Valorous(91)

“I’m inferring that you said you’d like to.”

“Yes, I did, but I didn’t actually do it.”

“Did you get someone else to do it?”

“No, I didn’t. I haven’t given that guy a thought in days other than to keep tabs on the efforts of my attorneys to ensure that he never had a chance to do to anyone else what he did to my wife.”

“By having him killed?”

“No, by having him disbarred. I’m not a murderer, Mr. Vickers.”

“That’s Special Agent Vickers.”

The guy is full of his own importance.

“We can put a halt to this immediately,” Addie says. “Mr. Godfrey has been surrounded by security personnel for days. He hasn’t left the state of California since he returned from New York two weeks ago this coming Wednesday.”

“That would rule him out,” Vickers said, “but it wouldn’t rule out a contract job.”

“Are you listening to yourself?” Hayden asks, incredulously. “Are you actually accusing Flynn Godfrey of hiring someone to kill a lawyer in Nebraska?”

“I’m not accusing him of anything. I’m simply pointing out that he had both motive and opportunity. He has the resources to procure any service he might need.”

“Well, I didn’t procure the service of murder. I was much more interested in legal ways to make Mr. Rogers suffer for what he did to my wife. We were going to ensure his life was a living hell for the next decade. I’m actually a little disappointed that we won’t get to do that now.”

“If you think he had this guy murdered, you’re going to have to prove it,” Hayden says.

“I’m well aware of that.” He produces a piece of paper from a binder and hands it to me.

“What’s this?”

“A warrant for your phone and computer, just so we can rule you out as a suspect.”

I withdraw the phone from my pocket and hand it to him. “Have at it.” I gesture to the computer on my desk. “I haven’t touched a computer in three weeks, but knock yourselves out.”

“Is this the only cell phone you own?”

“Yep.”

“We may acquire additional warrants for the phones belonging to your employees.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Addie stiffen and have to quell the urge to laugh. The idea of Addie without her phone for even an hour is hilarious. She’d go into convulsions.

“And your wife is where?”

All thoughts of laughter flee as I straighten my spine. “At home. Why?”

“I’d like to speak with her as well.”

“She’s been with me every minute of every day for two weeks. She has neither the desire nor the wherewithal to kill anyone.”

“She certainly had motive.”

“You know, Mr. Vickers,” I say, enjoying the flush that appears on his face when I refuse to use his title, “I’ve found that when someone is a snake like Rogers was, there’s usually more than one person who’s been screwed over by him. I certainly hope you’re looking beyond the obvious here. There’s probably a long list of people who’d like to see him dead.”

“We’re conducting a thorough investigation.”

“When will I get my phone back?”

“Hopefully we can return it to you tomorrow, providing there’s nothing on it that could be used as evidence in this case.”

“I’m leaving for my honeymoon in Mexico in the next few days. I’d like to have it back before I go.” I wait for him to tell me I’m not to leave the country.

“What’s the code?”

I try not to show my relief that he hasn’t objected to me leaving the country, which confirms he’s on a fishing expedition with this visit, and I’m not an actual suspect. “Nine six three two.” And then I remember the photos of Natalie I took on our wedding night, and a feeling of profound dread overtakes me. “There’re very personal photos on that phone that I’d like to remove before you take it.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Everything on here is evidence.”

“Pictures of my wife from our wedding night are not evidence. Give me the phone.”

Vickers stares at me, a mulish expression on his face.

“My father and I are great friends and supporters of the president. Give me the phone, or I’ll have your job.” I hold out my hand and engage in a stare-down with the agent.