Faye Kellerman - The Mercedes Coffin

She dabbed her eyes. “I thought it was a possibility, even though he told me he didn’t do it. He swore that he didn’t lay a finger on Ben.”

Decker said, “So he was still coming around after Ben was murdered?”

“He came a couple of times. That’s when he swore he didn’t do it.”

“And you believed him?”

“I don’t know what I believed,” Melinda said. “All I know is he finally stopped showing up at my doorstep. I had to convince him that if he didn’t leave me alone, the police would think he murdered Ben. I told him that, for his own sake, he had to hide out for a while and that I would contact him when it was safe.”

“And he agreed to that?”

“All I know is he stopped coming around and we never had any more contact.”

“Did you wonder why he stopped seeing you, stopped trying to contact you?” Decker asked her.

“No, I didn’t wonder why. I was just relieved. After Ben died, I was so stunned. I was scared, I was broke, and I was crazed. I had two kids to support, and I had no one to turn to. I suppose that I assumed that Ryan got bored waiting for my phone call and moved on to another woman. He was an easy mark. A little flattery and he’d give you anything he had.”

“He gave you money.”

“He gave me lots of money until the other band members took over his bank account.”

“You were angry at them?” Marge asked.

“Of course. I was furious. But it was the best thing that happened to me. It made me realize how low I’d sunk. I tried to call it quits with Ryan, but then I realized he was in love with me.”

Oliver said, “So why didn’t you just dump him?”

“Because I was afraid he’d say something to Ben. And I felt a little sorry for him…he seemed like a gentle giant until he started showing up at my house ten times a day. Then all pity flew out the window.”

“So you think if anyone murdered Ben, it was Ryan?”

“I don’t know.” She threw up her hands. “It’s over. Ben’s dead. I’ve moved on.”

Decker said, “What was your relationship with Rudy Banks like?”

“It was torrid and it was brief. Rudy was a good-looking guy and a total psychopath. We had an affair and then poof, it ended, which was fine for both of us.”

“Did you know that Rudy was a North Valley student and that he knew your husband?”

Melinda looked confused. “I don’t…I seem to recall him being a local.”

“Rudy didn’t like your husband,” Marge said. “He claimed that your husband got him expelled from high school.”

“News to me,” Melinda said.

Oliver said, “Your husband also busted up Rudy’s drug business.”

“Rudy had a drug business?”

Her surprise seemed real. Decker said, “Rudy sold drugs to North Valley High. He used ghetto kids as runners because they were easy targets. One of his runners was Darnell Arlington. When Darnell got suspended, the whole business collapsed.”

Melinda said, “I didn’t follow what went on in my husband’s school.”

“But you knew Darnell Arlington.”

“I knew that my husband had a special interest in him. And I knew that Darnell had a grudge against Ben when he got expelled. But he had an alibi and that was that.”

“Rudy never mentioned anything about knowing your husband?”

“No, of course not. I wouldn’t have gone with him if he had. When I met him, he was pure punk-lots of drugs, kinky sex, and angry music. He was young, he was really good-looking, he was wild, and for a while, he was very exciting. Then it got boring. When he stopped giving me cash, I hooked up with Mudd, who was very generous. Why else would I have a fling with Ryan? It certainly wasn’t his dashing looks.”

Decker could see the calculated shrew inside the respectable woman. He said, “Where did Liam O’Dell fit into the string?”

“You don’t need to know all the sordid details, okay? It ended with Ryan. I did not murder my husband and I don‘t know who did!”

Decker raised a finger. “You cheated on your husband. You stole from his bank account. You resented his time away from you and his disinterest sexually. So tell me why I should believe that you had nothing to do with your husband’s murder.”

“How about this!” Melinda snapped back. “The police spent hours checking me out. They checked out my story on the evening of the murder and it was all true. They checked my phone records. They checked my financial records. They checked insurance policies. They checked if I had ever purchased any weapons. If I was cheating on him at the time…which I wasn’t, by the way. I had come to appreciate how much I had. I truly loved Ben.”

She became suddenly angry.

“Look, I’ve been cooperative. I’ve told you everything and I’ve talked without a lawyer. What more do you want from me?”

Oliver said, “Really quickly…you were interviewed at the time by Arnie Lamar and Cal Vitton. They’re the ones who cleared you?”

Melinda rolled her eyes. “I don’t know who cleared me, but they were the primary investigators in my husband’s case and, yes, I spoke to both of them many times. If you don’t believe me, go ask them.”

“I can ask Lamar; Vitton is dead.” When she didn’t react, Oliver added, “Suicide.”

She flinched. “When was this?”

“Right when we reopened your husband’s investigation,” Oliver said.

“Interesting timing,” Marge added. “Do you think his suicide might have had something to do with your husband’s demise?”

“How would I know?” She began to tap her foot. “Can we wrap this up?”

Decker said, “Rudy Banks moved out of his apartment about a week ago. Since then, no one has heard boo from him. And his disappearance also neatly coincided with our reopening the case.”

“Didn’t you tell me that you had a witness who implicated him in Ekerling’s murder? Or was that utter bullshit?”

“No, it’s absolutely true. We do have a witness.”

“Then maybe he felt you were closing in on him and he took off.”

“It doesn’t worry you?” Decker asked. “Vitton’s dead and Rudy’s missing?”

She didn’t answer.

“Well, how about this?” Decker said. “Probably one of the reasons that you stopped hearing from Ryan Goldberg is that he had a serious mental collapse. His breakdown was so serious, he underwent shock therapy. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. He’s completely decompensated.”

“Did he bring me up?” Melinda asked.

Decker digested the question. Talk about narcissism. Or maybe it was fear. “No.”

“Why’d you go to see him?”

“Initially I went to get some information about Primo Ekerling. Then Rudy went missing and I went back to Ryan for information about Rudy-and to make sure he was okay. Now Ryan appears to be missing as well.”

Melinda’s reaction was slow shock. “Ryan’s missing?”

“Maybe he’s lost, maybe he packed out. We can’t locate him.”

She bit her thumbnail. “Should I be worried?” When none of the detectives answered, she cursed out loud. “God, this is just terrific…just fucking terrific! Ekerling is dead and two maniacs are missing plus the police are breathing down my neck. I think it’s time I hired a lawyer!”

“Sure, do that,” Decker said. “And while you’re at it, you might also consider hiring a bodyguard.”

DECKER TOSSED MARGE the keys to the Crown Vic. “You drive. I need to think.”

No one spoke for the first ten minutes of the ride back to the Valley. Oliver put his hands behind his head, lay back, and closed his eyes. Decker had popped open a can of root beer and was sipping it while reviewing his notes and making diagrams. He said, “Okay, let’s have a go at it. Melinda Little Warren. Lying or not lying about her involvement in her husband’s murder?”