AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The couple fell silent and looked at him, apparently waiting for him to explain what he was doing there. Decker felt this curious scrutiny while he sipped his wine.
“I suppose you heard about Meryl Hawkins?” he began.
DeAngelo nodded. “Strangest damn thing. Thought he was in prison for life. Then he’s here and then he gets killed. Is that why you’re back?”
“Sort of, yes.”
“Are you looking for who killed him?” asked Mrs. DeAngelo anxiously.
“Yes, and I’m looking at something else too.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“If Meryl Hawkins didn’t kill your neighbors all those years ago, who did?”
The DeAngelos had both raised their wineglasses to take a sip. And both of them nearly spilled their drinks.
DeAngelo said, “I don’t understand. That Hawkins fellowdidkill them. That was proven.”
“He was convicted of the murders, that’s true,” said Decker.
“But isn’t that the same thing?” asked Mrs. DeAngelo.
“Usually yes,” conceded Decker. “But not in all cases. I’m taking a fresh look at the case. You two are the only ones left who lived here when the killings took place.”
DeAngelo nodded. “That’s right. The Murphys moved to Georgia. And the Ballmers retired to, where was it again, hon?”
“Hilton Head.”
“And the other house was empty,” noted Decker.
“That’s right. Been empty for a while. It’s empty again, though a couple families have come and gone in between. There was a family moved into the Richards house, but they didn’t stay all that long.”
“Wouldn’t catch me moving in there,” said Mrs. DeAngelo. “I’d have nightmares all the time. I did anyway after what happened.”
“So that night you reported you didn’t hear or see anything,” said Decker.
“That’s right,” replied DeAngelo. “Raining like crazy. Thunder and lightning, and the wind. Holy Jesus. I remember it clear as day. We were afraid we’d get a tornado.”
“And yet you still managed to fall asleep in front of the TV,” his wife reminded him. “We were watching some movie.”
“Blade Runner,” said Decker. “That’s what you said.”
“That’s right,” said DeAngelo, looking impressed. “You’ve got a good memory.”
“So nothing you can remember from that night?”
Mrs. DeAngelo said, “Well, I saw that one car come in. Oh, it was before the storm. I was just finishing making dinner. Saw it pass by when I was looking out the window. I told you all that.”
“That would be David Katz’s car. A four-door Mercedes sedan. Silver.”
“Yes, that’s right. Beautiful car.”
“Probably cost more than our house,” commented DeAngelo.
“And you didn’t see him get out of the car when he got to the Richardses’?”
“No. Where I was standing in the kitchen, my view is blocked by the house in between ours.”
