After a moment, Payne said, “You’re familiar, I’m sure, with a fellow by the name of John Tyler Austin.”
Mason Morgan’s eyes narrowed.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“And you heard what happened to him?”
Morgan shook his head.
“Something recently, you mean?” he said.
Payne said, “He and an associate were leaving The Rittenhouse yesterday afternoon at two o’clock in Camilla Rose’s new Cadillac Escalade when parties unknown blocked their path, then shot at them with at least two rounds of buckshot.”
“That was Austin?” Morgan said, evenly. “I saw the TV news.”
“You didn’t see the smoke and fire from the burning SUV?” Harris said, gesturing toward the window.
“I wasn’t in the city yesterday.”
“Mr. Austin’s associate was killed,” Payne said.
“And Austin?”
“He suffered some minor injury. We left him at Hahnemann just before coming here.”
“Interesting,” Morgan said.
Payne studied him.
“You don’t seem at all surprised or concerned,” Payne said.
“Excuse me? I’m absolutely upset about Camilla Rose. I will do everything necessary to find out how and why she died.” He paused, then added, “She was family, for God’s sake!”
Payne nodded.
Morgan then said, “Is there a connection between her death and this associate of Austin?”
“We’re looking into that,” Payne said. “What are your thoughts on Austin?”
“Right now?” Morgan said. “I hold him responsible. I’m sure he somehow shoulders a great deal of the blame.”
Payne and Harris exchanged glances.
“Do you have any information that points to why he’s responsible?” Payne said. “He was at the hospital when she died.”
“He’s a danger. I knew it from the minute they met in Florida. And so I had my security people check him out.”
“You vetted Austin?” Harris put in.
“You are goddamn right I had him vetted, Detective. I knew he was—is—a danger.”
“Would you say you in any way consider him a personal threat to you?” Harris said.
Morgan was quiet for a while, then said, “Financially? Absolutely. As I said, lawsuits can get expensive and time-consuming. But a personal threat physically? No.”
“Where did you meet him?” Payne said.
Morgan gestured at the photograph.