Dreaming Death (Krewe of Hunters #32) - Heather Graham Page 0,18
else who might have wanted Ms. Bingham dead?” Stacey asked.
“Oh, hell yes! Dozens of people. Men and women—of all orientations. Billie Bingham was happy to supply anyone with anything. She solicited people. And don’t get me wrong, believe it or not, there are a lot of decent—sincerely decent—people in Washington. But anyone can become a victim of power. Billie knew how to solicit people, and how to bribe them...and also blackmail them. She was horrible! So sure, half the wives in Washington and maybe a quarter of the husbands would love to kill her as well.” She sighed deeply. “My kids are going to go through this all over again, too.”
“Where are your children?” Stacey asked. “Dinnertime, isn’t it?”
“Harris has football and Christy is in chorus tonight. They won’t be home until about eight,” Cindy said. “This will mean more trips to the therapist!” She shook her head and then looked at them. “Are you sure I can’t get you anything? Maria makes a delicious Arnold Palmer. Squeezes the lemons herself and brews tea leaves. She’s wonderful. She’s the best thing I got out of the damned divorce and eighteen years of marriage.”
“Hmm, sure, then. I’d love an Arnold Palmer. How about you, Stacey?” Keenan asked.
“An Arnold Palmer. Sure. How nice.”
The way Stacey looked at him, he realized they’d been going all day. They’d never even stopped for a meal break.
He returned her look with one he hoped said Sorry!
Cindy called for Maria. A smiling woman in sweats with dark eyes and very dark hair hurried into the room from what Keenan thought had to be the kitchen and dining areas.
“Hello, hello!” she said, nodding in greeting to Keenan and Stacey. Then she looked at her employer.
“Maria, they’d love to try your Arnold Palmers, please,” Cindy said.
“Ah!” Maria said, beaming. “Yes, right away!”
She started to walk into the kitchen. Stacey said, “Let me give you a hand,” and leaped up to follow.
“Oh, she’s fine,” Cindy said.
But Stacey was already gone.
Keenan turned and smiled at Cindy. “She seems lovely. And such a help, I’m sure. Raising two teens on your own can’t be easy.”
“Oh no, the trials and tribulations of youth,” Cindy said and added bitterly, “All enhanced by scandal their father created!”
“I am so sorry for what you’ve been through.”
“Well, I know murder is horrible. But in the case of Billie Bingham...well, maybe it will save a lot of people in the future. Marriages. Families.”
“Is there anyone you remember specifically who might have wanted to hurt her?”
“Specifically? No. I told you, dozens of people might have wanted to hurt her. But she was surely killed by that crazy guy. I’m sorry for the other two—how terrifying. How tragic. But...if he was going to kill someone else, at least he picked a deserving victim.”
“When was the last time you were in contact with her?” Keenan asked again.
“I was never in contact with her. Her law firm is Dickens and Dillard. You can call them. They’ll have the details. It’s been nearly two years since she threatened to sue me, since my divorce was final. I just shut up and decided I was going to have a life—without my husband. And I’ve done it. I’ve created a good life here. Maybe I should have left town. But I didn’t know where to go. I’m originally from Mississippi. I went to school out west and met my husband there. Years ago. I didn’t want to go back west, and I didn’t want to go back to Mississippi. Anyway... Call the attorneys. They’ll have records of what went on. But as I said, we’re talking a few years now.”
Stacey and Maria returned bearing glasses of ice-tea lemonade drinks.
“I’ve sipped already!” Stacey said. “Delicious.”
“Truly delicious,” Keenan said, swallowing down most of his glass in a gulp. Cindy was looking at her watch. They were delaying her tennis match.
He rose. Stacey followed suit.
“Thank you,” he told Cindy. “And, Maria, thank you. We won’t take up any more of your time. If we need you...”
“You know where to find me,” Cindy said with forced cheer.
They waved as Cindy stood on the porch to see them off.
When they were in the car, he started the ignition and turned to Stacey.
“What did you get from her? Was she prepared?”
“Oh, yes. I asked Maria if Mrs. Hardy was home all night last night. Maria immediately became very nervous. But she did say yes, repeatedly, no matter how I pressed.”