Indecent Danger (Danger Incorporated #3)(21)
Martin pushed his chair back from the table, a scowl crossing his face. “I did. He denied it all, of course. I told him he had the weekend to think about it, but on Monday if he didn’t turn himself in then I was going to do it for him.”
Travis rubbed his chin and quirked an eyebrow. “I can’t imagine that went over well.”
“It didn’t,” Martin agreed easily. “He stomped around and threw back a few whiskeys before heading back to the party. Last I saw him he was talking with Tom.”
Tom Lovell had been a long-time friend and business partner of Bruce’s, in addition to being a good friend to Martin. From what Travis had observed Tom was blind to Bruce’s faults and had a bad case of hero worship.
“What time was that?”
Martin shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe ten o’clock. You sound like that detective, Travis. Surely you don’t think–”
“No way.” Travis waved off the question before Martin could even ask it. “I’ve known you for years and I know that you wouldn’t do something like this. I’m just trying to get an idea of the last few hours of Bruce’s life. Who he talked to. What he did.”
“Why? What interest do you have in all of this?”
Travis exchanged a glance with Shane before continuing. “The police questioned Aubrey last night. She and Bruce had an altercation that was witnessed by some of the party guests. He made a pass at her and she let him know his attentions were unwelcome.”
“I wish I could say that I’m surprised but I’m not,” Martin said dryly, refilling his coffee cup. “I hope your girl is all right. He didn’t hurt her, did he?”
“She’s fine but scared. That detective didn’t go easy on her. I just want to make sure that he realizes there are more than enough suspects to go around and he doesn’t have to concentrate on her.”
“Bruce didn’t have many friends. At least ones that weren’t with him for what he could buy. I still believe it was his bookie. Bruce owed them a lot of money.”
“So what happens to all of his debts now? Will they come after you or worse, Caroline?”
His brows flying up in surprise, Martin was speechless for a moment. “I didn’t even think about that. I just assumed if they killed him… Well, that this would all be over. You don’t think they’d come after Caroline, do you?”
“They might,” Shane conceded, sitting up straighter in his chair. “If they want the money owed to them, and they think you have it, they might contact you or your family. To my thinking, what you really need to be worried about is if they aren’t the ones that murdered Bruce.”
“Why is that? What makes that more worrisome?”
Shane didn’t answer for a moment. “Because that may mean that Bruce was killed for a different reason, more personal reasons. And the more personal they are, the closer to home the killer is. If his bookie didn’t do it then his friends or family did.” Shane twirled the butter knife in his hand. “A knife is an up close and personal weapon, Martin. Whoever did this was someone who knew Bruce and knew him well. This wasn’t a stranger murder. I guess what I’m trying to say is that you know the killer. They’re someone close to you. That’s just my guess.”
Martin sat back in his chair, the blood drained from his face. “It can’t be any of my friends and family. It can’t be.”
“I hope that’s the case.” Travis stood and walked to the railing to look out over the water. “But Shane has a point. If it’s not his bookie, then who was Bruce closest to these last few years? Who did he spend the most time with?”
Martin’s lips twisted in a pained smile. “That would be Iris. Iris Perry. His girlfriend. He flaunted his relationship with that woman for all to see.”
“Is she in New York?”
Travis couldn’t leave Aubrey here by herself to face Prather and she wasn’t yet free to leave. But in the meantime, Iris could be booking a one way ticket to Rio, never to be seen again.
“She’s right here in the resort,” Martin replied bitterly. “Bruce didn’t even have the decency to leave her at home for my birthday celebration.”
Travis knew exactly who they needed to talk to next.
Chapter Twelve
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“Geez, little sister, you go away for one weekend with tall, dark, and handsome and now you’re wanted for a crime. You should never have left Montana. Should West and I fly out?”
Gigi’s tone was filled with worry and Aubrey felt guilty that her sister had to take time out of planning her wedding to call during what was supposed to be a romantic weekend away.
A mini-vacation that had turned into a nightmare.
“No, you don’t need to fly down here. I’m not actually wanted for a crime but I can’t argue that it might have been smarter to stay in Montana,” Aubrey agreed with a groan. “I knew this trip wouldn’t be easy, what with all his wealthy friends, and don’t forget the women that are constantly throwing themselves at him, but I never thought I’d actually see someone from my past.”
Aubrey had reluctantly, and haltingly, told Gigi the entire story, including the promiscuous nature of her own behavior in high school.