Suspicion of Malice

By Barbara Parker

This “fast-paced” thriller from the New York Times–bestselling author pits iron-willed Miami attorney Gail Connor against the man she loves (Publishers Weekly).
 
After splitting up with her fiancé, Anthony Quintana, Gail is just trying to get her life back in some sort of order. But when Anthony’s teenage daughter, Angela, comes to Gail in secret and begs her to defend her boyfriend, Bobby, a dancer with the Miami City Ballet who’s been charged with murdering a wealthy playboy, she can’t say no.
 
Gail hopes to have easy access to someone who can provide Bobby with an alibi. But the witness, who happens to be a criminal judge, has lawyered up with none other than Anthony Quintana. Now on opposite sides, Gail and Anthony are each prepared to do whatever it takes to protect their clients. But as they struggle to keep their unavoidably intertwined professional lives as separate as possible from their personal lives, a remorseless killer has a different final verdict in mind.
 
An Edgar Award finalist for the first book in the series, Suspicion of Innocence, as well as a former prosecutor, “Parker captures the roiling politics of Miami, as well as its color, all the while delivering a tight suspense story” (Chicago Tribune).

Suspicion of Malice is the 5th book in the Suspicion series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Media
• Release date: Apr 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781480499393

Barbara Parker

Barbara Parker was trained as a lawyer and worked as a prosecutor with the state attorney’s office in Dade County, Florida, before moving into a private practice that specialized in real estate and family law. Parker earned a master’s degree in creative writing in 1993. Her first legal thriller was Suspicion of Innocence, published in 1994, which was followed by another seven titles in the series featuring her two lawyer protagonists, and sometime lovers Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana. While writing the series, she also produced Criminal Justice, Blood Relations, The Perfect Fake, and The Dark of Day. Suspicion of Innocence was a finalist for the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. Two of her titles, Suspicion of Deceit and Suspicion of Betrayal were New York Times bestsellers. Barbara Parker died in March 2009, at age sixty-two.

Book preview

Suspicion of Malice

Barbara Parker

For Laura,

who deserves that

first-class cabin on the QE2

Chapter 1

It was the dog that awakened her, the strange noises he made. A yelping whine, then a bark. Then nothing, and she drifted back to sleep with the soft whirr of the air conditioner. Rain tapped on the roof of the cottage, and dim light came through the window. Then the barking started up again.

Diane thought Jack might come down from the house and see about it, because after all, Buddy was his damned dog. She remembered that Jack had thrown a party last night, and he'd been happily drunk when she'd gotten home at midnight. It had been three in the morning before the music and laughter had quieted down.

Roof-roof-roof. Roof-roof Hyeeeeeeee—

Diane shoved the pillow off her head and squinted at her clock. 6:45. Oh, great. In plaid boxers and a camisole, she stumbled out onto the small wooden porch. Nothing stirred in the yard. All she could see of Jack's house was some white clapboard and the steps to the screened porch. In the other direction, past the mildewing seawall, lower Biscayne Bay gleamed as dully as an old nickel.

No dog anywhere in sight. Stupid mutt.

A walkway ran across the yard, vanishing under a cedar trellis and into a thick stand of palm trees. He was in there. Roof-roof. Roof.

Buddy! Come! What was he doing? Diane thought of bufo toads—huge, slimy creatures with poisonous skin. Buddy would taste anything. She ran down the steps and across the yard, then under the trellis. Vines decades old kept out the rain, and the light dimmed. Dead leaves stuck to her bare feet. There was a fountain farther on, and Diane could hear it. The path turned, then opened up to a semicircle of teak benches, beds of bromeliads, and hanging baskets of orchids.

Jack's black Lab stood right in the middle of the path. He turned his head and looked at her, and his tail wagged. Diane came closer, then stopped. There was something just past him. The low, overcast sun barely penetrated the shade, and the thing—whatever it was—lay halfway under some bushes. Gradually the details became clear. A man's legs in tan slacks, feet pointing upward. An arm.

Barking, the dog loped toward her. Diane stumbled, caught herself, and raced back the way she had come, along the path, under the trellis, and across the wet grass to Jack's house, then up the steps. Her hair fell from its knot and into her eyes. Buddy danced in circles around her. She flung open the screen door, leaving him in the yard.

A spare key was hidden in a conch shell. She retrieved it in trembling fingers and jammed it into the lock. The back door opened into the kitchen. Jack! Jack! She ran through the hall, slipping as she rounded the corner. Dim light came from a globe held aloft by a bronze nude.

Jack! Her feet thudded up the stairs. Jack, get up!

