Chapter Thirteen #2
Owen moved closer to Leah as if anticipating throwing himself in front of her. “Mrs. Douglas, we’re here to talk about inconsistencies in the events leading up to Raymond’s murder. It would be very helpful if you could give us a few minutes of your time.”
The fury in her expression made Leah certain she would say no, but then she backed up a step. “Fine. But unless you have something relevant to say, I’m not interested.”
Leah relaxed. She tried to see the situation from this woman’s perspective. Her ex-husband had been murdered—the father of her children. The source of her income. It could not be easy.
Then again, she was the one with the most to gain from his murder.
For that matter, she may have hired someone to come after Leah. After all, ten million was way better than five.
The entry hall flowed straight to the back of the house, where a large, open room served as a living, dining and kitchen space. It was beautiful, perfect for family living. Whoever designed the home had done a great job.
“Sit if you like,” Louise Douglas said as she dropped onto the sofa.
“Let me start,” Leah said to Owen. He gave her a nod, and she turned to the ex-wife.
“I barely knew Raymond. I met him two weeks ago, just briefly. Then he called and asked me out. I was to meet him at the restaurant Saturday night. That, of course, didn’t happen.
” Leah swallowed, her throat dry. She drew in a breath and went on.
“I have no idea why he added me as a beneficiary to his insurance policy. It was totally out of left field and happened before I even knew him.”
Louise stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter. When she’d regained control of herself once more, she swiped at her eyes. “You, that Isla, your roommate, spent endless weekends at that lake house with Raymond. Don’t even pretend you didn’t know him. Please.”
Leah looked at Owen. “I wish I could prove this to you, but I can’t.
Since we’d barely met, I have nothing to show you or to use as proof.
I can only say that I am as stunned as you.
In fact…” She probably should have run this part past Owen, but she’d only just thought of it.
“I don’t want the money. I’ll gladly sign whatever necessary to ensure that it all goes to you. ”
Her gaze narrowed again. “I don’t believe you.”
“I will.” Leah glanced at Owen. He gave no indication that she should stop with this line of discussion. “I can tell Mr. Bechel at the insurance company. I’ll tell Detective Lambert. Sign whatever I need to sign.”
“I’ll have my attorney contact you.” Her face warned that she wasn’t completely convinced but was willing to see if it worked out.
“Someone,” Owen said, “made an attempt on Leah’s life last night.”
The woman’s heavily manicured eyebrows shot upward. “Why bring that up to me?” She glanced at Leah. “You know the saying, ‘Live by the sword, die by the sword’? You can’t go around sleeping with other women’s husbands without finding trouble.”
“First,” Leah said, angry now, “I wasn’t sleeping with anyone. Second, you and Raymond have been divorced for three years.”
“I suppose you know the exact date the divorce was final.”
“No. But it was part of the research we’ve done since the murder. I have a right to look into who might be involved in trying to kill me.”
Louise smiled, a vicious expression. “You should probably talk to that roommate of yours. According to my research, she’s the ruthless one. I suspect this whole scheme was her idea. It’s just the sort of thing she would do to get ahead. Tell me, were the two of you going to split the five million?”
“Leah has already been cleared of any suspicion in Raymond’s murder,” Owen said. “Your alibi, on the other hand, hinges on your mother’s testimony and that of your children.”
Fury contorted her face. “Do you think my children would lie for me if I was MIA when their father was murdered? Please.”
“I have no idea,” Owen said flatly. “Would they?”
She shot to her feet. “I think it’s time for you to go. As I told Detective Lambert, if you or the police have anything else to say to me or to ask of me, you can contact my attorney.”
Owen stood. Leah did the same. The ex-wife led the way back to the front door. Leah’s head was spinning a little. She tried to think of what else she should say, but she really knew nothing relevant to this woman.
At the door, Owen hesitated, one hand on Leah’s back, causing her to hesitate as well.
“Are you familiar with a company called After Dark?” he asked. “It’s one of your former husband’s investments. It appears to be an exclusive catering service.”
“I recall some mention of it,” she said, “but I’m not really familiar with any of his investments. What of it?”
“There’s a black sedan that’s been watching Leah. Following us at times. It’s leased to that company.”
“Knowing Raymond, he failed to follow through with whatever he owed the owner or other investors. Who knows which employee of his or of the business may be using the car?” She sent a look toward Leah.
“Perhaps someone who isn’t pleased that their boss or investing partner was murdered and who hopes to find the truth. ”
“Detective Lambert will be contacting you about the car,” Owen warned. “Perhaps you’ll be able to provide him with more information.”
“I’m certain my attorney can answer the detective’s questions.”
She closed the door behind them.
Leah and Owen didn’t speak until they were in the car, driving away.
“She made no bones about showing dislike for her ex-husband,” Leah pointed out.
Owen glanced at her. “I’m not sure that dislike is a strong enough word.”
“All kinds of motive there,” Leah said, feeling very tired now.
“She didn’t show any surprise when I mentioned the car. She could have someone watching you. But the real question is, did she hire that someone to try and hurt you?”
“What about a boyfriend? She and Raymond have been divorced for three years. Could she have a secret boyfriend working with her?”
“She insisted to Lambert she wasn’t dating and there was no one in her life. My research specialist found nothing on her social media accounts or any neighbors who mentioned seeing a frequent male visitor. No black sedan hanging around.”
“Maybe she was still in love with Raymond.” Didn’t seem likely, but who knew?
“Or maybe she just doesn’t want the children to know she has a social life. She might be concerned they would tell their father, and that would somehow be a problem for her.”
“Possibly,” Leah agreed. “She apparently took him back to court a number of times for more money.”
“Maybe the money is more important to her than a social life.”
“I can see that,” Leah agreed.
Louise Douglas was angry and resentful of her husband, but did that mean she wanted to have him killed? Would she have gone that far? Would she have tried to have Leah killed for the other five million? She had seemed startled when Leah offered to turn it over to her.
The woman had suggested Alyssa was at the bottom of all this, but Leah wasn’t convinced. Maybe because she didn’t want to believe it.
She thought of the way that masked man had beaten her head against the floor and tried to set her on fire.
Would the woman she had believed to be her best friend—like a sister—have hired someone to do such a thing?
No… Leah didn’t want to believe that.
But could she really be certain? Of anything or anyone in all this?
She turned to the man driving… She was certain of him. And that was almost worth having to go through this nightmare.
“I think I need to take that rest now.”
He glanced at her, concern in his eyes. “Heading that way, then.”
Leah relaxed in the seat and closed her eyes. She stopped thinking about all the horrors of the past six days and let her mind wander to those kisses they had shared. And the feel of his strong body next to her last night.
She couldn’t imagine a better way to take her mind off all this than doing a little more of exactly that sort of therapy.