“So how do you calculate that?”
“I won’t bore you with the statistics, but a lot of number crunching goes into it. Luckily, as a CPA, my background is all about number crunching. And those numbers can be magic, a road map into the future, if you know how to read them right. All successful people do that.”
“All financially successful people, you mean.”
“Is there any other kind?” She added quickly, “Just kidding. I know we need more Mother Teresas in the world. I’m just not one of them. Not how I’m wired.”
“And how are you wired?”
“Me first, I guess. And I’m not ashamed to admit it. I don’t like hypocrites. I know enough people who pretend to care about others while they’re stabbing them in the back. I stab people in the chest. They can see it coming from a mile away.”
“Thing is, they’re still dead,” replied Decker.
“Yes, but at least they have a chance to defend themselves,” she said sweetly, draining her drink and waving for another one, which was immediately delivered. “I hear Susan Richards has gone missing?”
Decker put down his burger and looked over at her. “And where did you hear that?”
“Oh, come on, I heard it on the town gossip network ages ago. I wonder why she would have disappeared like that?”
Decker said, “Guilt?”
Katz took a sip of her Prosecco. “I didn’t say that, but the timing is awfully peculiar.”
“Timing in homicide investigations often is.”
“You’re the expert on that, not me. So, do you think she killed Meryl Hawkins and took off before the cops found proof that she murdered him?”
“Speaking of proof, did you ever come up with an alibi for the time of his death?”
“I was at dinner with a business associate until eleven-thirty or so. Then he drove me home. We got to my place around midnight. I think that lets me off the hook.”
“And the name of this business associate?”
She took out a pen and slip of paper from her purse, wrote something down, and handed it to Decker.
He glanced at the paper, his eyes hiking in surprise. “Earl Lancaster?”
“Yes. He’s working on some projects for me. He’s a first-rate general contractor. Why?”
“He’s married to my old partner.”
“Not for much longer,” said Katz. When Decker again looked surprised, she added, “Small town, Detective.” She swallowed the last of her drink. “Well, let me know if you need anything else.”
With a whisk of blonde hair, she was gone.
After she left, Decker sat there and wondered one thing.
Why hadn’t Earl mentioned that he was working with Katz when they had run into each other at the American Grill?
Because that development royally screwed his wife.
Or soon-to-be ex-wife.
Chapter 21
“YOU MEAN YOU KNEW?”
Decker looked across at Lancaster. It was the next morning and they were sitting in her car outside the Residence Inn. He’d called her and told her he needed to speak with her but preferred to do it in person.
“I knew he was doing some work for Rachel Katz. I didn’t know that he was her alibi. Earl didn’t tell me that. We don’t talk all that much anymore, particularly about his business.”
“But why didn’t you mention to me that he was working for a possible suspect in a murder we’re both investigating?”
“He works with lots of people and I didn’t think it was relevant.”
“Well, it is. And now that he’s her alibi?”
Lancaster said, “I might have to recuse myself from the investigation.”
“There’s no might about it, Mary. You have to.”
“Earl wouldn’t lie, if that’s what you’re implying. If he said he was with Katz, he was.”
“I’m not implying anything. I just know that you have to get off this case. Any defense lawyer will tear the department a new one if you stay on now.”
She popped a stick of gum into her mouth and started chewing furiously.
“And now I need to talk to Earl about this,” said Decker.
“I know. And I think I need to talk to him too.”
“No, Mary, you can’t do that.”
“He’s still my husband, dammit.”
“He’s also a potential alibi for someone who had a pretty good motive to kill Meryl Hawkins.”
“Shit!” She slapped the steering wheel. “And I didn’t think my life could get any worse.”
“You’re the one asking for the divorce.”
“That’s what Earl told you.”
“Is it not true? You just told me that Earl doesn’t lie.”
“Does it matter, Decker? Our marriage is over.”
“And this woman he’s seeing?”
“She’s fine. Earl didn’t start seeing Nancy until things were over between us.”
“Yeah, he told me that. But you’re really okay with Earl getting custody of Sandy?”
“We’re sharing custody. But I told you before, his work is more flexible than mine. It’s better and less disruptive for Sandy to have her spend the week with Earl. Her well-being is all I’m concerned about.”
“Okay, give up your kid, then.”
She looked at him, fury on her features. “What right do you have to tell me that? You don’t know jack shit about my situation. It was your choice to leave here and go work for the FBI. So don’t come back to my town and tell me how to run my life.” She pointed to the door. “Now get the hell out of my car.”
Decker got out, but he poked his head back in.
“The thing with kids, Mary, is that when you turn around for just a second and then look back, sometimes they aren’t there anymore.”
He shut the door and trudged off.
* * *
Later that day, the knock on Decker’s door was unexpected.
When he opened it, his surprise instantly turned to exasperation.
“Long time, no see, Decker,” said the smiling man on the other side of the doorway.
Blake Natty was a detective with the Burlington Police Department. About six years older than Decker, and more senior at the department, he had been left in the dust by Decker’s investigative prowess. And he had not bothered to hide his feelings about it.
He was about five-eight, one-sixty, and dressed in a way that matched his name, complete with pocket kerchief and golden links on his French-cuffed shirt.
“What are you doing here, Natty?” asked Decker.
Natty’s smile broadened. “This is just a courtesy call. I’m taking over the investigation on the Hawkins case. Heard Mary got knocked off over some accusation from you. A little surprising considering you two were partners once.”
“Well, you got everything about that wrong, which at least shows you’re consistent.”
Natty’s smile vanished. “As I said, a courtesy call. And it’s to tell you that we do not require your services in connection with the Meryl Hawkins case.”
“Have you talked to Captain Miller about this? Because he was very much okay with me working the case.”