Hour Game

King looked at him for a long moment. "Thanks, Mason." He looked back at Remmy as Mason walked off. "It's nice to have such good, loyal help, isn't it? Last question: why was your wedding ring in the drawer and not on your finger?"

Remmy didn't answer right away. King stared at her, waiting for a response. Finally, she said, "A ring is a symbol of love and commitment."

"Yes," said King expectantly.

"You said that was your last question. I'm sure you can find your way out."

Outside, Michelle said, "Sean, you know it wasn't Remmy who killed Junior."

"That's right. I saw Mason coming out onto the patio. I wanted him to tell us where he was at that time."

"That was pretty clever."

"Even cleverer because he said Remmy never came out of her room."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning that Mason doesn't have an alibi for the time Junior was killed."

"You really think he's a possible suspect?"

"Of course he is, Michelle. He's older but still big and strong enough to have taken on Junior. And you noticed that the killer never spoke to us. He only used his laser aimer to convey his instructions."

"Because if he'd spoken, we would have recognized his voice?"

"Exactly. And he lied about the reason Remmy wasn't wearing her ring."

"Speaking of which, the stoic Mrs. Battle was pretty candid with her answer. No love, no commitment, no ring. Yet she stayed married to the man."

"Lots of marriages work that way, unfortunately. Well, at least she's free of him now."

They reached King's car.

"I'm going to walk over to Eddie's studio," said Michelle.

"I'm going to find Sally and see if she'll be a little more cooperative than her employer. I'll join you at Eddie's after I'm done."

"What do you think Sally will tell you?"

"I'm tired of getting stonewalled on this case," he said, biting out the words. "So she better have adamn good explanation of why she was praying in front of Junior's grave."

"Sean King, did you know you're very sexy when you get mad?"

"So they tell me," King said as he marched off to corral the young horsewoman.

CHAPTER 57

KING SAW A HORSE AND RIDER coming toward him. However, it was Savannah, not Sally, astride a large gelding with two white-mottled forelegs.

She pulled up next to him and dismounted. She wore jeans, riding boots and a corduroy jacket.

"Beautiful day for a ride," he said.

"I can saddle you a mount."

"I haven't ridden in a while."

"Come on, it's like riding a bike."

He motioned to his jacket and dress slacks. "I'm not really dressed for it. How about a rain check?"

"Okay, sure," she said, obviously doubtful he'd ever cash in.

"I'm not just saying that, Savannah. I mean it."

"Okay. Are you here to see my mother?"

"Already did. Unfortunately, it was a short interview."

Savannah couldn't suppress a smile. "And you're surprised?"

"No, I guess I'm an optimist." He looked around. "Have you seen Sally?"

"She's in the stables over there," Savannah said, pointing over King's left shoulder. "Why?"

"Just wondering."

She looked at him suspiciously but then shrugged. "Thanks for spending some time with me after the funeral."

"It was my pleasure. I know how tough things have been for you."

"I think they're going to get tougher. That FBI agent was here again."

"Chip Bailey? What did he want?"

"He wanted to know where I was when Daddy was killed."

"That's a pretty standard question. And what did you tell him?"

"That I was at home in my room. No one saw me, at least that I know of. I guess I fell asleep, because I didn't hear my mother come in. I didn't even find out Daddy had died until the following morning."

"I'm surprised she didn't come and get you when she got the call."

"My bedroom's on the second floor, all the way at the other end of the house from hers. And I've, well, I've been going out nights and not getting back until late. She might have thought I was out and didn't bother to check."

"I see. You don't want to burn the midnight oil too much; it's bad for your complexion."

"I figure I might as well do it while I have the energy. I have a lot of years to be dull and boring."

"I don't think anyone would ever describe you in those terms. Made any decisions for the future?"

"I got a job offer from a big petrochemical company to be a field engineer. The assignment is overseas. I'm thinking about it."

"Well, you'd be, without a doubt, the prettiest field engineer anyone's ever seen."

"You keep talking that way, I might start to think you have intentions."

"I don't think I could keep up with you."

"You might surprise yourself, Mr. King."

As Savannah rode off, King's gaze followed her. He'd forgotten her particular talent: chemical engineering. And she, like many others in this bizarre case, had no alibi for the time her father was killed. And yet that was only one death and one killer. What was the other murderer doing right now? Seeking to add to his list of victims?

He found Sally in the stables mucking the stalls.

She leaned on her shovel and wiped the sweat off her brow.

"I see Savannah 's back to riding," said King.