“Roe. He kept silent all this time. Why would they worry—” She broke off as the possibility occurred to her.
“Right,” said Decker, looking at her. “Kasimira said her father was very religious. He was dying with a guilty conscience and wanted to clear that conscience.”
“And he let it slip to someone who didn’t want him to do that.”
“And he and his boat disappear as a result.”
“You going to share that theory with Kasimira?” asked White. “She might be a suspect. Andrews clearly doesn’t trust her.”
“Andrews’s view is ‘clearly’ biased, since Gamma wouldn’t hire him.”
“Children sometimes murder their parents, if those parents are a threat to them. And if Kanak was going to tell the world that his and nowherempire was built on murder and blackmail?”
“If she did kill him, why ask me to find out what happened to him? That makes no sense.”
“That’s true. So, what do we do?”
“We keep digging. That’s all we can do.”
“On this case we might hit China before all is said and done.”
“And if my initial theory is right, this piece is only half the equation. So while you start making inquiries about Tanner’s aides and the missing woman, I’m going to follow up on who killed Julia Cummins.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“By talking to Barry Davidson again.”
“But you don’t think he did it.”
“But he might have some idea who did. And then I’m going to interview Dennis Langley again.”
“That asshole won’t say anything.”
“But by now his fiancée will have spoken to him. And maybe shared our suspicions about the timing of his marriage proposal. He might be rattled enough to let something slip.”
“Why does it feel like we’re back at square one on the game board?”
“Maybe because we are. Only now it might be a different game we’re in the middle of.”
Chapter76
B?ARRY DAVIDSON HAD BEEN REMANDEDinto custody after his bail hearing. He had pleaded not guilty, he told Decker as the two men sat across from each other at the jail. Davidson had hired a lawyer but had agreed to speak with Decker without his attorney being present.
“My lawyer has a stellar reputation as an obnoxious son of a bitch,” said Davidson.
“I’m sure you had your pick, since there are a lot of those around. And we spoke to Tyler.”
“He came by to visit. He’s pissed I’m in here. He keeps bringing up the alibi. The judge didn’t seem to give a crap.”
“Alibis are for trials, not bail hearings.”
“And the judge said I had to stay in here until my trial. I got a business to run.”
“Piece of advice, Barry. You need to focus on this right here. Not your business. Not even Tyler right now. Because if this goes sideways, you lose both, for the rest of your life.”
“Shit, you think I don’t know that?”
“Not from your attitude, no.”