Long Shadows (Amos Decker, #7)(116)
“The security here makes regular rounds. And how does a car with no special tag get in the gate after hours?”
“Well, that’s true. But I don’t see Kline carrying a body around. And the Perlmans were in New York when Cummins was killed. We confirmed that.”
“Remember the guys on the beach? The person behind the killings didn’t have to be here that night if they were.”
“By that logic, they could be working for Davidson or Langley.”
“True.”
“Do you think they’re the same guys who pulled Lancer from the hospital?” she asked.
“It was dark on the beach, and the video at the hospital wasn’t great, so we can’t be sure. But it certainly could be the case. They were the same sizes as the guys on the CCTV footage.”
Decker rubbed his eyes and shook his head.
“What is it?”
“My perfect memory isn’t so perfect right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s something in there but it won’t connect.”
“How do you mean it won’t connect?”
“Two images I have that should be connected, but I can’t remember what they are.”
“You’ll think of it, just give it time.”
“How much time do we have?”
“What do you mean?”
“Before the Bureau declares the investigation a clusterfuck and yanks us both back to DC for our professional execution?”
White sank back against her seat. She said, “Well, I won’t go quietly.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to.”
“How about you?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t want to do this anymore?”
“Not necessarily. I just don’t know if the Bureau is the right place for me to be doing it.” He opened the car door. “Let’s go talk to the Perlmans. Maybe something will pop.”
She killed the engine and opened her door. “And why the Perlmans over Doris Kline?”
“The Perlmans recommended Gamma to Cummins. And Draymont was in their house.”
“Wait a minute—you think he might have been blackmailing them? But if so, why recommend Gamma to the judge?”
“Maybe they did that before they got blackmailed.”
Chapter 88
MAYA PERLMAN GREETED THEM AT the door. She was dressed in a light blue skirt and white blouse with sandals.
“I’m afraid my husband isn’t here right now.”
“More golf?” said Decker.
She smiled. “Something like that. He enjoys his retirement.”
They sat in the living room. She offered them coffee or tea but they declined.
“I know that Barry has been arrested. But I just can’t believe he would have done that. I knew the man well. He wasn’t the type to stab anyone, much less his wife.”
“His ex-wife. And did you know he was watching her house?” asked Decker.
Perlman looked uncomfortable with the question. “Where did you hear that?”
“From someone who would know.”
“Doris?”
“Neither confirm nor deny. But Barry also admitted it.”
“I see. But that doesn’t make him a killer.”
“You like him, I take it?” said White.
“He had his faults just like all of us. But he was always wonderful with Julia. Very kind to her, and he’s been a good father to Tyler. And we had so much fun together.”
“There was that tax issue.”
“I don’t know anything about that,” she said quickly—maybe a little too quickly, thought Decker.
“Well, you’ll be happy to know that he’s been released from custody.”
Her face brightened. “He has? That’s wonderful. What caused that?”
“Another alibi came in for him. Couldn’t be in two places at the same time.”
“I’m sure Tyler is thrilled.”
“We’ve learned some more about the man who was found dead at Cummins’s house,” said Decker.
“Oh, yes, what?”
“He had been involved in some blackmail schemes. And he had been accused of stealing jewelry from a woman he was guarding.”
“Oh my God, really?”
“Yes. Just to be clear, did you find anything missing?”
“What? No. I mean, I haven’t inventoried my jewelry lately. We keep it in a large safe. He couldn’t have gotten in there.”
“And no blackmail demands?”
She sat back, looking offended. “He would have nothing to blackmail us about, Agent Decker.”
“I’m not suggesting otherwise. But it doesn’t have to be anything illegal. Just, well, something you wouldn’t want anyone to know about. Hell, I wouldn’t want anyone to be able to see my online search history.”
She now looked uncertain. “Yes, I see what you mean. Well, we certainly didn’t get any blackmail demands from this person. If we had, we never would have recommended the firm to Julia.”
“Of course.” Decker looked over her shoulder at the wall of photos he had seen on his first visit to their home. “I take it you like to sail?”