“Okay, but then why the whole rigmarole about her needing protection because of threats? I know we went over this before, but it still seems a muddle.”
“She really didn’t want someone to know she was dating or sleeping with other men. Look at the precautions she took with Dennis Langley. They drove all the way to Miami to have sex in a hotel. He was never invited over to her house. But the only way she could get Draymont into her house was by pretending he was protecting her. That was probably another appeal for her to latch on to Draymont. He had that cover built right into his job.”
“Decker, she must have really been afraid of someone to go to all those lengths.”
“Well, as it turned out, she was right to be afraid, wasn’t she?”
“You still think it was her husband, don’t you?”
“He’s the most obvious choice. But he couldn’t have done it personally. With the Zoom calls and Tyler’s alibi for him. But he could have hired someone. Only we had his financial records pulled and they don’t show any weird payments at all. I was thinking maybe crypto, but I have no idea how that even works. But he did use the term ‘butchered.’”
“Maybe he had a friend kill his wife for free. That would explain the absence of payment.”
“I don’t think anybody has friends that good,” observed Decker.
Chapter 59
DECKER DROVE THEM BACK TO Cummins’s neighborhood. They passed through the security gate and he stopped in front of Cummins’s house.
“We going over the crime scene again?” asked White. “Because I do not want to find another body.”
“No, this trip is a recon of the neighbors.”
He led her up to the Perlmans’ door and knocked. Trevor Perlman answered the door dressed in beige golf shorts and a white polo shirt.
“Any news on what happened with Julia?” he said.
“Still working on it.”
“Where is the other agent?”
“In the hospital.”
“Did he have an accident?”
“There was nothing accidental about it. Do you have some time for a few questions?”
“Actually, I don’t. I’m about to join a golf foursome.”
“Is your wife here?”
“Yes, but is this really necessary? We’ve told you all we know.”
“Funny how people recall new things if you keep asking,” said Decker.
Perlman turned and called out, “Maya, the FBI are here. I have to leave.”
He said brusquely to Decker, “Please don’t upset her.”
They stepped into the house as Maya Perlman came into the foyer. She had on white slacks and a polka-dotted blouse with a matching bandanna around her hair. She did not seem happy to see them.
Trevor Perlman said, “I have to go, honey, I’m already late to tee off.”
She nodded dumbly and he skittered off toward the garage. A few moments later Decker saw him fly out of the driveway on his spiffy burgundy golf cart.
Maya said, “This way.”
She led them out onto the lanai, and they sat down around the pool. It was already eighty degrees and sunny.
“Weather like this all the time?” asked Decker.
“Mostly. It can get pretty unbearable in South Florida in July and August but that’s what you have air-conditioning for. Now, what can I do for you?”
“Alan Draymont was having a sexual relationship with Julia Cummins.”
She gaped. “You must be joking.”
“We have conclusive proof of that. And your neighbor, Doris Kline, had already suspected that was the case.”
“Doris never mentioned that to me.”
“Probably just being discreet,” interjected White.
“So we were wondering if while Draymont was guarding you, did Cummins ever come over or have any contact with him?” asked Decker.
Perlman sat back and pondered this. “Julia did come over for drinks and dinner several times while we had protection. We talked about the reasons they were there. She was very supportive and lamented that I was having to go through this. Draymont might have been on duty then. If so, she could have seen him or even spoken with him. He would walk a perimeter, check doors and windows, or sit out in his car for a bit. He would occasionally come into the house to check around and use the bathroom.”
“And then she asked you about protection for herself at some point. When was that?”
“Oh, I’m not sure I remember exactly. It might have been over drinks.”
“Was your husband with you?”