you must’ve had a plan for where you were going to be when the shit hit the fan with every person in your life coming for you. What was the plan, Ken?”
“I didn’t have a plan. If she did, I was unaware of it.”
“Did you actually speak to your wife on any kind of regular basis?”
“About what was for dinner and who was taking the trash cans out to the street for pickup. That kind of thing.”
“Wow, I really wish I had that kind of marriage, said no one ever.”
“I have to object to your tone, Lieutenant,” the lawyer said.
“Fuck you. I object to this man and his wife stealing millions from hundreds of people and then hiding the money somewhere only the two of them know and refusing to give back what they took. You ruined people’s lives, Ken. Don’t you care about that at all?”
“Ginny ruined people’s lives, and of course I care about it.”
“If that’s the case, what’re you doing to try to figure out where she hid the money?”
“I’ve turned over everything relevant to the federal investigators, and I’ve been retained here for more than twenty-four hours to answer your questions. What more would you have me do?”
“Where did she hide the money?”
“If I knew that, I would’ve told the Feds months ago. I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me.”
“So you actually asked her?”
“She said it was being taken care of, and I wasn’t to worry about it.”
“And that was good enough for you?”
“I couldn’t exactly beat it out of her.”
“I’m trying to decide whether you’re pathological or just stupid.”
“I don’t have to sit here and be insulted by you.”
“Yes, you actually do. In fact, maybe I should charge you with impeding a homicide investigation so I can keep you here a little longer to do some deep thinking about where the money might be.”
“You can’t charge him with that if he’s cooperating,” the lawyer said.
“Wanna make a bet? Your version of cooperating and mine are very different.”
“He’s told you what he knows.”
“Which is dick,” Sam said.
The lawyer flinched at her terminology. Poor baby. Had she offended him?
“He’s told you what he knows,” the lawyer said again, more pointedly this time.
“I’m going to be really honest with you, Ken,” Sam said. “If I find out that you knew anything that could’ve helped us figure out who killed Ginny or make restitution to her victims, I’ll throw the book at you so hard, it’ll give you a skull fracture. I’ll charge you with multiple felonies and do everything in my power to make your life a living hell. Do you understand me?”
“My life is already a living hell. My wife was murdered. My children, family and friends don’t speak to me. There’s nothing you can do that’s worse than the hell I’m already living in.”
“Don’t be so sure about that.”
“Is he free to go?” the lawyer asked.
“For now.” Disgusted with him and his client, Sam got up to leave the room and nearly ran smack into Avery Hill in the hallway.
“Oh damn. I knew I was forgetting something I was supposed to do today.”
“I’m hurt.”
Sam laughed. “No, you’re not. I’ve got one more thing to do, and then I’ll find you in my conference room.”
“Sounds good.”
“To you, maybe.”
He walked away, laughing.
Sam collected herself, took a deep breath and went into the room where Realtor Barbie and her middle-aged male attorney were waiting. Cheri looked quite a bit worse for wear after a night in jail. Her mascara was smudged under her eyes, her hair had gotten greasy, and the glow of the orange jumpsuit made her skin look washed out.
“It’s about time,” the attorney said.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I inconvenience you during my homicide investigation?”
“You have no good reason to retain my client.”
“Sure I do.”
“Are you going to tell us what that reason is?”
Sam took a seat across from them, noting Cheri looked terrified. Good. “I believe Cheri knew exactly what Ginny was up to and aided and abetted her crimes.”
Cheri gasped. “I didn’t!”
“Right at this moment, one of my very best detectives is tearing your life apart. He’s looking at everything, lifting every rock and peeking behind every door. If there’s anything there, he’ll find it. Like, for instance, if you got a kickback for your fake-ass ‘showings,’ Detective Green will find that. If your influx of cash doesn’t match up with your commissions, he’ll notice that. If you’ve got money hidden somewhere, he’ll find it. He’s one of the best I’ve ever worked with, and