“And then she asked you about protection for herself at some point. When was that?”
“Oh, I’m not sure I remember exactly. It might have been over drinks.”
“Was your husband with you?”
“I don’t believe so. No, that’s right, it was just Julia and me. We’d gone out for a drink.”
“And she said she had gotten threats?” asked White.
“I’m not sure it was anything that direct.”
“Or did she just want to know about the company providing the service?”
“She did ask for the name. And I gave it to her. Okay, now I remember. After we got back from drinks she and Trevor and I sat down and talked about it in more detail.”
“Did she specifically ask about Draymont or any other particular person?”
“I don’t think so. But Trevor did show her photos of the personnel who had guarded us.”
“And was Draymont one of them?” He pulled his phone and showed her the photo of Draymont.
“Yes, I believe he was one of the ones we showed Julia.”
“Did Cummins zero in on the guy?”
Perlman looked a little embarrassed. “Okay, yes, now I remember. She said... that he... looked like a hottie.”
White and Decker exchanged glances. Decker said, “It would have been nice to know this when we spoke with you previously.”
“I just remembered it. Besides, I had no idea they were sleeping together, so I attached no importance to the man. Are you really sure they were having sex?”
“Yes,” said White. “Why do you find that so unlikely? He was young and handsome. And then there are the judge’s own words about him being a hottie.”
“I just thought Julia was a cut above that. I mean, sleeping with any man who walks into your house? I don’t care how handsome he is. Plus, he was guarding her. That was totally unprofessional, and Julia was thoroughly professional.”
“But he wasn’t guarding her,” Decker said. “She never hired Gamma. She only wanted Draymont’s name because she was attracted to him.”
“Good God,” exclaimed Perlman. “Julia could have had any man she wanted and she went after a security guard?”
White gave the woman a withering glare but remained silent.
Decker said, “Dennis Langley is the man Cummins was dating until about six months ago. You knew she was seeing someone but didn’t know his name. Is he up to snuff for you?”
She sat back, looking stunned. “Really? Dennis? I never saw him at her place. And Julia never said anything to me.”
“You know him?”
“Of course. He’s very well-known in the criminal defense bar, of which I used to be an active member. It’s a small legal community, everyone knows everybody.” She looked pensive. “I sometimes wondered why he never appeared before her.”
“What can you tell us about him?”
“He’s a good lawyer.”
“And?”
“And he’s been known to have an eye for the ladies, and he’s had a string of them.”
“We met one recently. Gloria Chase?”
“Don’t know her. But I assume she’s gorgeous with money.”
“She is,” said Decker. “But why do you say that?”
“Because that’s Dennis’s MO. Looks and wealth are his bellwethers. I’m sure that’s why he latched on to Julia.”
“He’s been described as controlling,” said Decker.
“I imagine he is. I’ve seen him in court. He’s good, but underneath the smooth façade is something that I don’t care for. And there was that one incident.”
“What incident?” said Decker sharply.
“I don’t want to tell tales out of school.”
“And we want to solve a series of murders, Mrs. Perlman,” said White.
She placed her hands in her lap and assumed a placid manner. “It was about a year ago. It involved a prostitute. Charges were never filed and the matter got hushed up. I think she got paid off.”
“Can you be more specific?” asked White.
“She was beaten.”
“By Langley?”
“He denied it, of course, but he was seen with the woman around the time of the incident. And she initially named him as her attacker.”
“But then... recanted?” said White.
“Yes. I’m thinking that money changed hands. But no one could ever really prove anything. And the woman left town.”
White looked at Decker. “Okay, why would Cummins date a guy with that sort of rep? She must have known.”
“Maybe she liked the danger aspect.”
“Langley and Cummins also went to law school together at NYU. He told us that the judge was very different from the woman he’d known back then. He said she had gotten a lot wilder. Does that sound like your friend to you?”
“Well, I didn’t think she’d sleep with someone who was her bodyguard, so maybe I didn’t know her as well as I thought. But... she seemed to be, to use an antiquated expression, sowing some wild oats after her divorce.”
“Well, apparently, someone didn’t like that,” noted White.
Chapter 60
They next tried Doris Kline’s house, but she didn’t answer their knocks.
“Car’s in the garage,” said Decker as he peered in the window. “But there’s another space where a golf cart might be parked.”
“Maybe she’s teeing off at the golf course, too,” said White.
“Seems to be a strong trend in this state.”
They got back into the car, but Decker didn’t put it in gear. He looked at White. “So, what would you do next?”
“I’d head back to the courthouse and talk to the judge’s clerks, especially Sara Angstrom.”
“The judge might have confided in her, you mean?”
“Women do, Decker, a lot more than men. Guys just like to keep it bottled in. Until they blow. By the way, my mother said to tell you hello. I think she likes you.”
“But she hasn’t even met me.”
“That might be the reason,” said White with a smile.
As Decker pulled off, he grinned, too.
Sara Angstrom met with them in her office. She was dressed somberly, and her mood matched her dress.
“I’m not sure what I can tell you that would be helpful.”
White said, “Anything that the judge might have told you about her personal life. Even if it seemed trivial. It might be important.”
“I really don’t feel comfortable divulging information like that.”
“Sara,” said White. “Someone murdered your boss, brutally. Nothing you tell us will go any further, and it’s not like the judge would mind. All we want is to find whoever took her life. I’m sure you want that, too.”
Angstrom looked anxiously between them for a moment before nodding and leaning back in her chair. “I knew about Dennis Langley. Judge Cummins told me and Dan Sykes, I suppose so we would be aware of any potential conflict. I didn’t really like him. I’ve seen him a lot in the courthouse. He just always seemed so full of himself. He practically struts through the place.”
“Then were you surprised the judge was seeing him?” asked Decker.
Angstrom seemed to withdraw into herself at this query.
“Please, Sara, whatever you can tell us,” implored White.
“When I came here the judge had been divorced for a couple of years. She was beautiful, smart, and very well off. I knew about her family money. And then I went to her house and saw how lovely that was, and her clothes were all designer stuff. And she vacationed in the South of France and Italy, and she’d even been to Japan and Australia. Pretty amazing life.”
“Tell us about her life lately,” said Decker.