“Found what?”
“Franklin’s will. The new one.”
“Where?”
“Inside one of his forensics books.” Paulette strode to her desk where a box sat yawning open. She lifted one of the volumes Pete had tossed in while helping Zoe last Thursday evening. “I’d gone through everything that had been in my office before Loretta ran us out of the funeral home. This evening, I decided to look through the stuff you’d packed.” Paulette set the book on her desk and opened it, revealing a sheath of legal documents.
Zoe crossed the room, hand extended.
Paulette gave her the papers. “Franklin’s attorney was right. He changed his will. And left his portion of the business and most of his money to me.”
“This is fabulous,” Zoe said as she scanned the legalese. “It means Loretta can’t completely take over Marshall Funeral Home. And he left you more than enough cash to buy her out.”
“I hope. I need to talk to the lawyer again, since it was never registered.”
Zoe could feel Paulette’s gaze burning into her and lifted her gaze from the document. “What?”
The secretary couldn’t contain her smile. “Didn’t you see it there?” She nodded at the will. “Franklin left the rest of his money to you.”
Thirty-One
If Pete had ever wondered about the phrase “if looks could kill,” he didn’t any longer. After spending the night in county lockup, Loretta sat in the county police department’s Interview Room A, Ms. Gail Downey, Esquire, at her side, glaring at the two-way mirror. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear she could see through it and was watching him.
Baronick entered the observation room just before eight thirty a.m., carrying a file and two cups of coffee. “Sorry I’m late. I thought you might’ve started without me.”
Pete took one of the cups. “I thought about it.”
“I had a few arrangements to make before we get this show on the road.”
“Some show. Ms. Downey will tell her to not answer our questions and insist we release her client because we don’t have any solid evidence. And she’ll be right. We don’t.”
“Maybe.”
Pete looked at him, wondering what Baronick knew that Pete didn’t.
“I found out the company Loretta works for is indeed the one developing the oral insulin. Unfortunately, due to HIPAA, we can’t find out if anyone around here is part of the testing.” The detective waved a paper. “I did manage to get a search warrant for the grieving widow’s home and car for samples of the new drug.”
“She’s too smart to keep that kind of evidence around.”
“True. But you never know what else we might stumble across during the search. Besides, she could’ve slipped up.” Baronick smiled, clearly pleased with himself. “The search warrant wasn’t the only thing keeping me busy. I’ve arranged for a double feature.”
Pete refused to ask what he meant.
Baronick aimed a thumb over his shoulder. “I had Dustin Landis brought over from the jail. He and Anthony Imperatore are waiting in Interview B. Do you want to let the ladies stew a while longer while we chat with Landis?”
“No. I want to hear what Loretta has to say first.”
“You just told me you don’t expect her to talk.”
“I said her attorney will order her not to talk. Doesn’t mean we won’t get anything from her. And if we do, we might have some new questions for Landis.”
Baronick grinned. “I like the way you think.”
Both women looked up as they entered. “I don’t appreciate being kept waiting,” Gail Downey said.
It struck Pete that the words came from Downey’s mouth but sounded a lot like Loretta, leaving him to wonder about the widow’s ventriloquist skills.
“What’s so funny?” This time Loretta’s lips moved.
Pete hadn’t realized he was grinning. Damn. He needed to brush up on his poker face. “Nothing,” he said. “There’s nothing funny about three homicides.”
Neither woman responded.
Baronick took the seat across from Loretta. Pete decided to remain standing. For now.
After stating the date, time, case number, and naming those present for the audio recording, Baronick looked squarely at Loretta. “Dustin Landis,” he said.
Loretta didn’t move. Her lawyer stared unblinking at Baronick and said, “You’ll have to be more specific.”
He kept his gaze on Loretta. “How well do you know him?”
Downey glanced at her client and gave a subtle nod.
“As I told you last night, I only know him from the news.”
“And from the office? You worked in the same building.”
“A lot of people worked in that building. I didn’t socialize with any of them.”
“I’m not asking about the rest of the people. I’m asking about Dustin Landis.”
Downey tapped the table with her pen. “Asked and answered, Detective. Move on.”
“Did you and Landis have an affair?”
“Don’t answer that,” the attorney snapped.
Loretta ignored her. “I most certainly did not. I’ve never met the man.”
“Mr. Landis happens to be sitting just down the hall,” Baronick said. “I wonder what he’ll say if I ask him about you.”
“Go ask him then,” Downey said. “But my client has already told you she doesn’t know him. Move on.”
Baronick withdrew a sheet of paper from the folder he’d placed next to his coffee. Pete edged closer, trying to read it over the detective’s shoulder.
“Where were you last Monday?”
“Again. Be more specific.” Downey rested the tip of her pen on her legal pad. “Monday was twenty-four hours long. I’m sure Mrs. Marshall spent her day in more than one place.”
For the first time, Baronick broke eye contact with Loretta and looked at the attorney. “Now that you mention it, I’d really like an itinerary from your client, showing where she was, hour by hour.”
Downey smiled coyly. “That isn’t going to happen, Detective.”
“Okay. Let me narrow it down.” His gaze shifted back to Loretta. “What time were you at Langley’s Dress Shop?”
Downey held up her pen. “Don’t answer that.”
Pete had been right about the attorney not permitting her client to respond to their questions. But Baronick didn’t appear discouraged. He picked