His door swung open and Jack came out in old hiking shorts. "I'm up! What in the name of God's little angels is going on?" He was pulling a faded green T-shirt down over his belly. His eyes were puffy, and his big sandy mustache was turned up on one end, down on the other.

There's a man by the fountain. On the path—oh, my God, Jack—he's dead. I heard Buddy barking, and I went to see— Diane steadied herself on Jack's shoulder. And there was a man lying on the ground. I think he's dead.

What do you mean, dead?

I mean not breathing, Jack! Not moving.

Maybe he's sleeping.

No! Buddy's been barking forever.

Well, who is it?

I don't know! I was afraid to look!

"Calm down." Jack rubbed his face. My. How inconsiderate, right in my backyard. He's probably asleep. Wait for me downstairs. I'm going to get some shoes on.

Do you want me to call the police?

"No. If you want to be helpful, ma petite, go make some coffee."

The door closed. Diane heard a woman's voice. Then Jack's low murmur. A few seconds later he came out in his old leather boat shoes. The door closed, but not soon enough to cut off a view of tangled red hair and a sheet clutched to somebody's breasts.

Jack's stern glance admonished Diane for not being downstairs already. At the landing she whispered, That was Nikki.

Shhh. You saw nothing, child. He nudged her along.

Jack looked out the kitchen window as if the wild landscaping would part and reveal whatever was there, lie held aside the curtain with one hand and with the other twirled the ends of his big mustache into points.

I had hoped, on this drizzly Sunday, to spend the day in the sack. No hope of that now. He dropped the curtain. If my guest ventures downstairs, tell her to stay in the house. I'll go have a look-see.

What about the coffee?

Of course. Start the coffee—not that I need it after this jolt.

Jack pushed open the back door. The dog rose from the mat, and its swaying tail tipped over a beer bottle. More of them littered the porch. The ashtrays were full, and a roach clip lay on a side table. Dead? Dead drunk was more like it. Guests had occasionally been found in the yard, sleeping it off, but not, he had to admit, this time of year, not with mosquitos chewing on exposed flesh and humidity so high one could work up a sweat breathing.

The drizzle was turning to rain. Jack touched his .38 snub-nose through his pocket. The neighborhood was generally safe, and he didn't expect to see any strangers, conscious or otherwise, but one never knew. Buddy trotted along beside him.

The main walkway from the house, paved with old keystone, arrowed to the seawall and a boat-house, where Jack kept his fishing boat raised on davits. Stepping-stones curved left toward the cottage, and another path meandered through a collection of rare plants and palm trees to the grotto. That had been his cousin Maggie's mad creation. She had piled up coral rocks and studded them with tacky Florida souvenirs, then set a bronze manatee on its tail. The sea cow's hippo-like mouth spurted water into a pond where fat carp wove among purple swamp lilies.

Jack could hear the splash of water as he took the path under the trellis. It blocked the rain, and intermittent drops spattered onto the keystone. Jack swept a spider web off his face. Then he saw it—a man's legs and feet. White canvas deck shoes with leather laces. Khaki pants, soiled with dirt and bits of rotten leaves. The rest of the man lay just beyond a clump of elephant-ear philodendron.

Hey! Jack knew already, but called out, Wake up!

Drops of water fell from the trellis onto a philodendron leaf, which moved slightly, as if shuddering. Buddy whined through his nose. Jack pointed toward the house. Go home! The dog circled, panting and wagging his tail.

Walking closer, Jack felt a sharp crunch under his shoe—a snail, smashed like a tiny brown porcelain cup. Slime trails crisscrossed the path. Standing alongside the man's thighs, Jack slowly peered around the huge leaves of the philodendron, holding the edge of one to pull it aside. He saw the other arm—muscled, golden-haired—and at the end of it a hand covered in blood. The shattered bones of the wrist gleamed purplish through the skin.

Without his volition, Jack's eyes traveled upward, quickly taking in details that mounted in horrific impact. A torso in a white knit shirt, neat little red holes in it. And so much blood. Not on the shirt. On the face. The left half was bathed in red, and streaks of it ran into the man's ear and matted his hair. One blue eye gazed upward. The other was a pulpy mass of glimmering black. It seemed to be moving. Then Jack saw the ants. Swarms of them.

Oh, sweet Jesus, he moaned, letting go of the leaf, which gaily bobbed and dipped. Hands on knees, he waited for the dizziness to pass, then stood up. Buddy, come! His voice cracked.

Walking slowly through the rain, he gathered his thoughts. Water dripped off his eyebrows and chin, and his T-shirt clung to his back. Diane was on the porch. She pulled open the screen door, and her eyes took him in, finding the answer. She whispered, He's dead, isn't he?

