Chapter 24 #2
“Around one, maybe a little after. I told him he’d have to see the sheriff. The deputy said the same thing. I didn’t want to tell him where you lived.”
And yet he’d found the farm anyway. “Well, I appreciate you letting me know. I’ll pass it along to Bent.” She had no intention of telling her they had already spoken to Larry Parson.
“That’s not all.” Erwin grabbed her arm. “It was him.”
“Him?” Vera’s gaze narrowed as she tried to read Erwin’s mind. Could she not just get to the point?
“The guy who attacked us. I know it was him.”
If she’d said he was the Easter bunny, Vera wouldn’t have been more surprised. “How do you know? You said our attacker was wearing a ski mask.”
“He was. And gloves. I remembered that too. Because after he hit me, he wrapped his arm around my neck and choked me. I guess he’d expected me to be knocked out, but I wasn’t. The gloves felt rough against my skin. I thought I was a goner, for sure.”
That might actually explain why Erwin had lost consciousness without a serious blow to the head. There were certain choke holds that would put a big-ass man down for several minutes.
Still, that didn’t clarify how she’d recognized Parson as their attacker. Or why she didn’t say before that he’d choked her.
“You never mentioned a choke hold before,” Vera pointed out.
“I know. I didn’t think of it until he got close to me. I guess it triggered a memory. He was exactly the right size,” Erwin effused. “I remember how broad his chest was. He held me tight against him. His arm felt like a tree trunk, and my head barely reached his shoulders.”
“But the size of his arms or even his height can’t be used as the only means to make an official identification.”
“I know. I know. I watch crime TV all the time. It was his aftershave,” Erwin insisted, as if that was all Vera needed to know. “I recognized his aftershave. I’ve smelled it before. But I didn’t think of it until he showed up today and I smelled him.”
Admittedly, the scenario was possible. Olfactory memories could be powerful.
Some folks wore a memorable scent—good or bad was subject to personal opinion.
Not that Vera had noticed his aftershave, but she hadn’t gotten that close to him and she was covered in the stench of puke.
As for the brand of aftershave, she decided not to mention that he likely wore something easily purchased just about anywhere.
Parson, the live one, didn’t seem like the type to spend a lot of time or money selecting a fragrance.
Very doubtful that the aftershave alone meant anything.
But she couldn’t ignore that between his size and the aftershave, Erwin’s description was leaning toward somewhat of a coincidence, and Vera didn’t believe in coincidences.
“Okay, Bent and I will question him. See what we can find out. I’m sure he can verify when he arrived in Fayetteville.”
“I really believe it was him.” Erwin nodded enthusiastically. “Under the circumstances I’m understandably worried about being here alone. I don’t have an alarm system. What if he comes here?”
“I can ask if Bent can spare the manpower to put a detail on your place.”
“Oh thank you, thank you. That would be great.” She visibly sagged with relief.
“I’ll let you know what he says.” Vera was beyond ready to go. She was way past tired, and hunger pains were suddenly gnawing at her. When had she last eaten? Oh yeah, the burger on the way back from Nashville.
“I’ve been thinking.” Erwin chattered on as she followed Vera to the door.
“Alicia’s old boyfriend being one of the victims has to mean something.
If she was caught cheating by Thomas and they divorced—for any reason actually—she was set to gain a considerable settlement.
Plus whatever gifts he’d given her.” She made a puffing sound of disbelief.
“The lovestruck man had given her plenty, trust me. I can’t tell you how many deliveries came from Tiffany’s and all those other fancy jewelry stores in New York.
Some gifts came all the way from Paris. For that matter, look at that car she drives. ”
How strange, Vera mused, that Larry Parson had just gone over those same details.
Coincidence or collusion? But after what Vera had learned today, it would take a lot more than hearsay or conjecture to put Alicia back at the top of the suspect list. Rather than tell Erwin as much, she opted to let her talk.
She might just say more than she intended.
“But a divorce wasn’t what she wanted,” Erwin added quietly, as if she feared someone might overhear. “If Thomas died, she would likely get more.”
If this was true, the question was, How did Erwin know this? Had she looked at the will? Obviously.
