Leverage in Death (In Death 47)

“And, Detective?”

“Coffee regular.” At Sybil’s blank look, she explained. “Ah, cream—or milk—two sugars. Thanks.”

Obviously comfortable having a task, Sybil worked with Stuben to pour and serve. Eve gave them the time to settle.

“Mrs. Pearson, do you know of anyone who wanted to harm your husband, his business, or this merger?”

“No. No. Derrick’s a good man, a wonderful father and husband. He’s a caring man to his employees. Everyone loves him. Isn’t that right, Liana? Everyone loves your father.”

“Yes, of course.”

“He treated Paul like family!” Those glazed eyes cleared enough to show fury and terrible grief. “Paul and Cecily were always welcome in our home. Melody played with our grandchildren! And he murdered my Derrick.”

“Mom, Mom.” Liana tried to get arms around her mother, but Rozilyn pushed her aside.

“Don’t tell me Paul’s a victim! Don’t you tell me he was forced. That murderer made a choice. He made a choice and he killed your father. He killed my Derrick. My husband’s dead.”

Her voice pitched high as the words spewed out until they rang on hysteria. Tears spurted and gushed.

“She can’t do this,” Liana said, starting to rise.

“I’ll take her upstairs.” Stuben walked around the sofa, leaned down, gathered Rozilyn up. “Let’s go on upstairs now, Miz Roz. You need to go up with me.”

“What will we do, Bessie? What will we do?”

“You need some rest,” Stuben soothed as she guided the sobbing woman out.

“She can’t—” Liana broke off, looking away as she fought for composure. Sybil, silently weeping, sat beside her, gripping her hands.

“My parents—” Drew cleared his throat. “My parents,” he began again, were married for thirty-nine years. They knew each other since childhood. She’s just not able to do this now.”

“I understand. If you’d rather we came back to interview the rest of you—”

“No, please. God, let’s get this done, Drew.” Liana pressed her free hand to her face. “Let’s just get this done. I spoke with Cecily.”

“You—when?” her brother demanded.

“Earlier this morning. I needed to. It was hard, for both of us. We got to be friends—or very friendly,” she told Eve. “Her daughter’s older than Noah, but they often played together—and with Drew’s children when they were here, so we got to be friendly. It was hard, but she told me what happened to her, to Paul, to Melly. My mother can’t understand, can’t forgive, and I won’t ask her to. But I can. I can. I have a child. You have children,” she said to Drew and Sybil. “What wouldn’t you do to protect them?”

She took a breath. “I’m so angry, so angry. I can’t push that anger on Paul and Cecily and that little girl. I wanted to, but I can’t. What do I do with this anger? Who did this, to all of us?”

“We’re working to find that out. Did your father have enemies?”

“Competitors—your own husband is one. Competitors and rivals, but enemies? Someone who wanted to kill him? To kill all those people? No. Just no.”

“You work in the New York offices, so closely with your father. Were there any serious disagreements regarding the merger?”

“Some, of course. It was a major step, a big change, but in the end a very good deal for everyone. Paul himself wasn’t fully on board at the outset, but he got there.”

“Why weren’t you in New York for the presentation?”

“Dad wanted a family rep in Rome. Drew’s London, and Jean-Phillipe—our cousin—is in Paris, but Dad wanted me in Rome. Willimina had key people in important hubs as well.”

“To give the presentation a global impact,” Drew went on. “The big reveal,” he said with a ghost of a smile.

“Have any of you received any threats?”

“No.” Drew looked at his wife, his sister, got headshakes. “This came without warning.”