Long Shadows (Amos Decker, #7)(102)

“Andrews’s view is ‘clearly’ biased, since Gamma wouldn’t hire him.”

“Children sometimes murder their parents, if those parents are a threat to them. And if Kanak was going to tell the world that his and now her empire was built on murder and blackmail?”

“If she did kill him, why ask me to find out what happened to him? That makes no sense.”

“That’s true. So, what do we do?”

“We keep digging. That’s all we can do.”

“On this case we might hit China before all is said and done.”

“And if my initial theory is right, this piece is only half the equation. So while you start making inquiries about Tanner’s aides and the missing woman, I’m going to follow up on who killed Julia Cummins.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“By talking to Barry Davidson again.”

“But you don’t think he did it.”

“But he might have some idea who did. And then I’m going to interview Dennis Langley again.”

“That asshole won’t say anything.”

“But by now his fiancée will have spoken to him. And maybe shared our suspicions about the timing of his marriage proposal. He might be rattled enough to let something slip.”

“Why does it feel like we’re back at square one on the game board?”

“Maybe because we are. Only now it might be a different game we’re in the middle of.”





Chapter 76



B?ARRY DAVIDSON HAD BEEN REMANDED into custody after his bail hearing. He had pleaded not guilty, he told Decker as the two men sat across from each other at the jail. Davidson had hired a lawyer but had agreed to speak with Decker without his attorney being present.

“My lawyer has a stellar reputation as an obnoxious son of a bitch,” said Davidson.

“I’m sure you had your pick, since there are a lot of those around. And we spoke to Tyler.”

“He came by to visit. He’s pissed I’m in here. He keeps bringing up the alibi. The judge didn’t seem to give a crap.”

“Alibis are for trials, not bail hearings.”

“And the judge said I had to stay in here until my trial. I got a business to run.”

“Piece of advice, Barry. You need to focus on this right here. Not your business. Not even Tyler right now. Because if this goes sideways, you lose both, for the rest of your life.”

“Shit, you think I don’t know that?”

“Not from your attitude, no.”

“Why are you here other than to bust my chops, Decker?”

“I was the one who told you to get a lawyer and not make a statement.”

“I told my guy that and he was surprised. He tried to turn it into you trying to trick me, but he couldn’t figure out how.”

“I’ll lay my cards on the table. I’m not convinced you killed your wife, but a lot of the evidence says otherwise. And juries and prosecutors could give a crap what I think. They just care about what the evidence says, okay?”

Davidson sat up straighter, his expression focused. “Yeah, okay, I get that. Sure.”

“Now, your alibi is not foolproof, because your son is supplying some of it. Your gun killed two people. You have a motive. You had means, and the prosecution will argue you also had opportunity. They’ll grill Tyler on every second of the alibi and he might not make it out the other end in one piece.”

“Does he really have to go through that?”

“Yes, unless you plan on changing your plea to guilty.”

“I told you I hadn’t held that gun in years.”

“But you were holding it in your ex-wife’s bedroom, so your prints are all over it. You also told me no one went into your condo who could have taken it. But you said Julia had a key to your condo.”

“Right, she did.”

“So anyone who had access to her house could have gotten that key, gone to your place, taken the gun, used it to kill two people, and then returned it. Are there cameras in the condo building or in the elevators? Do you have cameras in your condo?”

“No, they’ve got them in the garage, but that’s it. I don’t think people want to feel like they’re being watched all the time. I know I don’t.”

“I noted you don’t have a security system.”

“The building is very secure and it’s part of a gated community. Guests have to check in with the guard, and residents have an electronic tag on their car that activates the gate. And after hours you need a key card to get into the building.”

“And Julia had one of those, too?”

“Of course. But who could have taken the key and security card and gotten into my place and stolen the gun?”

“Anyone who was at your ex-wife’s house.”

“Julia was very outgoing. And when we were married, we had a great many people over for dinner and social events.”

“In fact, they could have made a copy of the key and taken or cloned the security card at any time,” mused Decker.

“Who would hate me that much?” asked Davidson.

“I’m not sure it’s a question of hate, but of convenience,” said Decker. “You make a very appealing patsy. You obviously were still in love with her. That’s motive enough. She lied about the reason Alan Draymont was at her home. She wouldn’t even let Dennis Langley come to her house. Why was that, Barry? The truth!”