“I’d just started my own CPA firm. I was burning the proverbial midnight oil.” She frowned. “Until I got the call from the police. I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was some awful prank.” She paused and glanced up at Decker. “I had to identify his body. Have you ever had to do that? ID the body of someone you loved?”
“I’m sure it was very hard,” Decker replied quietly.
She suddenly gazed hard at him. “Wait a minute. Oh my God, that happened to you. Your family. I remember now. It was all over the news.”
“Doesn’t matter,” said Decker. “Your husband’s wallet and wristwatch were missing. And a gold ring with encrusted diamonds he wore.”
She nodded. “I gave that ring to him. For what turned out to be his last birthday,” she added coldly.
“Anything else you can remember that might help me?”
“I don’t want to help you,” she said candidly. “Because Meryl Hawkins killed my husband. We were going to have a family. We were going places. We talked about moving to Chicago. I mean, a place like Burlington can only take you so far.”
“Then why are you still here?” asked Decker just as bluntly.
“I... My husband is buried here.”
Decker’s features softened. “I can understand that.”
She stood. “I really need to get going, so if there’s nothing else?”
Decker rose from his chair. “Thank you for your time.”
“I’m not going to wish you luck. And I’m glad that Hawkins is dead.”
“One more question. Can you tell me where you were between eleven and midnight on the night Meryl Hawkins was murdered?”
She blanched. “Do you really believe I had anything to do with his murder?”
“I don’t know. It’s why I’m asking. But if you have an alibi, it would be good to get it out there. The police are going to ask you for one.”
“Why?”
“Because he was back in town and you believe he killed your husband. If it makes you feel any better, we asked Susan Richards the same thing.”
“And did she have an alibi?”
Decker didn’t answer.
“When was it again?” she asked, evidently upset.
He told her.
She stood there rocking back and forth. “I’ll have to check my schedule and see what I can find. I’m so busy I have a hard time remembering what I was doing an hour ago.”
As he headed to the door, she called out after him.
“Why are you really doing this?”
He turned back, his hand on the doorknob. “There’re enough guilty people in the world without us making an innocent person one.”
“Do you really think Hawkins was innocent?” she said skeptically.
“That’s what I’m going to find out.”
“You sound confident. But it’s been a long time. Memories fade.”
“I don’t have that problem,” said Decker.
Chapter 15
He finally answered the phone. He really had no choice. It had now been a while since she’d left town.
“Hello, Alex.”
“Well, it’s about damn time,” she barked.
“I’ve been busy.”
“So have I. The team’s leaving to go work on a case in New Hampshire. Plane takes off in an hour.”
“Good luck on it.”
“Bogart is not happy.”
“I’m sure he has every right to be pissed at me.”
“You’re just placating me. I was calling to see if you wanted to join us in New Hampshire. I checked on flights. There’s one you can catch out of Cleveland, with a layover in Newark.”
“I can’t do that, Alex. I’m working the case here.”
“Well, get in good with your old friends at the police force there. I’m not sure you’ll have a job at the FBI when you get back.”
“I guess I can understand that.”
“Nobody wants that, Amos. I hope you know that.”
“I do.”
“Good luck, with everything you’re doing up there.”
She clicked off and Decker put down his phone and stared at it for a long moment. He was suddenly hungry. And he knew exactly where he wanted to eat.
The place was only about a quarter full when he got there, even though it was the dinner hour. He had noticed some new eateries that had opened up on his walk over here. Maybe they were taking business away from the American Grill.
He was shown to a table and sat down. He glanced at his menu and then scanned the interior.
Waiters and waitresses were making the rounds of the tables. Other wait staff stood against the wall conversing.
His gaze passed one table and then came back to it, his attention suddenly riveted on the couple sitting there. It was Earl Lancaster, Mary’s husband. He was there with a woman, only it wasn’t his wife. Earl had started out as a construction laborer before becoming a contractor. He had the build of a man who used his muscle for a living. He was about six feet tall, with a Marine buzz cut, thick arms, and a broad chest. He was dressed in an untucked white long-sleeved shirt and dress jeans. A pair of black loafers were on his feet. His companion was in her early forties with a slim build, long, soft brown hair, green eyes, and a pleasant smile as she peered lovingly into Earl’s face.
Earl broke off looking at her, gazed around the restaurant, and flinched when he saw Decker staring at him. He said something to the woman, jumped up, and headed over to Decker’s table. Decker noted that the woman watched him the whole way.
Earl sat down across from Decker.
“Amos, I heard you were in town. Mary told me.”
“Is that right?” said Decker, letting his gaze linger for a moment longer on the woman before looking at Earl.
The man seemed embarrassed. He put his hands together on the tabletop and stared down at them.
“Guess you’re wondering what’s going on.”
“I am, but it’s also none of my business.”
“Fact is, Mary and I are splitting up.”
“Really?” said Decker. “I’m sorry to hear that. And who’s your friend over there?”
Earl glanced up. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“I doubt it.”
“Mary initiated this whole thing, Amos. It wasn’t my idea. But I have a life to live.”
“What about Sandy?”
“We’re splitting custody, but I’ll have her more. Mary’s schedule is too crazy.”
“And she’s okay with that?”
“She suggested it.”
“What’s going on with her? Why the divorce? Why letting you get Sandy? This isn’t making sense.”
Earl looked uncomfortable. “She’s a cop. She’s got... It’s a lot of pressure.”
“Do you want to get divorced, Earl?”
“I don’t have a choice, do I? It’s not like I can stop her.”
Decker glanced at the woman again. She smiled, but when he didn’t return it, she abruptly looked away.
“Well, regardless, I think you’ve already made your choice.”
Earl’s features turned angry. “I don’t need to be judged by you, okay?”
“I’m not judging anybody. I’m simply making an observation. If I’m wrong, tell me so and I’ll say I’m sorry.”
Earl’s anger dissipated. “Look, it’s true, Nancy and I are seeing each other. But Mary and I stopped... well, we stopped living really as husband and wife a while back. If you know what I mean. And I didn’t start seeing her until Mary told me our marriage was over. I swear to God.”
“I believe you. And how is Sandy taking it?”
“She doesn’t really understand.”
“I think she probably understands more than you think.”
“We’ll get by. We have to.”
“No argument there. Hope everything works out for you. All of you,” he added.