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“You’re enjoying baiting him, aren’t you?” said Michelle after the man had left.
“I look for the small pleasures of life wherever I can find them.”
King and Michelle returned to the library, where Mason was clearing the tray.
“Here, let me help you.” King reached over and pushed the coffee cups together, spilling the remains from one in the process.
“Sorry,” said King. He dabbed up the spill with a napkin.
“Thanks, Sean,” said Mason as he picked up the tray. They followed him into the enormous kitchen that was outfitted with professional-grade appliances and every gizmo a cook would need to transform food into art.
King whistled. “I wondered how the Battles could dish up all that wonderful cuisine at those functions I attended.”
Mason smiled. “First-class. Mrs. Battle wouldn’t have it any other way.”
King perched on the edge of a table. “It’s a good thing you were still up when Remmy came home that night. What with everything she’s had to go through and all.”
“It’s been hard for the whole family,” said Mason.
“I bet it has. So she got here around eleven?”
“Just that. I remember looking at my watch when I heard her drive up.”
Michelle noted this down while King continued. “Were you still in the house when she got the phone call that Bobby had died?”
He nodded. “I was just finishing up some things and about to head out when she came running down the stairs. She was frantic, half-dressed, words coming out all jumbled. Took me a full minute to calm her down to where I could even understand her.”
“She said she called Eddie to come get her.”
“Only he wasn’t home. I wanted to drive her to the hospital, but she told me to stay here in case anyone called. She left about ten minutes later. When she got back, she looked like a ghost, no light in her eyes at all.”
Mason looked down, apparently embarrassed at his choice of words. “Anyway, then it turns out he was murdered. Now, Mrs. Battle’s a strong person. She can take a shot with the best of them. But two shots and that close together, that’s another story.”
“She seemed very composed this morning,” commented Michelle.
“She’s resilient,” he said, bristling. “And she has to be strong for everyone else.”
“Yes, Savannah seemed a little out of it. I guess she and her father were really very close,” said Michelle.
Mason offered no comment.
“Although she hasn’t been home that much over the last few years.”
“Hardly at all,” said Mason. “Whether that’s a good or bad thing I’m sure I couldn’t say.”
You already have, Mason, thought King. “Apparently, Savannah was home that night. I’m surprised that she didn’t go to the hospital with Remmy.”
“I don’t know if she was home or not. If she was, I didn’t see her.”
“Can I speak frankly, Mason?” said King.
The man turned to him, looking a little surprised. “I guess so.”
“Bobby’s death might not be connected to the other killings.”
“Okay,” said Mason slowly.
“So if he was killed by someone else, we have to start looking at motivations.”
