couldn’t have done it personally. With the Zoom calls and Tyler’s alibi for him. But he could have hired someone. Only we had his financial records pulled and they don’t show any weird payments at all. I was thinking maybe crypto, but I have no idea how that even works. But he did use the term ‘butchered.’”

  “Maybe he had a friend kill his wife for free. That would explain the absence of payment.”

  “I don’t think anybody has friends that good,” observed Decker.

  Chapter 59

  DECKER DROVE THEM BACK TO Cummins’s neighborhood. They passed through the security gate and he stopped in front of Cummins’s house.

  “We going over the crime scene again?” asked White. “Because I do not want to find another body.”

  “No, this trip is a recon of the neighbors.”

  He led her up to the Perlmans’ door and knocked. Trevor Perlman answered the door dressed in beige golf shorts and a white polo shirt.

  “Any news on what happened with Julia?” he said.

  “Still working on it.”

  “Where is the other agent?”

  “In the hospital.”

  “Did he have an accident?”

  “There was nothing accidental about it. Do you have some time for a few questions?”

  “Actually, I don’t. I’m about to join a golf foursome.”

  “Is your wife here?”

  “Yes, but is this really necessary? We’ve told you all we know.”

  “Funny how people recall new things if you keep asking,” said Decker.

  Perlman turned and called out, “Maya, the FBI are here. I have to leave.”

  He said brusquely to Decker, “Please don’t upset her.”

  They stepped into the house as Maya Perlman came into the foyer. She had on white slacks and a polka-dotted blouse with a matching bandanna around her hair. She did not seem happy to see them.

  Trevor Perlman said, “I have to go, honey, I’m already late to tee off.”

  She nodded dumbly and he skittered off toward the garage. A few moments later Decker saw him fly out of the driveway on his spiffy burgundy golf cart.

  Maya said, “This way.”

  She led them out onto the lanai, and they sat down around the pool. It was already eighty degrees and sunny.

  “Weather like this all the time?” asked Decker.

  “Mostly. It can get pretty unbearable in South Florida in July and August but that’s what you have air-conditioning for. Now, what can I do for you?”

  “Alan Draymont was having a sexual relationship with Julia Cummins.”

  She gaped. “You must be joking.”

  “We have conclusive proof of that. And your neighbor, Doris Kline, had already suspected that was the case.”

  “Doris never mentioned that to me.”

  “Probably just being discreet,” interjected White.

  “So we were wondering if while Draymont was guarding you, did Cummins ever come over or have any contact with him?” asked Decker.

  Perlman sat back and pondered this. “Julia did come over for drinks and dinner several times while we had protection. We talked about the reasons they were there. She was very supportive and lamented that I was having to go through this. Draymont might have been on duty then. If so, she could have seen him or even spoken with him. He would walk a perimeter, check doors and windows, or sit out in his car for a bit. He would occasionally come into the house to check around and use the bathroom.”

  “And then she asked you about protection for herself at some point. When was that?”

  “Oh, I’m not sure I remember exactly. It might have been over drinks.”

  “Was your husband with you?”

  “I don’t believe so. No, that’s right, it was just Julia and me. We’d gone out for a drink.”

  “And she said she had gotten threats?” asked White.

  “I’m not sure it was anything that direct.”

  “Or did she just want to know about the company providing the service?”

  “She did ask for the name. And I gave it to her. Okay, now I remember. After we got back from drinks she and Trevor and I sat down and talked about it in more detail.”

  “Did she specifically ask about Draymont or any other particular person?”

  “I don’t think so. But Trevor did show her photos of the personnel who had guarded us.”

  “And was Draymont one of them?” He pulled his phone and showed her the photo of Draymont.

  “Yes, I believe he was one of the ones we showed Julia.”

  “Did Cummins zero in on the guy?”

  Perlman looked a little embarrassed. “Okay, yes, now I remember. She said…that he…looked like a hottie.”

  White and Decker exchanged glances. Decker said, “It would have been nice to know this when we spoke with you previously.”

  “I just remembered it. Besides, I had no idea they were sleeping together, so I attached no importance to the man. Are you really sure they were having sex?”

  “Yes,” said White. “Why do you find that so unlikely? He was young and handsome. And then there are the judge’s own words about him being a hottie.”

  “I just thought Julia was a cut above that. I mean, sleeping with any man who walks into your house? I don’t care how handsome he is. Plus, he was guarding her. That was totally unprofessional, and Julia was thoroughly professional.”

  “But he wasn’t guarding her,” Decker said. “She never hired Gamma. She only wanted Draymont’s name because she was attracted to him.”

  “Good God,” exclaimed Perlman. “Julia could have had any man she wanted and she went after a security guard?”

  White gave the woman a withering glare but remained silent.

  Decker said, “Dennis Langley is the man Cummins was dating until about six months ago. You knew she was seeing someone but didn’t know his name. Is he up to snuff for you?”

  She sat back, looking stunned. “Really? Dennis? I never saw him at her place. And Julia never said anything to me.”

  “You know him?”

  “Of course. He’s very well-known in the criminal defense bar, of which I used to be an active member. It’s a small legal community, everyone knows everybody.” She looked pensive. “I sometimes wondered why he never appeared before her.”

  “What can you tell us about him?”

  “He’s a good lawyer.”

  “And?”

  “And he’s been known to have an eye for the ladies, and he’s had a string of them.”

  “We met one recently. Gloria Chase?”

  “Don’t know her. But I assume she’s gorgeous with money.”

  “She is,” said Decker. “But why do you say that?”

  “Because that’s Dennis’s MO. Looks and wealth are his bellwethers. I’m sure that’s why he latched on to Julia.”

  “He’s been described as controlling,” said Decker.

  “I imagine he is. I’ve seen him in court. He’s good, but underneath the smooth façade is something that I don’t care for. And there was that one incident.”