Hour Game

"Yes. Kyle brought me the drugs around ten o'clock."

"Ironic."

"What is?"

"He was your alibi for your father-in-law's murder, but now he's dead. So unless someone else at the club saw you, there goes your alibi for that murder too."

Dorothea put her head in her hands and started sobbing. Finally, Michelle rose, went into the kitchen and came back with a wet cloth for her.

"Just take it easy, Dorothea," said King. "Kyle's death hasn't been ruled a murder yet. It might just be a drug overdose. Or even a suicide."

"I can't imagine that man taking his own life. The little I saw of him he was far too interested in furthering his own interests." Dorothea wiped her face with the cloth and then stared across at King. "So where do we go from here?"

"We can't keep your actions secret."

Dorothea's lips started to tremble. "I guess I couldn't expect you would."

"The extent of what has to be revealed is still to be determined, however."

"I didn't kill Kyle Montgomery or my father-in-law!"

"Speaking of the latter, why did you go to the hospital that day?"

"Does it really matter now?"

"It could."

She drew a long breath. "Bobby promised me money, a larger part of his estate. His will needed to be changed to do that. He said he'd do it, but had never given me proof he had."

"So you went there to see if he'd verify he'd done it?"

"I heard he was awake and talking. I didn't know if I'd have another chance. My financial problems would be solved if Bobby had changed his will like he said he would."

"No, you mean they'd be solved when he died and you actually got the money," corrected Michelle.

"Yes," Dorothea said quietly as she looked down. "Anyway, when I got there he wasn't coherent, and was back on the ventilator."

"Did Eddie know about this change-in-the-will prospect?"

"No. Eddie thinks we're fine financially. Eddie doesn't worry about anything."

"I think you're wrong there," said Michelle.

"Why would Bobby change his will to favor you and Eddie over Remmy? From what I've heard he'd already provided for you both."

Dorothea smiled tightly. "Can one ever have enough money? I know I can't. And Bobby had sodamn much of it."

He eyed her steadily. "Bobby was a tough negotiator. So what was the quid pro quo, Dorothea?"

"I'd rather not say," she finally replied. "It's not something I'm exactly proud of."

"Actually, I think I can guess. The little striptease you did for Kyle probably paled in comparison. By the way, why did you drive one of Bobby's classic cars to the Aphrodisiac?"

She looked at him with a triumphant smile. "I figured he owed me at least that. And he never drove them anymore."

"Do you know why?"

"He got tired of them, I guess. The great Bobby Battle was renowned for that. Getting tired of things and then forgetting about them." She stifled a sob.

King stood and looked down at her with little sympathy. "If Kyle's death is ruled a murder, the police will want to question you."

"I suppose it doesn't matter now. It can't get any worse."

"Oh, no, Dorothea, it can get a lot worse."

As they left the house, Michelle said, "How did you know it was her? I had Savannah pegged as our druggie-stripper."

"No, she couldn't be."

"Why not? You remember the way she flaunted herself at the pool that day."

"Exactly. That was the answer. Sylvia said that when she was at the Aphrodisiac, she overheard Kyle say that the woman wasflaunting her naked butt."

"Yes, so?"

"Well, Savannah has her name tattooed on her butt. Other things being equal, I doubt she'd show it off to Kyle if she wanted to remain incognito. There's only one Savannah in Wrightsburg with a derriere like that."

CHAPTER 64

LATER THAT DAY THEY RECEIVED word from Sylvia that she'd completed the autopsy of Kyle Montgomery. They arranged to meet at King's office. When she showed up, Todd Williams was with her. A minute later Chip Bailey pulled into the parking lot.

"I called him," explained Williams. "I figured we needed to keep him in the loop, even though Kyle's killing isn't connected to the serial murders."

"Are you sure it's not?" replied King.

Williams looked at him sharply. "Are you trying to drive me nuts?"

As they settled themselves in the conference room, Sylvia opened her folder.

"As I said, we won't know the exact cause of death until we get the toxicology screens back," she began. "However, there were some unusual findings on the external exam that lead me to believe his death was suspicious."

"As in suicide by overdose?" asked King.

"No, as in homicide." She paused and then began speaking quickly but firmly. "Kyle was not a known drug user. We found no other drugs or drug paraphernalia in his apartment, and there were no other needle marks on any part of his body."

"But you did find a used syringe with something in it and a needle mark in the arm," commented Bailey.