Cold Hearted (22 page)

“How old was Jordan then?”

“She was only twelve, and it had been less than two years since she lost her mama. She didn’t like me much back then, but she didn’t take out her feelings for me on Tammy. She rearranged her bedroom to share with Tammy and made Tammy feel welcome. It was like she adopted her for her little sister that first day and it’s been like that ever since.”

“You really are fond of Jordan, aren’t you?”

“I love the girl because she’s got a good heart and she’s been better to us than we had a right to expect.” Roselynne came around and stood at his side, her gaze following his to where Jordan and Tammy glided back and forth as the afternoon breeze tousled their hair.

“She seems to be doing all right, doesn’t she? Aren’t you concerned about the fact that she hasn’t shed a tear since she lost her baby?” Rick asked.

Roselynne sighed, her large breasts rising and falling with the heavy breath. “Jordan doesn’t cry. Oh, her eyes might get a bit misty, but that’s all. As far as I know, she hasn’t shed a tear since Robby Joe. I guess once she got done mourning for him, she didn’t have any tears left.”

Could the reason be that simple? But what kind of woman doesn’t cry when she loses a child she claimed she wanted more than anything?

“I hate to disturb them,” Rick said. “But I promised Jordan to let her know when Cam Hendrix and I started our interviews.”

“Who’s up first?” Roselynne asked.

“Ryan and Claire.”

“And Tammy and me, we’re after them, right?”

“Yes, unless you prefer to wait.”

“No, next is fine with me. I just appreciate your understanding why I want to be with Tammy when y’all question her. She’s liable to get upset and if I’m there, I can calm her down.”

“We will try not to upset her. We just need to ask her a few questions.”

“I see the way you look at Jordan.” Roselynne placed her hand on his shoulder. “You could make things worse for her if anyone gets the wrong idea and I don’t think you want that to happen.”

“You’re seeing something that’s not there. Mrs. Price is a client. That’s all.”

“If you say so.” She patted his back. “Why don’t you let me go tell her that Claire and Ryan are here and save you the trouble?”

“Sure, why don’t you do that? And when we finish talking to Ryan and Claire, either I’ll find you or I’ll have Tobias let you know when we’re ready.”

Rick waited until Roselynne left the kitchen before he breathed easily. From now on, he’d have to be careful about the way he looked at Jordan. Better yet, he needed to stop looking at her altogether.

After their interview, Cam shook hands with Claire and Ryan, thanking them for their cooperation. They had been open and honest; admitting they both had intensely disliked Jane Anne Price. Although they regretted that she was dead, they were relieved that she wouldn’t be able to expose the late senator’s well-kept secrets. But not only had they been together at the time of Jane Anne’s murder, they had been on their way home and had been seen leaving by the deputies at the front gate.

Cam glanced at Rick where he sat with his feet propped up on the ottoman and a file folder spread out across his lap.

“They’re both big fans of Jordan’s,” Cam said.

“Hmm… Who isn’t?”

Cam chuckled. “You don’t know if the lady is guilty or innocent and it’s worrying the crap out of you. Well, join the club. I’m her lawyer and I’ve got my doubts.”

“How could so many people love her if she’s a coldblooded murderer?” Rick asked.

“Serial killers — and that’s what a black widow is — can often be charming and deceptively nice. But they’re manipulative. They use their charm to captivate before they strike a deadly blow and destroy.”

“She didn’t kill Jane Anne. That much I know for a fact.”

“Then we need to find out who did and if they worked alone or with a partner. But the bottom line is that I’ve been hired to protect Jordan’s rights, not render a judgment concerning her guilt or innocence. You’re the investigator. It’s your job to uncover the truth.”

Rick tapped the file folder. “Jordan isn’t the only one who knew all the victims, if all the men in her life were indeed victims. Roselynne, J.C., and Tammy, as well as Darlene, Rene, and Devon knew every man in Jordan’s life. Any one of them could have killed Dan or possibly all four men and Jane Anne, too.”

“And their motive would have been?”

“Love, jealousy, hate. Take your pick.”

“Why don’t you find Mrs. Harris and her daughter while I read over the new information you received from Powell’s this morning? That way, I’ll be better prepared to question them.”

“Take special note of the info about Mrs. Harris’s first husband.” Rick rose to his feet and handed Cam the file folder.

