Chapter Twenty-Two
A FEW MINUTES LATER , Laredo settled in with Diana back at their table, in a much noisier but also much warmer place. Christmas carols and yummy scents seemed to mock their situation again.
Her gray eyes looked sad, but a determined tilt lifted her chin now. “You were right, Rachel. My husband spent some time at Jill’s place that day. Hence, the reason he left his job early. But she assured me he was very much alive when he left her house.”
Harris rolled his eyes. “Of course, she’d say that.”
Diana started tearing a paper napkin into tiny pieces. “Here’s what else Jill shared. Apparently, Adam said they were meeting for the last time. He broke up with her.” A pile of small paper pieces grew in front of her. “I asked her if she loved Adam. She said yes. I... I didn’t ask her whether he loved her. I guess I just didn’t want to know the answer.”
“Do you believe her?” Laredo frowned. If Adam were still alive, he’d have a few honest words with the man. How someone could cause so much pain to a woman like Diana was beyond Laredo.
“I do.” She started tearing another paper napkin. “She said she has a video of Adam leaving her house safe and sound with the time stamp.”
“Interesting that she kept that video all these years. Wasn’t she afraid of Noah finding it?” Tex rubbed his forehead.
Rachel shrugged. “Maybe she suspected she’d need an alibi one day.”
“I told her she needed to give that information to the police, or I would. She agreed to give a statement. I should go to the police station and say what I found out from Dr. Casey Silvers, as well.” Diana grimaced, then raised her chin again. “That would also give me a chance to inquire whether there’s any progress in their search for Pat. I know Marina keeps her finger on the pulse of the police investigations in both states, and I appreciate it. But she’s far away. And I’m here.”
“Good idea.” Rachel munched on a barbecue rib. “So, if some sinister means caused Adam’s heart attack, we have four suspects.”
Diana visibly swallowed. “Jill, Noah, and... and my father. Who is the fourth one?”
Rachel sighed. “Your mom. I imagine she wouldn’t want her husband’s reputation ruined. And yes, I remember what you said about your parents’ adoring Adam, but we’d better check to make sure. And his death could still be a heart attack due to natural causes, for all we know.”
“But if it wasn’t and let’s say Jill visited Adam later in my home... Some substances can cause symptoms similar to a heart attack.” Diana tapped her fingers on the table. Tap, tap, tap. “She could’ve given Adam such a substance with food. After asking to have dinner with him for old time’s sake.”
“So she’s a more viable suspect than Noah.” Laredo rubbed his temples. His head hurt just thinking about all of this. He missed working with horses and cows. Things were much simpler on the ranch. More trustworthy. Well, except when it came to his father’s story.
Laredo scooped up another french fry and bit into it, but he might as well be chewing on the cardboard. And usually, he loved french fries.
Rachel made more fries disappear, clearly not having his problem. “We need to narrow down more people with a motive. I have to ask this question: Who benefitted from Adam’s death financially?”
Diana held Rachel’s gaze. “That would be me. Adam didn’t have a will. I inherited the entire estate. I gave half to medical research charities he favored and to his parents. His mother was still furious it wasn’t the entire amount. But I’d be the most interested person in this case.”
“What about people at work?” Laredo searched for other ideas because he trusted Diana completely already. “Someone who envied his success? Someone he argued with maybe? Disgruntled patients or relatives of disgruntled patients?”
“I’ll have to think about that. Nobody comes to mind right now. The only person I know who argued with Adam was Pat.” Diana forked a lettuce leaf with vengeance and munched on it. “Oh. I should’ve mentioned it already. Adam talked me into hiring a maid. She was there that day.”
Rachel’s gaze sharpened as the fork stilled in her hands. “We need to talk to the maid.”
“We can’t.” Diana sighed. “She died in a car accident about six months after his death.”
Laredo and Rachel exchanged glances. That didn’t look good.
“Email me and Marina the maid’s information,” Rachel said. “We’ll need to look into it.”
Diana’s eyes went huge. “You don’t think that... She came with high recommendations, and she was very sweet. Oh no... But why would she do it?”
“There could be so many reasons.” Rachel shrugged. “Someone could’ve paid her. Or Adam might’ve flirted with her and made her think he was in love with her but then said nothing could be between them. She could’ve stolen something valuable from him and been at risk of being discovered. She might’ve eavesdropped on the phone and found out about his infidelities and blackmailed him, and then he threatened her. Or a combination of any of the above. I’m not saying she poisoned your husband. But we do need to look into her case closely.”
“If only I thought about all this at that time. After the day he died.” Diana’s features contorted. “Now all the food from that day is long gone. Nothing can be tested.”
“It’s not your fault.” Laredo gritted his teeth. It took all his willpower not to reach out and gather her in his arms.
“What about security camera recordings at your house?” Rachel polished off her fries.
Tex pushed his plate with fries toward her.
A deep sigh escaped Diana’s lungs. “It might sound weird, but Adam didn’t want security cameras. Even though I said it would make me feel much safer on all those long nights when he was gone for medical research conferences. He said the most valuable stuff was in the safe and it was hard to break in, anyway.”
