“And I hope you can understand that finding who killed your client is our utmost priority,” replied Decker. “So I think my ace beats your king.”
Jones noticeably winced and looked down at his leather-topped desk. There wasn’t a scrap of paper on it. Decker strongly suspected that it, like the office, was mainly for show. He had the impression of a bank of computers with proprietary algorithms loaded in doing the work that people like Jones would later take credit for.
But honestly what do I know? I don’t have any money to invest.
“I understood from your phone call that you were thinking Julia was the target of some blackmail scheme?”
“She was wealthy. People are unscrupulous. That makes her a target.”
“So you need to know if she made any large or irregular withdrawals or payments?”
“Yes.”
Jones turned to a computer on his desk and started typing. “I would meet with her every quarter to go over her accounts. She was a very excellent investor and client. Her net worth was growing by leaps and bounds. It was so exciting.”
“Yeah, I’m getting all tingly just hearing you talk about it,” said White, the comment drawing a rare smile from Decker.
Jones continued, “For any truly large transfers she would have had to get on the recorded line and authorize it. That ensures there are no mistakes and the client intends for the transfer to happen.”
“And that covers your end, too,” said Decker. “No liability.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So you would know if she made any large transfers,” said Decker.
“Yes, but she could have done it through her checking account. I don’t monitor that as regularly. And after all, it is her money.”
He scrolled through some screens and shook his head. “I see nothing out of the ordinary. And I’ve gone back six months.”
“All right,” said Decker. “Are there any transfers of monies or checks written to Alice Lancer, Alan Draymont, or Gamma Protection Services?”
Jones typed a search request in and waited a few moments. “No, nothing under those names.”
“And no large cash withdrawals?”
“No. Those would have been flagged. So, it doesn’t look like she was being blackmailed,” said Jones.
“Well, blackmail doesn’t always involve payments of money,” noted White.
“Right, yes.” Jones suddenly looked alarmed. “Oh my God, right. Oh, I hope that Julia... I mean...”
“Thank you for your help,” said Decker.
Outside, White said, “Well, that was a dead end.”
“No, it checked a box.”
“So if they weren’t blackmailing her, how did Cummins and Draymont hook up?”
“I think you already gave the answer to that. We just came here to rule out the blackmail piece.”
White looked surprised. “I already gave the answer?”
“I think Draymont caught Cummins’s eye. You used the phrase to explain how Lancer and Draymont hooked up on Capitol Hill.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Young and handsome. It happens. But with Cummins?”
“Gamma worked protection in her neighborhood for other clients, including the Perlmans right next door. They recommended Gamma to Cummins when she asked about getting security protection. And we’ve confirmed that Draymont was part of her security rotation. Maybe Cummins simply saw him and became infatuated. And from what I’ve heard of Draymont, he could be very charismatic, and the man would not hesitate to jump into bed with a rich, lovely woman like Cummins.”
“Okay, but then why the whole rigmarole about her needing protection because of threats? I know we went over this before, but it still seems a muddle.”
“She really didn’t want someone to know she was dating or sleeping with other men. Look at the precautions she took with Dennis Langley. They drove all the way to Miami to have sex in a hotel. He was never invited over to her house. But the only way she could get Draymont into her house was by pretending he was protecting her. That was probably another appeal for her to latch on to Draymont. He had that cover built right into his job.”
“Decker, she must have really been afraid of someone to go to all those lengths.”
“Well, as it turned out, she was right to be afraid, wasn’t she?”
“You still think it was her husband, don’t you?”
“He’s the most obvious choice. But he couldn’t have done it personally. With the Zoom calls and Tyler’s alibi for him. But he could have hired someone. Only we had his financial records pulled and they don’t show any weird payments at all. I was thinking maybe crypto, but I have no idea how that even works. But he did use the term ‘butchered.’”
“Maybe he had a friend kill his wife for free. That would explain the absence of payment.”
“I don’t think anybody has friends that good,” observed Decker.
Chapter 59
Decker drove them back to Cummins’s neighborhood. They passed through the security gate and he stopped in front of Cummins’s house.
“We going over the crime scene again?” asked White. “Because I do not want to find another body.”
“No, this trip is a recon of the neighbors.”
He led her up to the Perlmans’ door and knocked. Trevor Perlman answered the door dressed in beige golf shorts and a white polo shirt.
“Any news on what happened with Julia?” he said.
“Still working on it.”
“Where is the other agent?”
“In the hospital.”
“Did he have an accident?”
“There was nothing accidental about it. Do you have some time for a few questions?”
“Actually, I don’t. I’m about to join a golf foursome.”
“Is your wife here?”
“Yes, but is this really necessary? We’ve told you all we know.”
“Funny how people recall new things if you keep asking,” said Decker.
Perlman turned and called out, “Maya, the FBI are here. I have to leave.”
He said brusquely to Decker, “Please don’t upset her.”
They stepped into the house as Maya Perlman came into the foyer. She had on white slacks and a polka-dotted blouse with a matching bandanna around her hair. She did not seem happy to see them.
Trevor Perlman said, “I have to go, honey, I’m already late to tee off.”
She nodded dumbly and he skittered off toward the garage. A few moments later Decker saw him fly out of the driveway on his spiffy burgundy golf cart.
Maya said, “This way.”
She led them out onto the lanai, and they sat down around the pool. It was already eighty degrees and sunny.
“Weather like this all the time?” asked Decker.
“Mostly. It can get pretty unbearable in South Florida in July and August but that’s what you have air-conditioning for. Now, what can I do for you?”
“Alan Draymont was having a sexual relationship with Julia Cummins.”
She gaped. “You must be joking.”
“We have conclusive proof of that. And your neighbor, Doris Kline, had already suspected that was the case.”
“Doris never mentioned that to me.”
“Probably just being discreet,” interjected White.
“So we were wondering if while Draymont was guarding you, did Cummins ever come over or have any contact with him?” asked Decker.
Perlman sat back and pondered this. “Julia did come over for drinks and dinner several times while we had protection. We talked about the reasons they were there. She was very supportive and lamented that I was having to go through this. Draymont might have been on duty then. If so, she could have seen him or even spoken with him. He would walk a perimeter, check doors and windows, or sit out in his car for a bit. He would occasionally come into the house to check around and use the bathroom.”