“I know that!” snapped Remmy.
“If he’s worried about you, there must be a reason,” Michelle persisted.
“Eddie worries too much about the wrong things.”
“Remmy, we can’t help you if you won’t confide in us,” said King.
“I never said I needed your help.”
“Okay, fine. By the way, where were you when Junior was killed?”
“No one has yet told me exactly when he was killed.”
After King told her the time parameters, she thought for a bit. “I was here actually, in my room reading.”
“Anybody here to verify that?”
“I can.”
Mason was standing in the doorway. “I was in the house until ten o’clock that night. Mrs. Battle never came out of her room during that time.”
King looked at him for a long moment. “Thanks, Mason.” He looked back at Remmy as Mason walked off. “It’s nice to have such good, loyal help, isn’t it? Last question: why was your wedding ring in the drawer and not on your finger?”
Remmy didn’t answer right away. King stared at her, waiting for a response. Finally, she said, “A ring is a symbol of love and commitment.”
“Yes,” said King expectantly.
“You said that was your last question. I’m sure you can find your way out.”
Outside, Michelle said, “Sean, you know it wasn’t Remmy who killed Junior.”
“That’s right. I saw Mason coming out onto the patio. I wanted him to tell us where he was at that time.”
“That was pretty clever.”
“Even cleverer because he said Remmy never came out of her room.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning that Mason doesn’t have an alibi for the time Junior was killed.”
“You really think he’s a possible suspect?”
“Of course he is, Michelle. He’s older but still big and strong enough to have taken on Junior. And you noticed that the killer never spoke to us. He only used his laser aimer to convey his instructions.”
“Because if he’d spoken, we would have recognized his voice?”
“Exactly. And he lied about the reason Remmy wasn’t wearing her ring.”
“Speaking of which, the stoic Mrs. Battle was pretty candid with her answer. No love, no commitment, no ring. Yet she stayed married to the man.”
“Lots of marriages work that way, unfortunately. Well, at least she’s free of him now.”
They reached King’s car.
“I’m going to walk over to Eddie’s studio,” said Michelle.
“I’m going to find Sally and see if she’ll be a little more cooperative than her employer. I’ll join you at Eddie’s after I’m done.”