“Why would Mr. Everett Ramses invest in a literary-based editing program?”
Sophie answered, “That would be a question for Mr. Ramses. Mrs. Ramses can’t speak for her husband as to intent.”
“Does he speak for you, Mrs. Ramses?” Michelson asked.
“Not regarding Ross Underwood,” I replied. “I have told you all that I know. I didn’t contact Ross because I didn’t have my phone—and still don’t have it. I lost it.”
Michelson looked at the detective.
“Did you find it?” I asked.
“No, ma’am,” the detective answered. “Cell towers indicated it last pinged off Canal Street at the edge of the French Quarter the night you arrived to New Orleans.”
I shrugged. “That would be the last time I saw it.”
“And you didn’t think to contact your business partner?” Michelson asked.
“I’ll admit to being preoccupied.”
“With?”
“Not with Ross Underwood,” Sophie answered. “And as this questioning is about him, the answer to your question is irrelevant.”
Michelson grabbed ahold of the chair where he’d been seated. “What do you know about a woman named Emily Oberyn?”
My eyes opened wide. “What does she have to do with Ross’s death?”
“We aren’t sure. May I assume, by your response,” the detective said, “that you do know Miss Oberyn?”
“I don’t know her. I did know her. She dated Ross, back last year before Christmas.”
“Can you describe her?” the detective asked.
Sophie spoke up, “I’m sorry. Relevance?”
“Miss Oberyn was spotted with Mr. Underwood after Mr. Underwood left the bar where Mrs. Ramses was last seen.”
“Why aren’t you questioning her?” Sophie asked.
“We have, Ms. Lynch.”
Sophie looked at me and nodded.
My head shook. “I can’t say more.”
“You can’t or you won’t?” Michelson asked. “Was there a rivalry? Did you have a problem with the time he spent—?”
“There was no problem. Ross and I weren’t like that. It’s not that I won’t tell you, I can’t. Emily dated Ross for a few months. I got to know her a little, casual acquaintances. You know, dinner and drinks now and then. She had red hair and was about my height. She was a real estate broker, or trying to be. She was always about to make that big deal.”
“And the last time you saw Ms. Oberyn?” Michelson asked.
“I don’t have an exact date. As I said, they broke up before Christmas so sometime last December.”
“And the two of you didn’t continue any contact? Social media? Text messages?”
“No,” I answered. “I had an agreement with Ross. I would be friendly to his girlfriends, but I wasn’t any more obligated to continue a relationship than he was. You see, Ross was a lady’s man in the sense that he avoided commitment.”
“Who broke off their relationship?” Michelson asked.