Harris frowned. “I hate to say it, but he probably didn’t want you to accidentally discover his, um, visitors.”
Rachel’s hand stilled with a fry from her husband’s plate. “Hold on. Did you check the contents of that safe after his death?”
Diana’s grip on her tea glass visibly tightened. “It took me six months to be able to do so. But yes, I did. There were a few family heirlooms, diamond cufflinks, and an expensive watch. And an extra wedding band.”
“An extra wedding band?” Laredo echoed, then regretted his words.
“Yeah. I thought the latter was strange, but I was too grief-stricken to suspect infidelity. I guess he needed an exact copy of the wedding ring because he took his off so often he might lose it. Two months after our wedding, he forgot the ring at the hotel during one of those medical conferences. I was upset and couldn’t understand why he took it off in the first place. He must’ve learned from that.” Diana’s pale lips thinned. “Anyway, I can ask the neighbors if they remember anyone stopping by my house that day. But I won’t hold my breath.” She let the glass go, and her fingers fisted. “Why didn’t I suspect this earlier?”
“You had no reason to. Please don’t blame yourself.” He touched her hand but then slid his away under the others’ watchful gazes. He shoved a few fries into his mouth to hide his embarrassment. He still barely sensed the taste, but he made ribs join the fries.
“Could it be that, after discovering Adam’s infidelity, Pat also discovered something fishy about his death?” Diana made a sharp intake of breath. “Maybe she was kidnapped as a result.” She paled even further. She must be thinking about the alternative.
Laredo pushed cold iced tea around the lump in his throat, then exchanged glances with Rachel. There would be no reason for kidnappers to keep Pat alive, at least, not that he could think of.
Harris’s jaw set in a frustrated line. He must be thinking the same.
Rachel frowned but didn’t say anything, and neither would Laredo because he didn’t want Diana hurt more than she already was. Well, he didn’t want her hurt at all.
Based on how her mouth twisted, she realized it on her own. Unless Pat had gone off the grid on some romantic adventure without a care in the world, including any care for her best friend—which looked less and less likely—the chances of finding her alive now were slim.
“God can still make a miracle.” He brushed his knuckles against Diana’s hand again. He needed this connection with her as much as she needed support. He couldn’t lose her to despair.
Diana’s half smile was sad. “Christmas miracle?”
He nodded, praying for it.
Rachel pushed her empty plate away, and her fingers drummed on the table. She was clearly ready to get going. Tex and Harris had already wolfed down their lunch, minus Tex’s fries, the majority of which Rachel had gotten.
Laredo glanced at Diana. He didn’t want to rush her, and most of her plate remained untouched. But if she wasn’t going to eat, she might need rest. She’d been put through so much in mere hours. Nearly everything she’d known had become tainted. Nearly everyone she’d trusted had or might’ve betrayed her trust. And while she already mourned the huge loss of a husband, she might be mourning the huge loss of a friend soon. That could crush a person.
He leaned forward. “Would you like to have some respite at a hotel? The rest of us will be glad to continue the search.”
The way her head whipped up made him realize his mistake. “Are you kidding me? I’m not going to be lounging on the couch while the rest of you are working and while Pat is still missing. I’ll stop by the police station first and then start visiting the homes of the people on the list one by one.”
He liked the new determination in her eyes, but his protective streak got the best of him.
“Later, we should all get different rental cars. Because these ones might now be known by whoever is behind all this—after all, the one I’m driving was tailed, so it’s now known.” Rachel drained her water.
“I need to stop by the house.” Diana troubled her lower lip.
Rachel shook her head. “Not a good idea. It might be watched.”
Diana looked away, her expression getting pained, which made Laredo’s rib cage constrict. “I need to check some things in Adam’s former den and in his office. I... I haven’t looked through it since his death. And maybe something will point me to what happened to him. Please.”
Rachel grimaced. “Okay. Let’s trade rental vehicles first. Then I’ll drive around your neighborhood and see if there’s any tail. We’ll also need to check the interior and exterior perimeter.”
“I’ll help,” Laredo said quickly. He wanted to keep Diana safe. But if something was important to her, it was important to him, as well.
“If anything looks remotely suspicious, you won’t go in, okay?” Rachel waited for Diana’s nod, then continued, “Please let us know what you find. Even if it seems insignificant at first. Also, could you get a different disguise? Something you don’t normally wear. I have another wig for you to use if you’d like. Long chestnut-brown hair.”
Diana blinked. “Well, I have a lightweight hooded red coat. Pat talked me into buying it, but it felt too bright for me to wear. And I have knee-high burgundy boots that I didn’t wear for the same reason.”
Rachel got up. “Perfect. It’ll go great with scarlet lipstick and a cat eye.”
Diana pushed back from the table. “I’ll also need to speak to my father. Ask him about Adam’s accusations and see Dad’s reaction. He might not want to talk to me about it, but he’ll have to.”