said he didnt know anything about it. And nobody ever really saw the guy doing the work. He did it in the evening, mostly after dark. And he wasnt there very longso that made me think it wasnt the plumbing, which would take a while. The only thing I could think of that youd pull up the sole for, and wouldnt take long, would be the bolts.
Look, Lucas said, I dont want to upset you, but… was there any possibility of suicide?
No. She said it positively.
Lucas said, Okay.
Andy was a happy guy, she said. He was doing great in his job, he was up for a promotion, we were talking about putting a big garden in behind the house, we were talking about another child. I was supposed to bring Toby up to the islands the next day, and we were all going sailing, and Toby was all excited… No. He didnt commitsuicide. And he didnt take off with any money or anything. He was just a heck of a good guy and well adjusted and his folks are nice and my folks liked him and they liked him at the bank…
This promotion, Lucas said. Who got it? After he died.
Well… Wilson McDonald.
Would Andy have gotten the promotion if he hadnt died? For sure?
Hethought so. He said hed aced Wilson out of the slot. I mean, its never for sure until its done, and Wilson has all those family connections… Why?
Were just trying to run down all possibilities, Lucas said vaguely.
She was too smart for that. One hand went to her throat and she leaned toward him and said, Oh my God, do you think Wilson McDonald killed Andy to get promoted, and then shot Dan Kresge? He got Dans job, didnt he?
Temporarily. There seems to be some doubt about it in the long run
…
She pointed a finger at him, excited: Do you know about George Arris?
Yes…
Wilson gothispromotion too.
I havent been able to establish that. Not clearly. Believe me, George would have gotten the job. My God, this never occurred to me, she said. She pushed the palm of her hand against her forehead. How could I have missed it? Its so obvious.
Theres probably nothing to it, Lucas said.
Oh, bull… feathers, Mr. Davenport. Three people dead and Wilson gets all the promotions? My God, he murdered Andy!
No-no-no. Theres no evidence of that at all.
Then whyd you bring it up?
Because Im checking everything…
Wilson McDonald, she marveled. Who wouldve thought.
Please, Mrs. Ingall…
He halfheartedly tried to talk her out of the sudden conviction that Wilson McDonald had killed her husband; then said goodbye.
He was out the door and on the sidewalk when she called after him: Mr. Davenport?
Yes? He turned and she came down the walk to him.
If this was murderjust say it was, that somebody loosened up the bolts on the keel, okay? They couldnt have taken them all the way off, because then the only thing that would be holding it on would be some adhesive and sealer. Then, with a good bump, the keel might have fallen off in the harbor.
Yeah?
So they had to leave the bolts partway on, expecting them to work off, which they eventually would have. But they couldnt knowwhen. Toby and I usually went up with Andy, so whoever it was… wasnt just killing Andy, she said. If Andyd made the islands, wed have been on the boat the next day, and it mightve fallen off with us aboard. This guy, whoever it ishe was willing to kill all three of us.
LUCAS HAD LAST SEEN SHERRILL WHEN SHE LEFT TO pick up Bonnie Bonet, Robless friend. When he got back, Sherrill and a uniformed cop were marching a young woman down the hall, her hands cuffed behind her back. Lucas caught up with them, said, Bonet?
Yeah, Sherrill said.
Bonet snarled, Who the fuck are you?
Sit her down in Homicide, Lucas said. Ill be there in a minute.
She wants an attorney, Sherrill said.
Got any money? Lucas asked.
Bonet shook her head defiantly. No. You gotta appoint one.
Lucas nodded: So call the public defender, he told Sherrill. Ill be right back.
He dumped his coat and the file on Ingall in his office, and made a quick call: I want everything we can find on Wilson McDonald. Everything.
BACK AT HOMICIDE, BONET WAS SITTING NEXT TO Sherrill's desk, while the uniformed cop lounged at another desk between her and the door. Shed been uncuffed and Sherrill was scratching notes on a legal pad.
When Lucas walked in, Bonet looked up and said, I want the attorney. Im not answering any questions without an attorney.
I called. Somebodys walking over, Sherrill said.
Im not going to ask you a question, Ms. Bonet, Lucas said. Im gonna make a little speech. Mr. Robles says you told him you shot Daniel Kresge because you thought Kresge was setting up a bank merger and your mother would lose her job. But he says he really doesnt think you shot him, that youre making a grandstand play, because you like the attention. For the experience of it. To fuck us over. Do you know the first thing that will happen when the word of your arrest gets out? The banks gonna fire your mother.
Bonet, naturally pale, went a shade paler. They cant do that. Thats discrimination…
Lucas was shaking his head: No. Theres no union at the bank. They can fire her f or any reason they want, as long as the firing isnt illegalbecause of race or religion or like that. If her daughter is accused of murdering the bank president on her behalf… you think thats not a reason? Ill tell you what: Your mothers gonna be on the sidewalk in about half an hour, as soon as theStar-Tribuneguy checks out the days arrest reports. And they check every couple of hours.
Bonet looked at Sherrill, who nodded, then back at Lucas. But I didnt shoot him, she blurted.
Sherrill dropped her pencil and said, Oh, shit.
Lucas said, Again, Im not going to ask you any questions, but Ill say this: If theres anything that would provethat you didnt shoot him, this would be a good time to mention it.
Friday night, Bonet said. I was at a friends house until almost four in the morning, we were on-line, gaming.
How many people? Lucas asked.
Four… three besides me.
Shed still have time to drive up there, Lucas said.
Itd be tight, Sherrill said.
But she could make it, Lucas said.
I didnt shoot anybody, Bonet wailed. I dont even know where the asshole lived.
You were never up there?
Never. Why would I be?
After you left your friends, you went right home? Did you see anybody who knew you?
No… Well, I bought some Pepsi at the gas station, but they dont know me there. Maybe theyd remember me.
What gas station?
Its an Amoco down off 494, like 494 and France.
Did you pay with cash or a credit card?
Credit card! Her face brightened. The goddamn credit slip has the time and location on it. And it comes on my statementI bet you can call Amoco and find out.
