"Langsford confided a great deal in you."
"I'm about his only confidante. In some ways he's a very lonely man." Her face tightened. "I mean, was."
"What did Eric do with the fifty thousand?"
"He blew it. Eric has a long-standing drug and alcohol problem."
"Exactly what kind of work do you do for Judge Langsford?"
"I'm a combination housekeeper and personal assistant. I keep his books, respond to his correspondence-if he chooses not to do so himself-pay the bills, shop, and fix his meals."
"Do you write checks for the judge?"
"Only on the household account. He has his own personal checking accounts. I simply mail him the unopened bank statements if he's not here when they arrive."
"Did you work for him full-time?"
"During the spring and summer when he's in residence, I do. Then it's three days a week during the fall and winter."
"And there was enough work to keep you busy?" Kerney asked. "Part of it was keeping him company, Mr. Kerney. Older people are sometimes willing to pay for that. It's been a perfect job for me. I'm a weaver. I design shawls, wraps, and textiles. Vernon lets me work on my craft here, when I'm not busy with any of the odds and ends that need looking after to keep things in order. I have a loom in the spare bedroom that I use as an office and studio."
"That was very generous of the judge."
"You've noticed the security system?"
"I have."
"Judge Langsford was more concerned for his safety than he was about my personal convenience. He felt my physical presence here, on a regular basis, acted as a deterrent. After all, someone once wanted to kill him."
"He felt safe in his motor home?"
"As a camp host, he did. He was always surrounded by others, all of them people who had no idea who he was or what he'd been." Murray put her hand to her mouth again. "He was murdered by that spree killer, wasn't he? I heard reports on the radio while I was driving home."
"How awful."
"When was the last time you spoke to Langsford?"
"Three days ago. He would always call in once a week to see if anything needed his attention."
"Such as?"
"Judge Langsford had two consuming interests, golf and investments. He'd call me weekly to get an update on his portfolio, or to ask me if some board minutes or prospectus from a company had arrived."
"Would you characterize him as well-off?"
"More than that," Murray said.
"He was the only child of a man who was once the biggest natural gas producer in the state. He inherited millions of dollars before he was appointed to the bench. He owns partial or controlling interest in three companies."
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'm sorry. I just can't stop thinking about him as still alive."
"That's understandable. What will you do, now that you're out of a job?"
"I'll be fine," Murray said. "I'm showing in three galleries: one here, one in Albuquerque, and one in Santa Fe. I've been socking away the money I've made as a weaver and living off my salary. I won't be homeless, Mr. Kerney."
"How long will you be here this week?"
"I've been paid through the end of the month, so I'm at your disposal."
"Will you be in town from now until the end of the month?"
"Yes."
"Can I see your driver's license?"
"What for?"
"Information for my report."
She searched her purse, found her wallet, and extracted the license.
Kerney wrote down the information, verified Murray's home address, and got her telephone number. "I'm going to ask a judge for a search warrant, Ms. Murray. There may be information in the judge's papers that could be helpful to the investigation. It will probably be issued today. If I can use the telephone, I'd like to call and have a city police officer come and stay here until the warrant is executed."
Murray's expression turned guarded. "Why do you need to do that?"
"I don't need to do it, Ms. Murray. But it's in your best interest that I do. With an officer on site, there will be no question about the loss or removal of anything from the house while you're here."
"I wouldn't take anything."
"I don't doubt you."
Kay Murray's cautious expression cleared. "I suppose it would be a good idea. I hate to think I'd be considered a suspect."
"We can get that issue off the table very quickly, if you'll give me the names and phone numbers of the people you were with and the places you went during your two days in Albuquerque."
"You're asking for an alibi, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am."
"I'll write it all down for you," she said, reaching for her daily planner.
"And if you have it, Penelope Gibben's home and work addresses would be helpful."
Murray paused. I'll get them for you."
"I have the feeling Judge Langsford was a very private man."
"Vernon was extremely private."
"Yet he confided a great deal in you."
"We were friends, Mr. Kerney," Murray said tightly. "Is that a crime?"
"Not at all."
The Ruidoso patrol officer, a woman in her twenties, arrived within ten minutes. Kerney briefed her on the assignment, thanked Kay Murray for her cooperation, went to his unit, called Lee Sedillo, and filled him in on what he'd learned.
"I'll run a records check on Eric Langsford," Sedillo said, "and get the search warrant paperwork started."
"Make the search warrant as inclusive as possible," Kerney said. "But have the agent who serves it concentrate on Langsford's financial and personal papers. I need to know ASAP what corporations Langsford owns or has an interest in, and the state of their financial health."
"Do you have some specific reason to follow the money, Chief?"
"There's a lot of it, Lee. That's reason enough. We'll work this angle and the theory that the prior attempt against Langsford came because of his ruling against tribal gambling."
"Two motives for murder are better than one," Lee said.
"Hang on a minute," Kerney said, as Kay Murray came out the front door of Langsford's house. She'd removed her wool sweater, and the body-hugging tee shirt she wore made her look even more lissome. She walked to Kerney's unit and held out a key. "Am I free to go?"
"Of course."
"Then I'd rather not stay. Having that police officer inside makes me feel that I'm under arrest."
"That's not the case."
"I know, but that's the way I feel. Take the key."
"It would be' better if you came back after the search is finished and locked up. That way, there will be no question that anything has been unnecessarily damaged."
"What kind of unnecessary damage?" Murray said, putting the key in her pocket.
"Opening a locked desk or a safe. Does Langsford have a safe?"
"There's a floor panel in the study closet that lifts out. Under the panel you'll find a small safe embedded in concrete. His desk key is in the pot on the fireplace mantle in the study."
"Do you have the combination to the safe? Is anything else locked?"
"No. Can I leave now?"
"Yes."
"I'll get my things."
"Lee?" Kerney said, as Kay Murray moved away.
"I'm here, Chief."
Kerney read off Murray's home address, social security number, date of birth, the license plate number to the Ford Explorer, and the name of the car dealer's tag on the back of the car. "Do the usual check on Murray, and call the dealership. I want to know if it was Langsford or Murray who bought the car."
"You got a hunch, Chief?"
"I think Murray's relationship with Langsford may have been more than meets the eye. It could mean nothing, but then again…"
"I'll get back to you," Sedillo said.
"There's more," Kerney said. "Murray said she spent the last two days in Albuquerque. Have an agent verify that."