“Not into money?” said Decker. “With all that you could live in grand style.”
“Never been one much for style,” said Shane. And with that he went over to the bed, bent down, kissed Caroline on the forehead, and walked out.
Southern watched him go with a sad expression. “I’ve known him since he was a baby,” she said. “Him and Joe. Watched them grow up together with Caroline.”
“We understand they were pretty tight,” said Decker.
“Inseparable was more like it. This was before Hugh and Stuart were all supercompetitive with their businesses. The kids could just be kids. Caroline was like a sister with her two protective brothers, least she was back then.”
“What about her actual brother?” asked Jamison.
“Junior was always quiet and kept to himself. He was uncomfortable around his family, especially his father. Caroline, Joe, and Shane would roughhouse, but not Junior.”
“I guess later, when he came out?” prompted Jamison.
Southern’s lips pursed. “Caroline and his mom stood by him, that was for sure. But Hugh was especially brutal.”
“That’s what Kelly told us.”
“Hugh wanted sons like him—strong, aggressive, kick-ass, none of the things Junior was.”
“So did he see Kelly and Shane as sort of his sons?” asked Jamison.
“That’s very perceptive of you because, in a way, he did, yes. He went to all the football games. Junior was the drum major of the marching band at school. He could play pretty much any musical instrument. But did his daddy acknowledge any of that? No. He just cheered on Joe and Shane scoring touchdowns.”
“And when they got older?”
“Hugh and Stuart were at each other’s throats by then. Caroline got sent off to college to learn what she needed to learn to inherit the business. Joe became a cop, as you know. Shane joined the Army right out of high school. So like that, everything changed. The gang went their separate ways.”
“Kelly was the only one left here,” said Jamison.
“Yeah. I’d see him around town. He looked like a lost pup.” She smiled sadly. “I felt badly for him. His two best friends, gone like that. Then Caroline graduated and came back. After that Shane returned home. But it was never the same. Then Maddie died. That nearly destroyed Hugh. I didn’t much care for the man, but I have to give him credit where it’s due: He loved his wife.”
“You seem to have definite opinions of all of them,” noted Decker.
Southern gazed at him. “And that’s what they are, my opinions. You can accept them or not.”
Jamison glanced over at the sleeping Caroline. “And what about Caroline? Kelly and Hugh had a discussion about her. Kelly thought her father wanted Caroline to move to France with him, to find a man there to marry, and have a big family.”
“Hell, I thought she might stay right here and marry Joe, or Shane. But that never happened. If you want my two cents, I think her seeing how her father treated her brother just wrecked her. The names he would call his own son, right out in public. The ridicule. It was like watching a TV show from the sixties or something. So cruel, so mean.” She shook her head. “So to answer your question, I don’t know if she’ll ever find someone. I hope she does. She deserves to be happy.”
“Daddy’s perfect little girl,” said Decker.
“What?”
“I told Caroline before that that’s what I think her dad saw in her. She said there was no such thing.”
“Well,” said Southern. “I think she’s right about that.”
“SODAWSON KILLED HIS RIVALand then shot himself. At least that part of the case is closed.”
After Jamison said this she glanced at her partner. She was driving them back to the hotel.
“Decker, did you hear me?”
Decker didn’t comment.
“And once again this has nothing to do with the ticking time bomb,” she added. “We’re still at square zero there.”