Fruit of the Poisoned Tree

families. They opt to let them have their life insurance. That way, they don’t have to see them suffer.”

“Life insurance?” Beth scoffed. “How could that ever replace him? Will money help my sons grow up without a father? Will it keep me from being alone? The idea is stupid and irrational!”

“Desperate people do desperate things, Mrs. Lamonte. No one else can understand what goes through a person’s mind when they think what they’re doing is best for everyone. Those are dark thoughts. Nothing we’d comprehend unless we were in his state of mind. But maybe Park thought about those things. Maybe that was what was in his mind this morning when he went over the ramp. There’s no way for you to know.”

Beth glanced at Peggy with a growing expression of horror. “Then there’s certainly no way for you to know! Peggy, tell him. Park wouldn’t commit suicide. He was dedicated to his family, but he wouldn’t kill himself for any amount of money.”

Peggy didn’t know what to say. She knew what Al was getting at. After listening to John talk about suicides and accidents during his years as a police officer and later, a homicide detective, she knew the psychology behind the difficult accusation. But it was unreal to her. Like everyone else who was shocked by the death of a close friend or loved one, she couldn’t imagine it could be true.

But even though she knew Park well, she couldn’t see inside his head. Neither could Beth. The analytical researcher in her brain told her to remain objective, even though her heart was crying out in pain. She still wanted to find some way to prove it didn’t happen the way Al was suggesting.

Maybe this would be a good time to tell him what Park confided in her before he died. “He said he fell asleep at the wheel. He was ill. I don’t think he meant to kill himself. It just happened. I’m sure it was an accident.”

Al’s red-rimmed brown eyes narrowed. “What makes you think that?”

“I was with him for those few minutes before he died.” Peggy told him what Park said and about her encounter with him in Philadelphia. “I think he was more sick than he realized. He seemed very tired.”

“You know a predeath confidence weighs heavily with the department.” He wrote down what she said in his notebook. “I take it you’d be willing to swear to this under oath?”

She nodded. “Beth’s right about him, too. I’ve known him longer than I’ve known you. You knew him, too. He went to school with you and John, didn’t he?”

Al squirmed a little on the caramel-colored sofa. “It’s true we were both friends of John’s, but Park and I barely knew each other, and that was years ago. You know how his parents were. They had a thing about him hobnobbing with us poor folk.”

He didn’t elaborate, but Peggy felt the words black folk hovering in the air between them. There was no excuse for it, but prejudice still lingered.

It was worse when Park, John, and Al were growing up in Charlotte. The city changed as people moved there from all parts of the world in the 1970s and 80s, bringing their cultures and traditions with them. But until then, it was a small, tightly closed environment.

“I understand. I guess you’ll just have to take our word for it. He wasn’t the type of man to give up that way. A few business losses wouldn’t do that to him.”

“I’d like to debate this issue, Peggy. But you know I can’t. This is an ongoing investigation until we get some answers. Maybe if he fell asleep at the wheel, it would make sense there were no skid marks on the ramp. He didn’t even try to stop. We always look into things like this, especially when a ten million dollar life insurance policy is involved.”

Beth’s slender hand went to her throat, and her brown eyes blinked almost comically. “Ten m-million dollars? Park never told me.”

Al shrugged his big shoulders. “He planned well for you and your sons, Mrs. Lamonte. As soon as the insurance company was informed of his death, all the bells and whistles started up. A questionable death brings out the investigators on big policies. I just want to warn you.”

“Will they do an autopsy on him?” Peggy asked.

“No!” Beth shook her head as she started to her feet. “No! It’s bad enough. No autopsy.”

Peggy understood what Beth was feeling, but counseled, “It’s the only way to really know what happened to him. An autopsy could prove his death wasn’t a suicide.”

“No,” Beth disagreed.

Al took a deep breath. “I’ll do what I can, Mrs. Lamonte. But chances are the insurance company will insist. I’m sorry.”

“Can they do that? Even though I forbid it? I’m his wife. Don’t I have any recourse? Can I get a judge to issue a stay?”

“You’ll have to ask your lawyer that question.” He rolled to his feet. “I’d suggest you get one of Park’s associates on board right away. I’ve worked cases like this. You’ll need someone to advise you.”

Beth was wild-eyed, bordering on hysteria. “Thank you, Detective. I appreciate your honesty. When Park’s mother hears about this insurance policy, it’s going to be a lot worse than any investigation. A lawyer can’t protect me from that.”

Al glanced at his notes, “You don’t get along with Park’s mother?”

“Does anyone get along with Isabelle Lamonte?” Beth’s tone challenged him to deny her claim.

At that moment, Reddman and Foxx raced through the door, throwing aside their jackets and book bags and calling for their mother. Beth excused herself and went to talk to them while Peggy walked with Al to the front door.

“That isn’t much to go on,” she told him. “No skid marks, losing some money, and a big life insurance policy. If he fell asleep, he wouldn’t have been able to hit the brakes. That’s pretty simple. Everyone’s lost money on stocks in the last few years. And I’d be more amazed if a man like Park didn’t have a ten million dollar life insurance policy.”

“You know I’m doing what Lieutenant Rimer tells me, and he just does what they tell him. We’re all just cogs in the wheel. The life insurance company doesn’t want to pay out that ten million dollars if they don’t have to. You know better than most how it goes. Maybe you can help your friend.” He chuckled. “Wish you could’ve seen the look on the lieutenant’s face when he saw your name on the report! He said there was going to be trouble if you were involved. I’m afraid you solving that murder in your shop still rankles him a little.”

Peggy frowned. “I help out with one little murder case and I’m branded for life.”

“Looks like he was right anyway. You’re here and there’s trouble.” Al checked the hallway behind her shoulder. “How well do you know Beth Lamonte?”

“Very well. I’ve known her since she married Park ten years ago.” She stared at him. “Why do you ask?”

“She didn’t like the idea of the autopsy, did she? Seems to me like most people would want to know the truth.”

Peggy was more than a little impatient with what she thought he was suggesting. “A lot of people are sickened by the idea of their loved one being cut open. You know that. Don’t go getting suspicious about this. I’m sure everything will come out in the wash. Park and Beth are good people. No one did anything wrong here unless you count working too hard.”

“I hope you’re right. I don’t like making the suggestion that something could be wrong any more than you like hearing it. But you know how it is. Sometimes an innocent remark can make a red flag go up in my brain. I’m sure it happened to John, too. Doesn’t mean it’s always right.” He sighed and hugged her. “I have to go. The lieutenant was good enough to send me out to talk to Isabelle Lamonte, too. I’m on my way there now. Lucky me. It’s good to see you. Paul’s been on his toes since he and Mai got together. They’re good for each other. I’m really glad.”

“I know. I’m so glad it’s working out for them. I’m still hoping for grandchildren before I’m too old to enjoy them.” She shuddered, thinking of Al’s task ahead. “Good luck with Isabelle. You know, Park used to joke that his mother was the dragon queen. It didn’t help when she got that dragon-head walking cane. I always think of her that way. I’ll talk to you later. Say hello to Mary for me.”

“I will. She’s still waiting to find out what it’s like being a retired detective’s wife. How’s it going with Steve? I assume the two of you are still together.”

“As far as I know,” she quipped. “I was on my way to get obedience classes for Shakespeare. Our relationship might hinge on whether or not Steve has to take care of him again the way he is.”