“Are you telling me now that you heard Alicia say that’s what she wanted, or are you making an assumption?” Vera countered. “Assumptions don’t count.”
Erwin shrugged. “Any fool would see that makes the most sense. Surely a judge would.”
Judges weren’t fans of hearsay. “Thank you for the information, Valeri. If you think of anything relevant, let me know.”
“You can count on it,” she assured her.
Vera started for the door as if she intended to leave but turned back once more.
She had a couple more things to go over with the chatty personal assistant.
And she wanted to drop a couple little bombshells before she left, just to see the woman’s reaction.
“When I was here earlier today talking to your downstairs neighbor, why did you peek out this door and not say anything?”
Erwin frowned. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. When were you here?”
“Around one thirty.”
Erwin’s mouth made an O. “That’s easy, I wasn’t at home. I was at the mansion, remember? That’s when I saw the guy who attacked us.”
Yeah, she had said around oneish. So maybe Erwin wasn’t here.
“Do you have a roommate, or does anyone else have a key to your home?”
“No way. I mean Thomas did, but he’s the only person.
He had a key in case something happened to me and there were work papers here that he needed.
I sometimes brought work home.” She swallowed hard, her throat struggling with the effort.
“Since he’s dead . . . that means someone else was in my home.
” She slowly turned and surveyed the room.
“They touched my things.” Erwin whipped back around to glare wide-eyed at Vera. “They could come back!”
As much as she annoyed Vera, and no matter that Erwin still held a spot high on the suspect list, she could very well be right. It might not be safe for her to be here. If she wasn’t the killer and the killer felt she represented a threat, then she could be in danger.
“We’ll send someone over to check for prints. I’ll call a locksmith for you. Your locks need to be changed today. Now.”
Her eyes growing wider with Vera’s every word, Erwin nodded frantically. “Okay.”
“For now, stay put,” Vera warned. “Keep the door locked and your phone in your hand. I’ll call Bent right now and get the ball rolling on someone to keep an eye on your place.
Maybe you should have a close look around and make sure nothing is missing.
Like any keys you have to the Wilton property.
” Oh hell, that may have been the reason for the intrusion.
More nodding. “I’ll check everything and call you.”
Vera managed a tight smile. “Good.” As much as she would really prefer that Erwin had called Bent, she let it go. Now for the bombshells.
“One more thing.” Vera watched her closely. “Why didn’t you tell me that Thomas Wilton’s first wife cheated on him?”
Erwin drew back as if Vera had slapped her. “I . . . I.” She shook her head. “Who told you such a thing?” She made a face as if she didn’t understand the question. “You think Lena cheated?” Big shrug. “Why would I know something like that?”
So it was possibly true. Vera lifted a shoulder in a shrug of her own. “You and Thomas were so close, I thought perhaps he’d confided in you.”
Erwin’s chin came up in response to the challenge, and her entire demeanor changed. “Well, we were close, yes. And we did talk about most things. But some matters are just private and don’t need to be brought up again. I honestly don’t see how it’s relevant at this point, anyway.”
Definitely trouble with the first wife. Vera couldn’t wait to see if she’d been keeping this other little secret as well. “Were you aware Alicia is pregnant?”
“What?” Erwin pressed a hand to her chest as if too startled to speak for a moment. “Is she? I mean, how do you know this? Is the baby okay after what happened?”
“The baby is fine.” Vera smiled, an expression just as fake as the other woman’s surprise. “You should get your stories straight, Valeri. Hiding things only makes you look guilty.”
“I don’t like to speak out of school,” she whined. “Thomas was very private about those things.”
“We have to know all the secrets if you expect us to find his killer.” Vera studied her a moment. “Unless, of course, you don’t want us to find him . . . or her.”
Vera was out the door and closing it behind her before Erwin could pull together a response.
As she made her way to her SUV, she called Bent and gave him the update on Erwin. A deputy would be in place in the next fifteen minutes. Then she contacted a local locksmith—one she had used before—who would be right behind the deputy.
As tired and hungry as Vera was, going home would have to wait. She intended to have another conversation with Mr. Larry Parson.