LA Requiem

Montoya had given me and put it next to mine. 'Please tell Mr. Ward that the family would appreciate it. I promise that I won't take much of his time.'

Holly read both cards, then gave me a shy smile. 'Are you really a private investigator?'

I tried to look modest. 'Well, I'm what you might call the premier example.'

Holly smiled wider. 'I know he's got a conference call soon, but I'm sure he'll speak with you.'

'Thanks, Holly.'

Two minutes later Riley Ward followed Holly out to the reception room, and now Ward was holding the cards. He was wearing a burgundy shirt buttoned to the neck, gray triple-

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pleated slacks, and soft gray Italian loafers, but even the nice clothes couldn't cover his strain. 'Mr. Cole?'

'That's right. I appreciate your seeing me, considering what's happened.'

He bent the cards back and forth, looking nervous and uneasy. 'You wouldn't believe. It's been a nightmare.'

'I'll bet.'

'I mean, all we did was find her, and now, well, Gene isn't a killer. He just isn't. Please tell her family that. I know they won't believe me, but he isn't.'

'Yes, sir. I'll tell them. I'm not here about Mr. Dersh, though. I'm trying to put some of the family's concerns to rest, if you know what I mean. About the body.' I glanced at Holly and let it drop, implying that the family's concerns were better discussed privately.

Ward nodded. 'Well, okay. Ah, why don't you come into my office.'

His office was spacious, with a large plank desk, an overstuffed couch, and matching chairs. Pictures of Ward with an attractive woman and two bucktoothed children lined a narrow table behind the desk. Ward gestured to the couch. 'Can I get you a cup of coffee?'

'No, thanks.'

Riley peeked out the window at the news vans, then took the chair facing the pictures. 'They're driving me crazy. They came to my home. They were here when I arrived this morning. It's insane.'

'I'm sure.'

'Now I have to waste my day hiring an attorney, and it's so much worse for poor Gene.'

'Yes, sir. It is.' I took out a pad as if I were going to take notes, then leaned toward him, glancing at the windows like they might have ears. 'Mr. Ward, what I'm going to say here, well, I'd appreciate it if you didn't repeat it, okay? The family would appreciate it. You let this out, and it might hurt the investigation.'

Ward peered at me, his eyes nervous and apprehensive. You could almost hear him think, now what?

182 ROBERT CRAIS

I waited.

He realized I was waiting for him, and nodded. 'All right. Yes. Of course.'

'The family thinks that the police are off base about Mr. Dersh. We're not confident that they have the right man.'

Hope flashed over his face, making me feel like a turd.

'Of course they don't. Gene couldn't do this.'

'I agree. So the family, well, we're conducting our own investigation, if you know what I mean.'

He nodded, seeing a way out for his friend Gene. ' 'So I have a few questions, you see?'

'You bet. I'll help any way I can.'

Anxious now. Raring to go.

'Okay. Great. It has to do with why you left the trail.'

He frowned, and didn't look so anxious anymore. 'We wanted to see the lake.'

I smiled. Mr. Friendly.

'Well, I know, but after I read your statements I went up to the lake and walked through it with the police.'

Ward pursed his lips and glanced at his watch. 'Holly, hasn't that damned attorney called yet?'

She called back, 'Not yet, Riley.'

'I found the little tape they used to mark where you left the main trail. The underbrush was pretty dense right there.'

He crossed his arms and frowned harder, obviously uncomfortable. 'I don't understand. These are things the family wants to know?'

'I'm just curious about why you left the trail where you did. There were easier places to walk down.'

Riley Ward stared at me for a full thirty seconds without moving. He wet his lips once, thinking so hard that you could almost see the wheels and gears turning in his head. 'Well, we didn't discuss it. I mean, we didn't research what was the best way to get down. We just went.'

'Another ten yards the brush was a lot thinner.'

'We wanted to go down to the lake, we went down to the lake.' He suddenly stood, went to the door, and called to Holly again. 'Would you try him for me, please. I can't stand

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this waiting.' He put his hands in his pockets, then took them out and waved at me. 'Who cares why we left the trail right there? Can it possibly matter?'

'If you left because someone threatening scared you, then, yes, it could matter a great deal. That person could be the killer.'

Ward blinked at me, then suddenly relaxed. As if whatever was bothering him had receded to a far spot on the horizon. A smile flickered at the corners of his mouth. 'No, I'm sorry. No one scared us off the trail. We didn't see anyone.'

I pretended to write.

'So it was pretty much Gene saying let's go down to the lake right here, and you just went? That's all there was to it?'

'That's all. I wish I had seen someone up there, Mr. Cole. Especially now. I'm sorry about the girl. I wish I could help you, but I can't. I wish I could help Gene.'

I stared at the notebook as if I knew there was something missing. I tapped it with my pen. 'Well, could there have been another reason?'

'I don't know what you mean.'

'A reason you had for leaving the trail at that certain spot.' I looked at him. 'Maybe to do something that you didn't want anyone else to see.'

Riley Ward turned white.

Holly appeared in the door. 'Riley. Mr. Mikkleson is on.'

Ward lurched as if he'd been hit with a cattle prod. 'Thank God! That's the attorney, Mr. Cole. I really do have to take this.' He went behind the plank desk and picked up the phone. Saved by the bell.

I put away my pad and joined Holly at the door.

'I appreciate your time, Mr. Ward. Thank you.'

He hesitated, his palm covering the phone.

'Mr. Cole. Please give the family my condolences. Gene did not harm that girl. He was only trying to help.'

'I'll tell them. Thanks.'