Long Shadows (Amos Decker, #7)(103)

“I’ve told you all I know.”

“No, you haven’t. I think you don’t want to say because it will be embarrassing for you. So you have to ask yourself: Do you want to be embarrassed, or do you want to spend the rest of your life in prison? It will probably come out at your trial, so you might as well get it out now.”

Davidson looked shaken by this blunt talk. He let out a breath and said, “She…she caught me watching her house.”

“So she knew you were stalking her? Did she feel threatened?”

“I would never have hurt her, Decker. I swear.”

“But that was probably why she did what she did. And she was having sex with Draymont, but it had the added benefit of him being an experienced security person. She might have felt protected.”

“Didn’t turn out too well for him, though, did it?” retorted Davidson.

“Keep talking like that, Barry, and they’ll convict your ass for sure.”

Davidson changed color and looked down. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“When she saw you that time, did you say anything that might have led her to fear for her safety?”

“I…I might have been a little drunk. And I might have said…some things.”

“So the answer to my question is yes. You know, the longer I sit here, the more I think you might have actually killed her.”

Davidson looked up, scowling. “Then get the hell out of here, Decker. I shouldn’t be talking to you anyway without my lawyer present.”

“You’re still the executor and trustee of your ex’s estate?”

“Yes,” he replied in a calmer tone. “But in light of everything, I’ve talked to Duncan Trotter about assigning those duties to someone else, maybe a bank.”

“Why?”

“It’s actually what Julia would have wanted. And if I get convicted, I can’t perform those duties for the estate. And it’s a large one. It needs professional management.”

“So you knew how rich your wife was?”

“She made no secret of it.”

Decker nodded and rose. “Okay.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“Go talk to Dennis Langley.”

“You really think he might have killed Julia?”

“What do you think?”

“I don’t think the guy cares enough about anyone else to commit murder. From what I’ve heard, he’s too self-absorbed.”

“You might be right about that. He’s getting married, by the way.”

“Really, to whom?”

“Gloria Chase.”

“Oh right, I heard they were an item.”

“What do you know about her?”

“Blew into the area about five years ago and took it by storm. She reminded me a little of a younger Julia, actually. Strong, independent, take-no-prisoners sort of mentality. And beautiful and brainy on top of it. Langley is a lucky guy.”

“Maybe luckier than she is.”

“How do you mean?”

“Only time will tell,” said Decker.





Chapter 77



WHY ARE YOU BACK?” ASKED Dennis Langley after his assistant, Rose, had escorted Decker in and left his office. She didn’t look like the same woman as before, Decker thought. Her shoulders were slumped, and the sunny smile he had seen during his first visit here was gone. And she hadn’t sashayed out the door with twitching hips like before. And the reason for all that was clear.

Langley had told her about the marriage.

“Like a bad penny, I guess,” said Decker as he sat down across from the man.

“Make it snappy. I’m a busy man.”

“If you’re cooperative, I’m sure we can knock this out pretty quickly.”

“Knock out what pretty quickly? My alibi is solidly established, so there’s really nothing more to discuss.”

“You say you never went to the judge’s house?”

“That’s right.”

“So you wouldn’t have had access to the key she had to her ex’s place?”

“Of course not. I didn’t even know she had one.”

“She never mentioned it?”

“No. And how would I even know what it looked like, or where it was?” He cocked his head. “Why is that important?”

“I understand you’re getting married next week, and then flying to Nevada right after. Why the rush?”

“I don’t see how that is possibly any of your business.”

“Why don’t you just imagine it is and answer the question?”

“Why don’t you just imagine we’re done and get out of here? You know, Decker, you have no cards in your hand, not a one. So don’t try to pretend to play any. You keep this up, coming to see me and my fiancée, I’ll file harassment charges against you, and I’ll make them stick. And then where will you be?”

Decker said impassively, “I don’t know. Where?”

“Okay, we’re done. You obviously have nothing better to do with your time. But I do.”

“Why did you move down here?”

“Again, none of your concern.”