The Fallen (Amos Decker #4)(88)

“It’s a parallel part. And I’m telling you because I’m relying on my gut. And my gut tells me I can trust you. Also, I need some traction on this case, which means I need some local help.”

“John would know more than I would. It’s his family.”

“But can I trust him?”

“I do.”

At that moment, Baron and Jamison came back with four glasses. He poured out a portion of whisky in each.

“To Frank,” he said, raising his glass.

The others repeated this toast and they all took a sip of the whisky.

Jamison said, “Wow, I’m not used to something this strong, at least not in the afternoon.”

Baron eyed her. “If you live here long enough, you’d see the utility in it. But I don’t recommend you live here, Alex.”

Decker glanced at Riley and then said to Baron, “Nigel Nottingham?”

Baron lowered his glass and glanced at him. “What about him?”

“Baron the First’s loyal butler.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that.”

Riley said quickly, “He talked to a relative of the guy. He lived in the same building as Brad Costa. Decker thinks the relative told Costa about a possible treasure at your house. That’s why Costa came here.”

“And was murdered,” added Decker, still looking at Baron.

Baron said wearily, “Yes, the treasure. The alleged treasure.”

“You never mentioned that to us,” said Decker.

“Why would I? There is no treasure.”

“So you’ve looked for it?” said Jamison.

“No. But my ancestors did, for many, many decades. And it was never found, because our patron would never have left any money for his descendants to find. It wasn’t in his DNA.”

“Costa must have thought differently,” said Decker. “Why else chuck New York for this place. Did he ever ask you about it?”

“As I told you before, I don’t know the man. I never met the man, so there would have been no possible way for him to ask me anything.”

“And you’re certain about that?”

Baron pursed his lips and looked amused. “I’m assuming you’re referring to my failure to tell you about Joyce and Michael Swanson?”

“Your credibility is not all that good in my book.”

Baron said, “Well, I’m not sure what I can say to convince you otherwise, so perhaps I should take my leave.” He turned to Alex. “I am very sorry for what happened. I doubt there’s anything I can do, but if you or your sister need anything, please ask and I’ll do whatever I can.”

Riley said, “Same for me.”

“Thank you,” said Jamison.

They all walked outside. Fortunately, the rain had nearly stopped. As Baron and Riley were heading to his old Suburban, they heard the sirens.

“Coming this way,” noted Decker.

They saw flashing lights turn onto the street where the Murder House was.

All four of them ran over to the next block in time to see the police leap from their cars and run up to a house. The front door was open and an elderly woman was waiting on the porch looking distressed. As they watched, an ambulance slowly drove up to the house, its emergency lights off.

“Who lives there?” asked Riley.

Decker said, “Dan Bond. And from the looks of things, I’m not sure he lives there anymore.”





Chapter 49



WHY WOULD ANYONE want to kill Dan?”

A weepy Alice Martin had asked this same question so many times that Decker thought she might be in shock.

After flashing their badges at the responding officers, Decker and Jamison had been told that the death was not natural or accidental.

“Somebody crushed in his skull,” one officer had reported.

Now they were all gathered back at Amber’s house after Dan Bond’s remains had been removed from his home. The other guests had left and Amber and Zoe were upstairs resting. Jamison’s sisters had driven Frank’s parents and his siblings back to their motel.

Baron and Riley were still there and were silently studying the floor of the living room. Baron had another glass of whisky in hand.

Jamison put an arm on Alice Martin’s shoulder. “I’m sure the police will find out who did it.”

The elderly woman wailed to her, “Well, they haven’t found out who killed those other people yet.”

Jamison glanced at Decker, who was just about to make a comment when someone knocked on the door.

Decker knew who he was going to see when he opened it.

Detectives Green and Lassiter stared back at him.

Green said grimly, “I think we might want to evacuate the other residents from that street, and I’m only half joking.”

“One of them is here,” said Decker, indicating Martin. “What about Fred Ross?”

Lassiter said, “We woke him up when we knocked on the door. He was in a foul mood.”

“You’re lucky he didn’t have his shotgun with him.”

“Yeah, well, he said if anybody tried to bash his head in, they’d get both barrels in their face for the trouble.”

“What can you tell me?” asked Decker.

“Care to step outside?” said Lassiter.