Hour Game

Mason looked down, apparently embarrassed at his choice of words. "Anyway, then it turns out he was murdered. Now, Mrs. Battle's a strong person. She can take a shot with the best of them. But two shots and that close together, that's another story."

"She seemed very composed this morning," commented Michelle.

"She's resilient," he said, bristling. "And she has to be strong for everyone else."

"Yes, Savannah seemed a little out of it. I guess she and her father were really very close," said Michelle.

Mason offered no comment.

"Although she hasn't been home that much over the last few years."

"Hardly at all," said Mason. "Whether that's a good or bad thing I'm sure I couldn't say."

You already have, Mason, thought King. "Apparently, Savannah was home that night. I'm surprised that she didn't go to the hospital with Remmy."

"I don't know if she was home or not. If she was, I didn't see her."

"Can I speak frankly, Mason?" said King.

The man turned to him, looking a little surprised. "I guess so."

"Bobby's death might not be connected to the other killings."

"Okay," said Mason slowly.

"So if he was killed by someone else, we have to start looking at motivations."

Mason didn't say anything for a few seconds. "You mean one of the family?"

"Not necessarily, but that can't be discounted." He eyed the man keenly. "You've been with them a long time. It's easy to see you're far more than the hired help."

"I've been with them through the good and the bad," Mason said.

"Tell us about the bad," said King.

"Look, if you're trying to get me to say something that'll hurt Mrs. Battle-"

King interrupted. "All I'm trying to do is get to the truth, Mason."

"She would never have done anything like that!" he said sharply. "She loved Mr. Battle."

"And yet her wedding ring wasn't on her finger."

Mason started for a moment and then said, "I believe it needed repairs. She didn't want to risk further damage. I wouldn't read any more into it."

Nice comeback, thought King. "Anyone else you can think of?"

Mason thought about this but then shook his head. "I really couldn't say. I mean, I don't know anything like that," he added quickly.

Is it the former or the latter? wondered King. He produced one of his cards. "If something does occur to you, give us a call. We're far nicer than the FBI," he added.

As Mason walked them out, King stopped in front of a bookcase containing numerous photos. One in particular had caught his eye. He showed it to Mason.

"That's Bobby Jr., Eddie's twin. He was about fourteen when that picture was taken. He was born first by a few minutes; that's why he was the junior."

"You can't have been with the Battles that long," said Michelle.

"No. They'd bought this property and were building the house and they had the boys and they needed some help. I answered an ad and I've been here ever since. Other staff have come and gone, but I've always been here." His voice trailed off. He snapped back and looked at King and Michelle staring at him. "They've treated me really well. I could retire if I wanted."

"Any plans to do that?" asked Michelle.

"I can't exactly abandon Mrs. Battle now, can I?"

"I'm sure your presence here means a lot to her," said King.

Michelle looked at the young man's unnatural features in the photo. "What was wrong with Bobby Jr.?"

"He was severely mentally retarded. He was in bad shape when I started working for them. Then he got cancer and died soon after his eighteenth birthday."

"He was Eddie's twin but Eddie's fine," said King. "Isn't that unusual?"

"Well, that's what happened. They were fraternal twins."

"How did Eddie get along with his brother?"

"Did everything for him. Couldn't have been nicer. I think Eddie knew it was only by the grace of God that it wasn't him."

"And Bobby Sr.?"

"Mr. Battle was really busy back then, traveling all over. He wasn't even here when Bobby Jr. died." He added quickly, "I have no doubt he loved the boy, though."

"It must have been pretty traumatic for Remmy when Eddie was kidnapped."

"If it hadn't been for Agent Bailey, she might have lost both her sons."

"Lucky he's on the case again," said King.

They left the house, but when Michelle started to walk over to the car, King took her arm. "It's a beautiful day. I feel like a stroll," he said, giving her a look.

"Where?"

"You'll see." He took out of his pocket the tissue he had used to clean up the coffee spill and sniffed it. He smiled at the result.

"What is it?" asked Michelle.

"Not a huge surprise, but Remmy enjoys a little bourbon with her coffee."

CHAPTER 38

KING'S CHOICE OF VENUE TOOK them to the rear grounds. They wandered over to the spot where they could see Remmy's bedroom window. King gazed at the house where the servants lived and then back at their employer's window.

"If someone were really looking," he said vaguely.

Michelle said, "Mason definitely has a thing for Remmy. Maybe he hopes to become the new man of the estate."