Part 16 (2/2)
”I thought you were with your stepmother all day. At least that's what you told the police.”
For the first time, his composure slips. His eyes widen, fill with tears. ”I don't care. She did it. I know she did it. I even know why.”
I nod for him to go on.
”It's because of the trouble my dad was in. I think he was going to be arrested. He was going to jail.”
Jason looks close to breaking down. I don't want him to become so fl.u.s.tered that he runs out on me so I sit still and give him a moment to collect himself. He does. More quickly than I would have expected. The eyes lose their panic, his face relaxes.
Tentatively, I begin. ”Why do you think your dad was going to be arrested? I don't remember seeing that mentioned in any of the newspaper articles. It's something I'm pretty sure the police would have known.”
He blows out a breath. ”Maybe not. I heard Dad and Laura the morning he was killed. They were talking in the study and didn't know I'd come in. I could hear it all from the hall. Dad said something was about to come out. Something bad. Dad said we had to leave the country now. Laura didn't want to.”
”Did he say what the trouble was?”
”No. Only that we couldn't stay here. If we did, we'd lose everything. Laura was furious. Said he was exaggerating. She said her life was here and she'd leave over his dead body.” He puts subtle emphasis on the last words. ”That's why I know she did it. I just don't know how.”
I lean in toward him. ”Why didn't you tell the police what you just told me?”
His expression s.h.i.+fts, back to anger. ”Would the cops believe a kid? And I told you, we were together all day. I'm her alibi. I don't have any proof. But you can investigate. You can find something to prove Laura is the one who killed my dad.”
I sit back in my chair, studying Jason. He's doing the same-studying me. Gauging my reaction to his charge that his stepmother killed his father. Hefty charge. He's got his jaws clamped so tight, I see the muscles twitch.
After a moment, he says, ”You believe me, don't you?”
I'd like to. It would make more sense than Gloria killing O'Sullivan over-well, over anything. The realist in me knows that thinking something and proving it are two different things.
CHAPTER 36.
I'VE WAITED TOO LONG TO ANSWER. EITHER THAT, or my expression isn't rea.s.suring enough because Jason bangs a fist on the table. Our coffee cups, dishes and everyone in the place jump. Me included.
Gordon says, Everything all right over there?
Yeah. Sorry.
He turns back to his customers, but I feel his mind probing into my head. Great. Now I have to make sure I don't project anything I don't want him to pick up on. This is private, Gordon.
He doesn't shut down right away, but finally, after a moment of dead air, his attention is back on coffee and scones and I feel the conduit close.
”Jason,” I say sharply. ”Getting p.i.s.sed is not going to help.”
”Then what is? You don't believe me. I can see it on your face. You're going to let Gloria be blamed for this and I'm telling you, she didn't do it. Laura did.”
I hold up a hand. ”I didn't say I don't believe you. Gloria doesn't have a motive for killing your dad. At least not a credible one.”
Relief softens his face and shoulders. ”The love affair thing? It's bulls.h.i.+t. Laura didn't know anything about Dad and Gloria. She couldn't have. She wouldn't have been so nice to her when Gloria came over to discuss business with Dad.”
”Well, she sure knew two days ago. Any idea how she found out?”
He shakes his head. ”The only thing I can figure is that she must have started having Dad followed.”
”By a private detective? Why would she if she didn't suspect an affair?”
He fiddles with his still untouched coffee cup. ”Maybe she did suspect something. Not with Gloria . . . necessarily.”
I peer at him. ”Your dad was seeing someone else besides Gloria?”
Jason's eyes fill again. He looks down at the table. ”I think he was seeing one of his lawyers, too.”
”What makes you think that?”
Again, he doesn't look at me. ”I walked in on him once. At the office. We were supposed to meet for lunch and I was early. He and this woman were kissing. They made some lame excuse that he was helping her get something out of her eye.” He grunts.
”Yeah. Her eye. His hand was on her b.o.o.b. How stupid do they think I am?”
”Did you tell your stepmom?”
He shakes his head. ”No.”
His expression is suddenly cautious, hesitant and shadowed by guilt.
”You think you should have?”
”Maybe.” Again, he's avoiding my eyes. ”Truth is, I was happy to see it. I don't like Laura. Never did. I thought if Dad was seeing someone else, it meant he and Laura were having problems.”
I dig in my purse and pull out a small notepad and pen. ”What was the lawyer's name?”
”Connie Crandall.”
”She works at your dad's office?”
He nods.
I give Jason a sympathetic smile. ”Were there any other women?”
He shakes his head. ”I'm not sure but I can find out.”
Uh-oh. ”What do you mean?”
Eagerness replaces the uncertainty of before. ”If Laura did hire a private detective, there's got to be a paper trail, right?”
Paper trail? He's been watching too much television. Before I can comment, though, he's already forging ahead.
”I'll go through her desk. Look for a bill or a canceled check.”
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