“Well, he certainly looked like he loved it to me.”
“Well, looks certainly can be deceiving, can’t they?”
The two women gazed at each other for an uncomfortably long time.
King finally broke in. “You’re a miracle worker, Remmy.”
“Meaning what exactly?”
“Meaning the conversion of Lulu from enemy to friend.”
Remmy waved her hand dismissively. “I was wrong and I acknowledged it. Don’t make it out to be some grand gesture of benevolence.”
“So what made you conclude you were wrong?” asked Michelle as she reached for a biscuit and coffee.
Remmy raised her cup and took a drink before answering. “I made Junior an offer he couldn’t refuse. But he did refuse it. And then he got murdered. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure there’s a lot more to it than I thought.”
“But Junior might still have been involved. He might have been killed because of it, in fact,” said King.
Remmy settled her stern gaze on him. “Didn’t you try your best to convince me he was innocent? Or am I thinking of another Sean King?”
“Just playing devil’s advocate.”
“I forgot, you’re a lawyer. Reminds me why I can’t stand the breed.”
“I’m glad I took down my shingle, then. I wouldn’t want you for an enemy.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” she said bluntly.
“I understand you’re quite anxious to get back some property other than your jewelry and cash.”
“Eddie’s already been here trying, Sean,” Remmy said. “And if I won’t tell him, I sure as hell am not telling you.”
“Is it that bad?” asked King in a very serious tone. “So bad you’d risk more people being murdered?”
“I have my reasons.”
“I hope they’re damn good ones, but I think you’re not only being selfish but shortsighted.”
“I’m unaccustomed to being spoken to that way,” she snapped.
“I tend to lose my manners during a murder investigation. I trust I have my priorities right,” he replied firmly.
“What was in my closet can have nothing to do with anybody getting killed.”
“Your husband and Junior may have been killed by the same person. If so, the only connection I see between them is the burglary.”
“It can’t be, it can’t,” said Remmy stubbornly.
“And you won’t let us be the judge of that?”
“No, I won’t,” she said steadfastly.
“All right, let’s get back to why we’re here. Eddie says that people are talking about you maybe having Bobby and Junior killed. He says it’s ruining your life.”
“Eddie talks too much. I thought I taught him that reserve and stoicism are two of the greatest attributes a person can have.”
“But not greater than love,” said Michelle. “And he does love you.”