“Ma’am,” Bates said, removing his hat and sticking it under his arm.
“Good evening.” Julia nodded at them each in turn. “Is it okay if Mr. Harris stays with me?”
“He might as well.” Kanesha’s tone was sharp enough to cut through stone. “I’m sure he’s already heard everything you have to say.”
Julia frowned at that, and I shrugged. The damage was done. Any investigator with a shred of intelligence wouldn’t take anything we said at face value anyway.
“Why don’t we sit down?” I indicated empty chairs. “Can I get you something to drink?”
Both deputies declined my offer. Julia and I sat first, then the two deputies took seats. Bates pulled his notebook and a pencil from a pocket and prepared to take notes.
“Charlie told me you’re in charge of the investigation,” Julia said. Her complete attention seemed to be focused on Kanesha.
“That’s correct,” Kanesha said. “I’m sure you’re aware by now that Godfrey Priest was found dead under suspicious circumstances. We are investigating his death, and I have some questions for you and also for your son.” She nodded in my direction. “And for Mr. Harris, too.”
“I’ll be happy to answer your questions,” Julia said.
Kanesha regarded Julia with a bland expression. “Mrs. Wardlaw, what was your relationship to the deceased?”
“I’ve known him most of my life,” Julia said. “We were not particularly close, at least in recent years.” Her face colored slightly. “But I suppose you could say we were friends.”
“I see,” Kanesha said. “And your son? What was his relationship to Mr. Priest?”
Did Kanesha already know? The way gossip traveled in Athena, I figured she must.
But why didn’t she ask directly?
“Godfrey was Justin’s biological father.” Julia’s cheeks stayed red. “They met for the first time today.”
“Is your husband aware of this?” Kanesha was an excellent poker player, I was willing to bet.
“Yes, he is,” Julia said.
“How does he feel about it?”
“He’s not happy,” Julia said, in a tone that indicated she thought it a stupid question. “He has always considered Justin his own son.”
“He knew he’s not the boy’s biological father?” Kanesha was poking at every possible sore spot—and none too gently.
“Yes, he knew. He has always known.” Julia’s color heightened.
“Where is Mr. Wardlaw?” Kanesha asked.
“In the hospital,” Julia said. “Where he has been since about one o’clock this afternoon. I was with him until about thirty minutes ago.”
Julia had stated her own alibi and Ezra’s very clearly, but Kanesha did not appear interested.
“There was an altercation between your husband and Mr. Priest today.” Kanesha appeared to be well informed about the day’s events.
“They had words.” Julia frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. “My husband struck Godfrey, and Godfrey hit him back. In the face. My husband was bleeding and in pain, so I took him to the emergency room.”
“Did you see Mr. Priest again after that?”
Julia hesitated. “No, I did not.”
That was the first question Julia hadn’t answered right away. Was she lying?
“You’re sure about that?” Kanesha had noticed the hesitation, too. She looked ready to pounce.
“I am.” This time Julia didn’t falter.
“So you have no further knowledge of Mr. Priest’s movements after you saw him at lunchtime?” Kanesha leaned back in her chair, relaxing her rigid posture for the first time since the interview began.
“Only what Justin and Charlie have told me.” Julia smiled briefly. “But I’m sure you’d rather hear it from them.”
“Yes,” Kanesha said, “and I’ll also need to talk to your husband. How long will he be in the hospital?”
“It’s possible he’ll be released tomorrow.” Julia relaxed her arms, letting them slide into her lap. “But he’s ill. You cannot upset him.”
Kanesha pulled a business card from one of her shirt pockets. “Please call me at this number tomorrow, and let me know when I can speak with him.”
Julia accepted the card and placed it on the table in front of her. “Certainly.”
“Thank you. I may have more questions for you later.” Kanesha said. “Now I’d like to speak to your son.”
“I’ll get him, if you like,” I said to Julia.
“Thank you, Charlie,” she said. “If you don’t mind.”
“Back in a minute,” I said, rising from my chair.
As I left the kitchen I heard no further conversation. Would Kanesha continue to question Julia while I was out of the room? I was concerned about Julia and that one hesitation in answering. I doubted Kanesha would let that go for long.
Nothing I could do about it now, I thought as I climbed the stairs to the third floor.
I knocked on Justin’s door and waited for a response. When none was forthcoming, I opened the door and looked inside. Justin, still dressed and with his shoes on, appeared to be sound asleep on the bed. Diesel, stretched out beside him, raised his head and blinked at me.
I entered the room, moving quietly. I found three candy wrappers on the floor by Justin’s bed. Some dinner, the poor kid. He’d had a terrible day, and it wasn’t finished yet.
Laying a hand on his shoulder, I shook him gently and called his name.
Justin’s eyes popped open, and he stared up at me in confusion. “Mr. Charlie? What . . . ?” The memories of the day evidently came back, and he sat up, rubbing his face.
“Sorry to wake you,” I said. “But the deputies are here. You need to come downstairs now.”
“Yes, sir,” Justin said, his voice dull.
Diesel jumped to the floor and rubbed against my legs as I turned to leave.
“Please wait. I need to ask you something.” I turned to face him as Justin stood.
Diesel began chirping at me, and I reached down to rub his head. The cat pushed his head against my hand, and I rubbed a little harder. He really loved head rubs.
“What is it, son?” I asked.
“I don’t know what to do.” Justin ran a hand through his hair.
“About what?”
Diesel walked over to Justin and rubbed against his legs.
“What if I found something in the hotel room?” Justin asked. “Something that could get somebody in trouble?”
ELEVEN
“In the hotel room, you mean?” I examined Justin’s face. He was clearly worried.
Justin nodded.
“You should tell the deputies, like we discussed earlier.” My tone was firm. “It’s best to be truthful. What you found could help them solve the case.”
“I’m afraid to.” Justin looked miserable. “And you’re the only person I can talk to about it.”
“What did you find?” I asked. Who was he afraid of incriminating? I had an uneasy feeling I knew.
Justin stuck a hand into his pocket and withdrew something. He held his palm out to me, and lying across it was a gold pen.
“It’s my dad’s.”
“Your dad’s? You mean Ezra’s.” I was so shocked by what Justin had, I didn’t know quite how to respond.
“Yes, sir,” Justin said. “I gave it to him for his birthday last year. I had it engraved.” He held the pen closer, pointing to the letters on the shaft with his free hand.
I suddenly recalled Justin’s question when we were sitting in the hotel restaurant. He’d asked me if I thought Ezra had killed Godfrey.
Now I knew why. The evidence lay in Justin’s hand.
But how could Ezra have left the hospital and made it over to the hotel without anyone knowing he was gone? Julia said she had been with him all day, and surely the hospital staff would have noticed if he had been gone for very long.
“What should I do?” Justin asked as we both stared at the pen.
“You have to show it to the deputies,” I said.
“I can’t,” Justin said. “Even after what he did to me.”