Questioning Roselynne and Tammy went pretty much as Rick had expected, both of them staunchly defending Jordan. Roselynne was relaxed and replied immediately to every question. Tammy was nervous and reluctant. Before responding to each question, she looked at her mother. When Roselynne nodded, Tammy replied. A few times, Roselynne interceded and answered for her daughter.

“I like to take walks. Sometimes Mama comes with me and sometimes Jordan does, but I can go anywhere around here I want to go all by myself, can’t I, Mama?” Tammy looked to Roselynne for affirmation.

“That’s right. Walking is good exercise and Tammy loves the outdoors.”

“And you were taking one of your usual walks when you saw Jane Anne’s body in the pond?” Cam asked.

Tammy’s eyes widened and glazed over as if she could see the pond and the body in her mind’s eye. “I didn’t know who it was. I didn’t know the woman. But I knew she was dead. Dead just like Dan was.”

Roselynne patted Tammy’s hand. “It’s all right. It’s all right.”

“Did you see anyone else on your walk?” Rick asked.

Tammy thought for a couple of minutes, and then shook her head.

“She can’t tell you anything else.” Roselynne glanced from Rick to Cam. “I think she’s had enough of this.”

“I agree.” Rick looked at Tammy. “Thank you, Tammy, for answering our questions. We appreciate it very much.”

“Did I help Jordan?” Tammy asked. “I want to help Jordan.”

“Yes, you helped Jordan,” Rick told her.

Roselynne motioned to her daughter. “Then if y’all are finished with us, we’ll—”

“Tammy can go tell Jordan how well she did,” Rick said. “And while she’s doing that, we have a couple more questions for you, Mrs. Harris.”

“Can I, Mama? Can I go tell Jordan how good I did, how much I helped her?”

“Yeah, go on, honey. Go tell Jordan.” Roselynne spoke to her daughter, but her gaze remained on Rick’s face. As soon as Tammy left, Roselynne’s smile disappeared. “I guess you’ve dug up some trash on me. I figured it was only a matter of time before you did. I sowed a few wild oats in my younger years and I’ve messed around with some married men and… Whatever you found out about Tammy and J.C. having different daddies, I’d appreciate your keeping that to yourself. They don’t know and I don’t want them to know.”

Rick and Cam exchanged glances, and then Rick said. “The only information that interests us right now is concerning your first husband.”

“What does Andy Terry have to do with anything? He’s been dead more than twenty-five years.”

“How did Mr. Terry die?” Cam asked.

Roselynne’s eyes widened as realization dawned. “Andy killed himself. Blew his brains out.” Her face went chalk white.

“Just like Senator Price did.” Rick scrutinized her reaction.

“Now, you look here. I didn’t have nothing to do with Andy’s death. We weren’t even living together when it happened.”

“No one is accusing you of anything, Mrs. Harris,” Cam told her. “We simply thought it an odd coincidence.”

Roselynne jumped up out of her chair. “Well, that’s all it is — a coincidence. I didn’t kill Andy and I sure didn’t kill Dan. Not no more than Jordan killed him.” She stomped across the room, yanked open the door and stormed out into the hall.

“What do you think?” Cam asked.

Rick shrugged. “I think the more people we can cast suspicion on, the better it is for Jordan.”

J.C. Harris was a cocky asshole. Rick wouldn’t put anything past him. But the man had an answer for every question and used his mother and sister as alibis for the times of both Dan’s death and Jane Anne’s murder. He was slick. Maybe just a little too slick.

Devon Markham’s hands trembled throughout the entire questioning process and a couple of times his voice quavered and tears trickled down his smooth, pretty boy cheeks. His love for Dan Price and his friendship with and love for Jordan seemed completely genuine. Rick couldn’t picture this gentle man killing anyone.

Darlene Wright possessed an air of superiority that rankled Rick, but the lady was cooperative and her devotion to Jordan was obvious.

“I do have a small apartment in town, but whenever Jordan and Dan are at home, I often stay here and I was staying here at Price Manor the weekend when Dan killed himself,” Darlene said. “And I’m glad I was. Jordan needed me.”

“So, you still believe the senator killed himself?” Rick said.

