Chapter 7 #2
“Just a lot of tension. I could feel it. Thomas preferred keeping his private life private, so there was no yelling or anything like that.”
“Did you and Alicia have any disagreements?” Vera couldn’t ignore the possibility.
Erwin was a reasonably attractive young woman who revered her boss.
The new woman in his life may not have sat well with her.
Or vice versa. Wilton had bought Erwin this house—a historic home on Washington Street.
The place had years ago been renovated into four apartments, but it was all Erwin’s to use or rent out now, thanks to the generosity of her boss.
A new wife might be suspicious of such generosity.
Erwin moved her head firmly side to side. “I am beneath her concern. The only time she noticed my existence was when she wanted me to do her a favor.”
“What sort of favors?”
“Taking packages to the post office. Picking up her dry cleaning.”
Few rich people had the time or inclination to bother with the mundane. Mailing packages fit neatly into that category.
“Did you ever notice where the packages were going?” Vera inquired. This might be nothing, but it was an avenue that needed to be explored. Wilton’s most recent personal merger was his marriage to Alicia. Anything Alicia knew or did was relevant.
“New Orleans.” Erwin looked startled. “I didn’t connect that she told me the man was from New Orleans until you asked just now. Do you think that means something?”
“It’s possible. That’s why we ask so many questions.” Vera backed up to a previous question. “You’re certain Mr. Wilton had no business issues? No problems at all that may have prompted something of this nature? I’m confident there is a great deal of cutthroat activity in the defense industry.”
Erwin squared her shoulders and lifted her chin in obvious defiance of the notion. “I am fully aware of all his business dealings, and I am positive there was no trouble at all. Thomas was a consummate businessman, and everyone liked him.”
Which left only one glaring option—if that was the case.
His new wife’s past. Maybe a jealous lover from that past. Like Seth Parson.
“There will be a search of all Wilton’s property, his home, vehicles, basically everything for any little thing that might provide insight into what happened.
Would you be willing to cooperate with that search? ”
Erwin no doubt knew where all the safes were hidden, as well as the combinations.
“Of course. Anything I can do to help.” She shook her head, her shoulders sagging and her expression wilting. “I still can’t believe he’s dead. It just makes no sense. Thomas had no enemies. Unless . . .”
Vera stared at Erwin expectantly. “Unless what?”
Another of those vague shrugs. “I mean, if Alicia was having an affair . . . her lover would be an enemy, right?”
Oh yes, this woman did not like the new wife.
“Could be,” Vera agreed. “Well, we’ll get out of your way now so you can take some time to pull your plans together. The sheriff and I will meet you at the Wilton home in the morning at eight to start the search. Does that sound doable?”
“Sure. Okay.” Erwin stood. Glanced around before meeting Vera’s gaze once more. “Do you think I’m in danger? I mean, I don’t have a security system or anything.”
Vera studied her a moment. “Do you have reason to believe you are? I mean, if this wasn’t about his business dealings, then . . .”
Erwin waved her hands as if dismissing the idea. “You’re right. I’m being silly.” She frowned at Vera. “Sometimes I have a tendency to overreact.”
“I’m sure it’s the shock of all that’s happened.” Most folks were rattled when a neighbor or colleague was murdered. “See you in the morning.”
Erwin nodded. She followed Vera to the door.
Vera hesitated there. “We didn’t notice a vehicle belonging to Seth Parson at the Wilton house.”
Erwin frowned. “Oh, wait, I know. I had to stop by the house early Friday morning to send that final agenda for the Zoom meeting we were supposed to have today. While I was there, I heard Thomas telling Alicia that he would pick her friends up at their hotel and bring them to the house.”
“Do you know where they were staying?” There could be useful information or items at their hotel.
Erwin shrugged. “No clue.”
Vera thanked her again and left. Erwin was understandably shaken by her boss’s death.
She had been holding back to a degree until Vera pushed harder.
And still Erwin’s vague and somewhat reluctant answers made one thing very clear: Vera needed more on Valeri Erwin and Alicia Wilton before she could get a sense of the relationship between the two women and the man who was the apparent axis of their respective orbits.
When Vera reached the sidewalk, Bent was leaning against his truck.
“Did you learn anything useful?”
“Maybe. Seth Parson was someone from Alicia Wilton’s past. Erwin had seen them together, and Alicia tried to gloss it over.
Also, things between Alicia and her husband had been tense lately, according to Erwin.
And Alicia had her mailing packages to New Orleans.
She doesn’t remember the addressee, but considering Parson was from New Orleans, that could be relevant. ”
“Did she know where Seth and the woman were staying or if they had just arrived in town?”
“They had been here for a bit, I think. She remembered seeing Alicia at lunch with Parson. But she didn’t know where he was staying or anything about the vehicle he was driving. She did hear Wilton on Friday morning telling Alicia that he would pick them up at their hotel.”
Bent straightened away from his truck. “Then I need to find that hotel.”
“Won’t be difficult as long as they were staying in town and not in Huntsville.” Fayetteville didn’t have that many options.
“I was thinking,” he said as he scrubbed a hand over his jaw, “if Alicia wanted to end her marriage and walk away with more than a tidy settlement, she might try offing her old man. But who was she running from? I mean, why run after murdering three people—unless someone was after you?”
“I’d go with Seth Parson.” Vera laughed a dry sound. “Except he’s dead too. Since we have no idea who the other female victim was, it’s hard to conclude anything about her—beyond the fact that she was deceased at the time as well.”
“There’s one thing we can be sure about.”
Vera searched his face for a clue. “What’s that?”
“Someone wanted at least one of the four dead and made it a point to ensure no one was left to tell the tale.”
“No question about that.” Vera glanced up at the windows of Erwin’s apartment that overlooked the street. “How sad to have everything and still not be able to trust others or to even protect yourself.”
“Yeah. Money can’t always buy the thing that matters the most.” Bent touched her arm. “I should look into where Parson was staying. You can join in the fun.”
Her SUV was at his office. She might as well.
The sudden clang of the ringtone she’d chosen for her cell made her jump.
“God, I need to change that ringtone.” She dug around in her bag until she found the source of the annoying noise.
She frowned at her sister Eve’s name and face flashing on the screen.
She almost groaned at the possibility that Luna may actually have gone into labor after all the stress she’d been through today.
Or the possibility that Jerome’s father had died.
Jesus, this day needed to get better. At least a little bit.
“Hey, Eve, what’s up?”
“You need to get over here,” she said, her voice a near whisper.
Vera frowned. “What’s going on?”
“That woman—Geneva, Jackie’s sister—is here, and she’s ranting about how she knows Luna had something to do with Jackie’s fall down the stairs. She’s acting crazy.”
Damn. “I’ll be right there.”
“Maybe you should bring Bent with you. This is bad, Vee. Really bad.”
“Just take care of Luna. I’ll be right there.”
Vera looked to Bent. “We have to go to Luna’s first. Geneva whatever-her-name-is has shown up at her house, making accusations that Luna was involved in Jackie’s fall.” Vera didn’t even want to consider how this day could get any worse.
He reached for the passenger door to open it for her. “Let’s go.”
“Thanks.” She appreciated him coming. They needed all the backup they could get. This was evidently going to get ugly.