The Perfect Alibi (Robin Lockwood #2)(62)

Anders and Cole walked to Kreuger’s car.

Kreuger got out and stared at the ruins of Kellerman’s home. “What happened?” he asked “Rex was murdered last night, and his house was set on fire,” Carrie answered.

Kreuger looked stunned.

“Why are you here?” Vanessa asked.

“Rex left a voice mail message last night. He said he’d found something odd in the files I gave him. I called when I got the message. He didn’t answer. Then one of my associates told me he’d heard on the radio that Rex’s house had burned down, so I drove over.”

“Did Rex say what he’d found in the files?” Carrie asked.

“No. Only that he found something strange. I saved the message. I’ll give you a copy.”

“When was the last time you saw or talked to Rex?”

“When he was arraigned. One of my associates drove him home and dropped off the files yesterday afternoon. I can make him available if you want to talk to him.”

“What files did you give him?”

“It was your discovery, Vanessa. The files in the Nylander case, the stuff the New York detective sent about the Harrison murder, some information about the case Nylander went to New York to negotiate.”

“The arson investigator thinks the fire might have been started by setting the files aflame,” Vanessa said. “Did you see anything in the files you gave Rex that can help us figure out why someone would want to destroy them or what Rex was talking about?”

“I’ve been through the files a few times, but I didn’t see anything that struck me as ‘odd.’” Kreuger looked at the house. “Did he die in the fire?”

“No,” Carrie said. “His body was burned, but the ME says he was probably dead when the fire started.”

“Thank God he didn’t burn to death. That’s a horrible way to die.”

“Dr. Grace found an entry wound in his forehead, and forensics found a bullet lodged in a wall under a painting. His body was found near the back door. Dr. Grace thinks Rex was shot by someone who came in that way and that he died immediately.”

“Do you have any more questions for Les?” Vanessa asked Carrie.

“No.”

“Why don’t you take off,” Vanessa said. “If you think of something that might help, give Carrie a call.”

Kreuger nodded. He took another look at the house and gave a sad shake of his head before walking to his car.





CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE


The doorbell woke Marsha Armstrong from a deep sleep. She looked at the clock on her end table. When she saw the time, she bolted up in her bed. Ten o’clock! How had she slept until ten o’clock? She was an early riser, out of bed by seven at the latest. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept until ten. She looked at Doug’s side of the bed. It was empty, the sheets rumpled and his blankets thrown back. Doug was also an early riser, so she guessed that he was at the office.

The doorbell rang again. Marsha grabbed her robe and rushed down the steps. When she looked through the peephole, she saw Roger Dillon and Carrie Anders. She had no idea why they would be here. She opened the door.

“Hi, Mrs. Armstrong,” Roger said. “Is your husband home?”

“No. He’s probably at work.”

“I guess that means he’s feeling much better.”

“He is, but he still can’t remember what happened on the night Frank was murdered, if that’s what you’re here to find out.”

Carrie smiled. “It’s not.”

Marsha frowned. “Then what do you want with Doug?”

“Actually, we wanted to talk to the two of you.”

“Oh?”

“Can you tell me what you and Doug did last night?”

Marsha’s brow furrowed. “Why do you want to know?”

“I’ll tell you in a minute.”

Marsha hesitated.

“It’s important,” Roger said.

Marsha shrugged. “We stayed home. I fixed dinner and we watched some episodes of Game of Thrones Doug missed when he was in jail. Then we went to bed.”

“About what time was that?”

“I don’t know. Nine, nine thirty.”

It suddenly dawned on Marsha that she couldn’t remember what time she’d gone to bed or even going up to bed. She did remember seeing the episode where the dragons burned up the army, but even that memory was hazy.

“You were together all night?”

“Yes,” she said, although she was guessing.

“Could Doug have left during the night?”

“Okay. That’s enough. I don’t think I should say anything else until you tell me why you’re here.”

“Rex Kellerman was murdered last night,” Carrie said as she watched Marsha closely for her reaction.

Marsha’s jaw dropped and she looked stunned. Then she realized why the detectives were at her door. “You think…? That’s ridiculous.”

“We have to talk to everyone who had a grudge against Mr. Kellerman, and Doug had a powerful motive to kill Rex.”

“Doug was home all night, and I don’t think we have anything more to talk about.”

“I’m sorry we upset you,” Carrie said.