“People fall and end up dead all the time,” Falco argued. “Surely there was something more that convinced you Thompson was involved in the death of Stevens’s former coworker.”

Bellemont pressed his palms against his desk and stared at them for a moment, as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to say more on the subject. When he looked up again, he gave a slight nod. “You’re right, of course. I’m not one to jump to conclusions.” He looked from Falco to Kerri. “If you’re my age or older and you’ve lived and worked among the Birmingham hierarchy your entire adult life, you hear things. If you hear those same things enough, you begin to understand that there is likely some truth to the rumors.”

“What rumors are we talking about?” Kerri asked, anticipation pushing her to the edge of her seat. “Does this have something to do with the property dispute Ben Abbott was having with Theo Thompson?”

Bellemont shook his head. “I don’t believe so. I think the property was Ben indulging his wife and Sela wanting to twist the dagger into Suzanne’s back. The two do not like each other.”

“Back to the rumors,” Kerri went on, satisfied on that score for now. “Tell us about the rumors.”

“T. R. Thompson’s wife died long ago,” Bellemont began, “but even before her death there were rumors about certain personal proclivities the venerated senator had.”

Kerri couldn’t call to mind any particular rumors not related to his political office. “What sort of proclivities?”

“Ones involving women and bondage. It was said that he preferred a bit of extra titillation. Domination, that sort of thing. He was, of course, very careful, and not a single one of his paramours ever admitted to any such behavior. But my father, God rest his soul, believed T. R. Thompson to be a womanizer of the highest order. If that is the case, I can only assume he paid the women involved very large sums of money since none has ever come forward against him.”

“Maybe the only one who tried disappeared,” Kerri suggested, a new kind of tension riffling through her.

“We—meaning Sela, Ben, and I—were exploring that possibility.”

Holy shit. Kerri’s pulse started to race. “But you found no evidence?”

Bellemont shook his head. “None.”

“Has Thompson threatened, maybe pressured you or your family or Sela or her family?” Falco wanted to know.

“Not outright,” Bellemont admitted, “but I’ve seen a decline in my client list. Particularly those in some way connected to the Thompsons.”

“What you have, Mr. Bellemont,” Kerri argued, “is an accusation made against one of the city’s old money families, and that’s it, an accusation. We can question the Thompsons and anyone who worked with Sela’s sister, but you need to understand that we won’t be able to waste resources on hearsay. I need something concrete.”

If the man was holding anything back, he needed to give it up.

Bellemont turned up his hands. “And therein lies the rub. I told Ben the same thing. He understood this as well as I.” Bellemont leaned forward. “This is what I know, Detectives. Sela was determined to find the truth. The Thompsons were aware we were actively looking into the case. Now Sela’s family is dead, and she’s missing. Whatever happened, Thompson had something to do with it. I can’t prove it, but I know it.”

“Did Ben Abbott believe the Thompsons, the father or the son, actually got their hands dirty by making Janelle Stevens disappear?” Kerri needed the answer to this question before she moved forward.

“He did not. He was convinced the disappearance would have been handled by Lewis York. Yorks have always been private counsel to the Thompsons. More than counsel, really. Again, these are rumors, but I’ve always heard that the Yorks were more fixers than attorneys. Ben never trusted the man. From a personal standpoint, I can tell you that you will not find a more arrogant, underhanded human being than Lewis York.”

“York as in the partner in that big law firm?” Kerri was surprised Bellemont had thrown yet another big name into the pot. This was the firm where Amelia was interning.

“One of the most prestigious in the state, but also ruthless. York is the sort of man I wouldn’t trust under any circumstances. He gives hardworking attorneys a bad name. He’s far more dangerous, I believe, than his father was.”

“Speaking of fathers,” Falco said, “have you shared this information with Ben Abbott’s father?”

“Absolutely not. Ben’s parents know nothing of this. He wanted them protected. He insisted they not be involved at all in this ugly business.”

“What would you say,” Kerri began, “if I told you there is a chance that these murders were committed by Sela?”

“Outrageous.” Bellemont shook his head. “How would you reach such a ridiculous conclusion?”

“She illegally purchased a Ruger SR22 a few days before the murder,” Kerri said. “I’m sure you’re aware a .22 is the weapon used to kill Ben Abbott and Jacqueline Rollins.”

“She purchased a junker from the housekeeper’s nephew and paid him more than what it was worth to keep his mouth shut,” Falco added. “So she had transportation not readily tied to her and a weapon. All this adds up to trouble. We’ve got plenty of evidence on her. We have nothing on Thompson and York but accusations with no evidence to back them up.”

“Whatever you do from this point forward, Detectives, is your decision,” Bellemont insisted with an adamant shake of his head, “but believe me when I say that the only known threat to Sela and Ben was Theo Thompson and his hired lackey, Lewis York.”

Bellemont locked down after that, said he had nothing more to share.

Kerri followed her partner out the side exit.

“You think he’s telling us the whole story?” Falco asked.

“Not at all.” Kerri was convinced there was more. “He’s leaving out the parts that would put all the pieces together.”

In her opinion, Bellemont was growing desperate, so he’d started to share, but he wasn’t yet desperate enough to share anything that might implicate him or his staff in wrongdoing.

“Where to now, partner?”

“To see Theo Thompson, where else? We can search the house again later.” If Sela Abbott had hidden the murder weapon there, they would find it.

Falco grinned. “I thought you might say that. I’ve got a feeling we’ll be about as welcome there as fleas at a dog show.”

When it came to a homicide investigation, Kerri had never cared much whether she was welcome.

As long as she got the job done.

Her cell started its frantic vibrating again. Kerri answered without checking the screen. “Devlin.”

“Kerri, I need to see you. Right now.”

Diana.

“Are you okay?” Kerri froze a few steps from the end of the alley. Falco waited at the sidewalk.

“It’s about Amelia. It can’t wait.”

“On my way,” Kerri promised her.

37

1:00 p.m.

Swanner Residence

Twenty-Third Avenue South

Kerri knocked on the door. Normally she would have knocked and gone on in, but Falco was with her. Diana might not appreciate her sister walking in with a stranger.

Diana opened the door, her face red from crying.

Kerri didn’t hesitate. She hugged her sister. “Tell me what’s going on.”

Diana pulled herself together with visible effort. She stepped back and ushered them inside.

Tori stood in the middle of the room, her arms hugged around her slim body. She, too, had been crying.

Kerri rushed over to her. “What’s going on? You okay?” The idea that something had happened and Tori had called Diana to come pick her up had Kerri’s chest squeezing tightly. But she’d said it was about Amelia.

“I’m okay.” She lifted one shoulder and let it fall. “It’s Amelia I’m worried about.”

Kerri turned back to Diana. “Somebody please tell me what’s going on. Where’s Robby?” If something was going on, he should be here.

Diana drew in a deep breath. “Robby’s still at the shop. I didn’t tell him anything yet. I didn’t see any reason for both of us to be upset until after I spoke with you.” She wilted down onto the sofa.

Tori sank down next to her aunt. “I should have told you, Mom. But I promised Amelia I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

Kerri took a breath. Told herself to stay calm. “It’s okay.” To Diana, she urged, “Just tell me what’s happened.”