Hour Game

"I don't know if there is a real connection yet. I'd like to be sure."

"But you have your suspicions?"

"Yes, I do. Strong ones."

"Care to share them?"

"My hunch is that Steve Canney was Bobby Battle's child by Mrs. Canney. And that Roger Canney made the old man pay after his wife died. That would explain his sudden wealth and the fact that he has no pictures of his adulterous spouse and the son who wasn't his."

"I'm surprised he waited until she died in the car accident before he started blackmailing Battle," she said.

King stared at his partner. "Car accident?" he said slowly.

"Yes, she was drinking and crashed her car. Don't you remember?"

"I remember very well, thank you."

She noted the faraway look in her partner's eyes. "You're on to something. Care to share?"

He glanced at her. "What if Canney's wife didn't die in a car accident?"

"But she did. They found her in her car at the bottom of a ravine. I told you I checked with Todd on that."

"Right. She died in a car crash. But that doesn't necessarily make it an accident, does it?"

CHAPTER 65

KING EVENTUALLY GOT IN TOUCH with Harry and told him what had happened.

"I'll head straight to the Battles'," he said. "Why don't you and Michelle meet me there?"

It was dinnertime when they all collected at the mansion.

Remmy met the three at the door. "Mason is out right now," she explained.

"You've heard?" asked King.

"Yes. I hardly think she'll pull herself out of this one."

King looked at the older woman with surprise. "Remmy, I know the two of you aren't the best of friends, but she's still married to your son."

"Which is the only reason I have any concern at all."

"Where's Eddie?"

"In town talking with the lawyers. Dorothea hasn't been formally charged yet?"

"They don't even have a firm cause of death yet," Michelle put in. "Until that happens, they can't charge her."

"You don't think she killed the man, do you?" Harry asked Remmy.

She placed her gaze squarely on him. "No, but I didn't think she was buying stolen drugs either."

"There's quite a bit of difference between that and murdering someone," rejoined Harry.

She motioned them in. "Why don't we continue this fascinating discussion over dinner?"

Savannah joined them in the dining room. She was dressed in a long skirt, white blouse, dark blue sweater, stockings and low-heeled pumps. Her hair was nicely styled, and she had a modest amount of makeup on.

It took King a moment to realize what he was seeing. Then it struck him: daughter was dressed just like mother. He looked over at Michelle. From her startled expression it was clear she was thinking the very same thing.

Harry sat next to Savannah and struck up a conversation with her while King and Michelle focused on Remmy.

"Dorothea got virtually nothing by Bobby's death," said King. "So there was no motive there."

"Motives needn't be simply financial," replied Remmy as she buttered her roll.

Like your motive for killing your husband? thought King.

"You have something in mind?" asked Michelle.

"No, I'm just stating what I thought was an obvious fact."

"You had no idea Dorothea was taking one of Bobby's cars and renting a place at the Aphrodisiac? Or that she had a drug problem?"

Remmy shook her head. "But then, I'm not my daughter-in-law's keeper, am I?"

"I knew she had a drug problem." All eyes turned to Savannah.

"Did she mention it to you?" asked King.

"No, but I saw her once, I guess she was coming back from that place. It was early in the morning, and I'd gotten up to go for a walk. She was coming up from the direction of the car barn. She was a mess. I was surprised she could even drive home."

"You didn't just assume she was drunk?" asked Michelle.

"After four years of college I know the difference between drunk and high."

"I'm so glad our money bought you such an invaluable education," snapped Remmy.

"Did you confront her about it, Savannah?" asked King.

"No, it was none of my business."

"But didn't you tell anyone, like Eddie?"

"Again, it was none of my business. Dorothea and I aren't close, in case you hadn't noticed."

After dinner Remmy excused herself, saying she had some letters to write, and Savannah was left to say formal good-byes. However, King had to use the bathroom and asked Harry and Michelle to hold up for a minute. As they waited for him to come back, Harry led Savannah over to a corner and started speaking to her in a confidential tone. When King returned, they said their good nights and left.

Harry said, "I didn't meant to ignore you, Michelle, but I'm worried about Savannah and wanted to speak with her privately."

"Did you notice she's dressing like her mother now?" King said.

"That was one indication something was amiss," said Harry diplomatically. "Remmy is a very intimidating woman, and I guess not even an independent soul like Savannah is immune from her force of will."

"And Remmy writes lots of letters, keeps a journal and presumably gets a lot of letters from friends," commented King.