“Find anything useful?” asked Decker.
She took a few minutes to fill him on what she had learned about Draymont and Lancer.
“So partners in blackmail from way back?”
“And both forced to pull their tent and go play in another sandbox,” she said.
“Florida made sense for Lancer, since her mother was here. I wonder why Gamma?”
“They just need dirty little secrets, and they’re off and running.”
“And being part of an investigation firm would be a great platform to get those secrets,” agreed Decker. “So, they met on Capitol Hill but we don’t know exactly how?”
“She was lobbying and he was protecting.”
“And they were both doing a side business.”
“Maybe they were initially doing it separately and then that’s what drew them together.”
“Maybe,” said Decker.
“So what did you find out?”
Decker told her about his meetings with Gloria Chase and Barry and Tyler Davidson.
“So Langley and Gloria Chase actually ran into Judge Cummins at this restaurant?”
“Yeah. And Barry Davidson might have seen and overheard it, too.”
“You think he knew about them dating?”
“It’s kind of a small town. Tyler was surprised by it, but his dad didn’t seem to be. And despite what he told us about wanting to reconcile with Cummins, he said he’d gotten on with his life, but he was obviously lying. And another thing.” He told her about Davidson’s use of the word butchered.
“No way he could have known that,” said White. “We held that detail back.”
“He claims he just assumed that from my telling him that she had been stabbed.”
“Do you buy that?”
“No more than I did his moving on with his life.”
“So you think he had her killed somehow?”
“I don’t know. Could he have made it over there in time to kill her and then get back for his next Zoom? I guess it’s possible. But Tyler was adamant that his father never left the condo that night.”
“The ME was really certain on the timing of the deaths. Even without Tyler’s alibi it would have been really tight for Barry to commit the murders. And then to just do a Zoom meeting right after?”
“Yeah, he actually made that point.” He paused. “How are your kids?”
“I’m driving up to Baltimore to see them now. I plan to fly back down in the morning, unless there’s anything else you want me to check up here.”
“I guess not. You’ve done good work. We now know they were running a blackmail scheme up there and they were probably running one down here.”
“Any word on Kelly’s killer?”
“None. They found a car abandoned about five miles away. No plates and wiped clean, not a print on the damn thing. Whoever it was is long gone by now.”
“Unless they’re hanging around to take shots at us.”
“That could be,” agreed Decker.
“So watch yourself. Alex also told me you don’t really care about your own safety when you’re on a case.”
“Yeah, I’ve been trying to work on that.”
“How’s Andrews?”
“I went by to see him. He told me that he tried to get a job with Gamma but was rejected.”
“Shit, are you kidding me? And he still worked the case?”
“I think he’s feeling some guilt for that one. But he’s on the bench anyway with his wound. He said that he went fishing with Kanak Roe four years ago and the man told him about his terminal illness. He told me that Roe seemed to want to make amends for some things he’d done in his life, only he didn’t tell Andrews what they were. He also thinks Roe wasn’t sure his daughter was the one to lead Gamma into the future. She might cut corners too much. And he intimated something else.”
“What?”
“That the daughter might have had something to do with her father’s disappearance.”
“What! Do you believe that?”
“No, but I don’t disbelieve it, either. Say hello to your family. And then get back down here. I need you.”
White clicked off.
And smiled broadly at his last remark.
Chapter 55
A?N HOUR-AND-A-HALF ride later in heavy traffic White arrived in Baltimore. It was after ten and she was tired but also excited. She drove to her row house and parked out front. She had phoned ahead, and Calvin and Jacky were waiting at the front door for her.