“Well, I thought so until… If Dan was murdered, I can assure you that Jordan did not do it. She’s the sweetest, dearest—”

“What about you, Mrs. Wright?” Cam asked. “Would you have killed Senator Price for Jordan’s sake? Or what about Jane Anne? You’d do anything to protect Jordan, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes, you’re quite right. I would do anything for Jordan,” Darlene admitted. “But if you’re implying that she asked me to kill Dan or his ex-wife, then you’re mistaken. Jordan abhors violence, just as I do.”

“I have one final question for you,” Rick said.

“Yes?”

“Do you believe, without even the slightest doubt, that your son’s car accident really was just that — an accident?”

With her hands folded neatly in her lap and her ankles crossed in a ladylike fashion, Darlene Wright looked him directly in the eye. “Yes, I most certainly do.”

Later, when they were alone in the study, Cam said, “The only clear picture I’m getting is one that shows Jordan Price in a favorable light. Not even that sleazy stepbrother of hers said a single word against her.”

“What did I tell you? They all love her. Her family and friends, the senator’s family, even the servants.”

“It would appear so. And except for the Harris clan, who conveniently are one another’s alibis, no one has an alibi for the time Jane Anne was killed. Any one of them could have done it.”

“We still need to talk to Rene Burke,” Rick reminded Cam.

Cam checked his wristwatch. “It’s after five, so let’s wrap things up before six, if possible. I’m driving back to Chattanooga this evening.”

Rene cooperated fully, answering their questions quickly and succinctly. She had been asleep when Dan Price either killed himself or was murdered and alone when Jane Anne was strangled. She pointed fingers at everyone else, stating reasons why each might be the murderer.

“Have y’all ever considered the possibility that the person who killed Dan, if he didn’t kill himself, isn’t the same person who killed his ex-wife?” Rene asked.

“Sure,” Rick replied. “We could easily have two murderers on our hands, but if we do, then it’s highly likely they’re working together. Maybe the cohorts are Roselynne and Tammy or Devon and Jordan or even you and either Darlene or J.C.”

“You’ve left out Ryan and Claire.”

“They weren’t here at Price Manor the night the senator died and they had already left here when Jane Anne was murdered.”

“That narrows down your suspects by two, leaving how many — seven? Nine if you count the servants.”

“Who do you think killed Jane Anne?” Cam interjected a question into the conversation.

“I have no idea,” Rene said.

“Do you think Dan Price killed himself or—?” Rick asked.

“I don’t know. You tell me.” She fidgeted in her chair. “Look, this is the second time you’ve asked me these questions. I don’t know who killed Dan or his ex-wife. I don’t believe Jordan killed either of them. And yes, under the right circumstances, I’d kill for Jordan, but I didn’t kill Dan or his ex.”

“What about Robby Joe Wright?” Rick leaned over her chair and made direct eye contact.

“Robby Joe?” Rene blinked repeatedly. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Did you kill Robby Joe Wright?”

“You’re nuts. Robby Joe died alone in a one-car accident. He wasn’t murdered and most certainly not by me.”

“How well did you know Robby Joe?”

“I told you yesterday that I’ve known all the men in Jordan’s life, including her father and Robby Joe.”

“You didn’t answer my question — how well did you know him?”

She clamped her teeth together and glared at Rick.

“Didn’t you know Robby Joe before Jordan met him?” Rick moved out of her face and stepped away from her.

“Yes, I did. I introduced them.”

“Were you dating Robby Joe at the time?”

Rene snorted. “You dug pretty deep to get that information, didn’t you? Yes, Robby Joe and I dated for several months, but it was never serious. Once he met Jordan, that was it. He fell for her like a ton of bricks.”

“Were you in love with Robby Joe?”

Rene hesitated, then swallowed hard and said, “Yes, but he didn’t feel the same and I don’t think he ever knew how I felt.”

“Did Jordan know?”

“No, she didn’t. She wouldn’t even date him until she cleared it with me. That’s the type of person she is. She had no idea how I felt about Robby Joe and I really hope you won’t tell her. Not now, after all these years. What would be the point?”

Her father had been a hunter. Once, when she was seven, he had taken her with him on her first hunting trip, disregarding her mama’s pleas not to take a little girl with him to kill animals. But she had loved every moment of the experience. She had learned to use a rifle on that trip, experienced the thrill of the hunt and the triumph of the kill. After that, she had often gone duck and quail hunting with her father, as well as deer hunting. Those grand adventures were now treasured memories. If not for those hunting trips, she wouldn’t have become an expert marksman.