“There’s at least one thing,” noted Decker. “We just have to find it. And there was bruising on her face.”
“Yeah, I noticed that, too.”
White said, “Which means they beat her up before killing her.”
Decker added, “They needed information. I wonder if they got it.”
Andrews said, “What would Lancer know that they needed? Something about Gamma? Hey, I know I thought it was a stretch, but do you think this really does tie into Kanak Roe’s disappearance?”
“Possibly,” said Decker. “But why let three years pass?”
“Maybe something just came to light,” said White. “And they had to act on it.”
Decker glanced at her sharply, a light sparking behind his eyes, but he remained silent.
Doris Kline and the Perlmans were in Kline’s yard and watching all the police activity.
Trevor Perlman walked over to them. The man was pale and disheveled, very unlike the man they had met the first time. He said, “I know you can’t tell us much, but the dead person isn’t Barry or Tyler, is it?”
“No,” said Andrews. “But any reason why you think it might have been?”
“With Julia dead, I just thought they would be the most likely ones to be in there.”
Decker said, “Did you see anything suspicious today or last night?”
“No. I went to bed early and I’ve been out most of the day. I just got back in time to see all this. Should we be, I mean, do you think we could be in danger? My wife is beyond scared out of her wits. And so is Doris.”
Andrews said, “I’ll have the local cops make rounds until we solve this thing.”
“Thank you.” Perlman walked back to his wife and they went inside their home.
Decker motioned to Kline, who joined them.
“My God,” she said. “Another body. What the hell is going on?”
“Did you see anything?” asked Andrews.
“When?”
“Last night, anytime today.”
“Who was killed?”
“A woman, not from the neighborhood. She was killed elsewhere and placed in the judge’s house,” said White.
“Well, I didn’t see anyone carrying a body in, if that’s what you want to know. I did see you and Decker go in the front door earlier. But that was it.”
“No cars in the driveway, no strangers walking by?” asked Decker.
“No, nothing like that. It’s actually been pretty quiet.”
“Well, keep your eyes and ears open.”
“Trevor mentioned you’re going to have some cops around?”
“Yes,” said Andrews.
“Well, thank God. My life is passing by fast enough as it is. I don’t need anyone else to hurry it along.”
She walked briskly to her home and closed the door.
Andrews shook his head. “Can’t blame them for being scared.”
“No, you can’t,” said White while Decker just stared at a spot in the sky.
“What are you thinking, Decker?” said Andrews, who noticed this.
“I’m thinking how long before we find Patty Kelly, or her body.”
He started to walk off.
“Where are you going?” asked Andrews.
He called back over his shoulder. “Back to the hotel. But tomorrow morning I’m going back to Gamma. Feel free to come.”
“Why Gamma?” said White.
Decker stopped and turned. “Lancer and Draymont were both killed in the exact same way and placed in the exact same spot. So, in life, they must have had a direct connection. And we need to find out exactly what that connection is. Now, we know that Draymont had been to Lancer’s house. They might have had a relationship of some kind. But they worked together, that’s the low-hanging fruit.”
“But Gamma didn’t tell us anything before,” argued Andrews.
“That’s not an option the second time around,” replied Decker.
Chapter 43
IT WAS THE SAME CONFERENCE room, but the only Gamma person in it this time was Kasimira Roe. She was again dressed all in black, as though in mourning. And she had a tissue in one hand.
“Alice was moving up rapidly. She reminded me of myself in some ways.”
Decker, White, and Andrews were seated on the opposite side of the table.
“I can’t believe she was killed. And then put where Alan Draymont was.” She looked at Decker. “Did she, was the money…？”
He said nothing but his look was probably enough.