“It’s been hard for the whole family,” said Mason.
“I bet it has. So she got here around eleven?”
“Just that. I remember looking at my watch when I heard her drive up.”
Michelle noted this down while King continued. “Were you still in the house when she got the phone call that Bobby had died?”
He nodded. “I was just finishing up some things and about to head out when she came running down the stairs. She was frantic, half-dressed, words coming out all jumbled. Took me a full minute to calm her down to where I could even understand her.”
“She said she called Eddie to come get her.”
“Only he wasn’t home. I wanted to drive her to the hospital, but she told me to stay here in case anyone called. She left about ten minutes later. When she got back, she looked like a ghost, no light in her eyes at all.”
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.”
King glanced over and saw the woman walking toward the stable.
“Let’s go talk horses.” As he was turning away, an image at one of the second-story windows caught his attention.
It was Savannah, staring at them. Yet she was gone so quickly that for an instant King wasn’t even sure she’d really been there. Yet she had been. And the look on her face was clear: she was terrified.
They both greeted Sally Wainwright over by the stable. Her cheerful disposition wasn’t evident today.
“God, I’m thinking about quitting,” she said.
“Because Battle was murdered?” asked King.
“And four other people,” said Sally as she looked over her shoulder as though for an attacker. “This was a nice, quiet town when I got here. Right now I’d probably be safer in the Middle East.”
“I wouldn’t do anything rash,” said Michelle. “You’ll probably live to regret it.”
“I just want to live,” Sally shot back.
King nodded. “Well, then maybe you can help us find the killer before he strikes again.”
Sally looked shocked. “Me! I don’t know anything.”
“You may know something important, only you don’t know that it is,” said King. “For instance, can you think of anyone who might have intended Bobby Battle harm?”
Sally shook her head—too quickly, in King’s mind.