Jack went inside, shaking his head when she asked who it was. He grabbed a dishtowel and ran it over his face and neck. The smell of coffee filled the kitchen, but he had no taste for it.

Nikki sat at the table, green eyes open wide. Jack absently smoothed his mustache and stared across the kitchen.

Diane spoke again. Jack? Who is it?

He beckoned to Nikki. Come with me into the study for a sec. Diane, be a good girl and tidy up the back porch, will you? Don't go anywhere. I won't be long.

He took Nikki down the hall, their footsteps reduced to soft thuds on an ancient oriental carpet gone to threads at the edges. The house was too cold. He had turned the air conditioner down to sixty-something before Nikki had slid into bed, giggling. In the study, gray light filtered through wooden blinds.

What is going on, Jack? Say something. What happened out there? Somebody died? Her glossy pink mouth was open.

He set his hands firmly on her shoulders. I want you to be very calm. Can you do that? Nikki nodded. It's Roger. He's been shot.

She stared, then blinked. "Roger? Roger is . . . dead?" She dropped onto the sofa. Oh, my God

He sat beside her. This is a mess, baby.

Chapter 2

Rain hissed under the tires, and the windshield wipers swept back and forth and back. A drizzle here, a downpour farther on. Ragged clouds tumbled across the sky. This had to stop soon. Or it might not. One couldn't be certain of anything this time of year.

Anthony Quintana set his elbow on the window frame, arched his hand across his forehead, and squeezed. Long fingers moved upward on his temples as if testing the bones for cracks. He would rather have been in bed. Asleep or simply horizontal, it didn't matter. Unless he had a trial scheduled the next day, he didn't like to waste his Sundays working. The Cresswells weren't even clients—yet. They could have come to his office during normal business hours. He could not remember why he had agreed to do this.

Ah, yes. Nate Harris had asked him to.

The deejay on the doo-wop show spun another one. Oooo-wah-wah, bop-bop-aaaahhhh. Nate's lips moved, and he tapped the beat on the steering wheel. He watched the road through round tortoiseshell glasses.

Cono cara'o. Ten-forty-five in the morning, listening to that idiot music, sailing along in Nate's white Ford Taurus sedan toward the far northeast corner of the county—an area Anthony detested for its glutted roads, endless malls, and pretentious condominiums elbowing each other for a view of the Atlantic.

Porter and Claire Cresswell lived in one of them. Porter's company built boats, and he had money. Boatloads of it, Anthony assumed. Porter had been in and out of the hospital, and he'd put his son, Roger, in charge. A close call with cancer had rattled Porter's brain, or so Nate had explained to Anthony. Porter was sure that his son was embezzling money or secretly selling off assets or—God only knew— plotting to turn the company over to a multinational that would start making lawnmowers. Porter feared the IRS would freeze his bank accounts. He feared FBI agents at his door. Porter had begged Nate to find him a good criminal lawyer.

Anthony knew little about Porter and Claire, except that Nate had remained close to his in-laws since his wife had died three years ago. He was especially fond of Claire, Maggie's mother. Nate was a judge on the criminal bench. A good man, a scholar, a rare light in the courtrooms of this county. He liked to hand out special projects to the lawyers who practiced before him. Programs for community awareness, for immigrants, for battered women. It had always been hard to say no to Nathan Harris.

Nate turned down the radio. What's the matter? You have a headache?

Blinking, Anthony dropped his elbow from the armrest. What? No. He unbuttoned his collar and loosened his tie. I don't need this, do I?

I don't know, Porter and Claire are pretty formal. Where are your gloves?

"No me jodas. Do I take off the tie or not?"

You see me wearing one? Nate asked. What does that phrase mean, exactly?

It means . . . 'Don't play games.' Anthony folded his tie.

No, the precise meaning.

'Don't fuck around with me.’ You know what it means.

You ought to write a book, Nate said. 'How to Cuss in Spanish.' I want an unexpurgated edition. I'd like to know for sure what the defendants are saying about me at sentencing hearings.

I hope you told Porter Cresswell, when you volunteered me to handle this, that if it becomes drawn out, he may have to find another lawyer.

What are you talking about?

I might not stay in the area. I mentioned that, no?

In passing. Don't tell me you were serious about New York.

Why not? I was a federal public defender there for several years, and I still have contacts. My son is in New Jersey with his mother. I could easily move to New York.

And your daughter just moved here to start college. Nate's round glasses made him look like a gray-haired owl. What is this? Nobody moves from Florida to New York, it's unnatural. You're leaving because of Gail.

Who?

No me jodas, Nate said.

It has nothing to do with her.

You and she break up, then you disappear to Spain. Now you're thinking of relocating to New York. And it has nothing to do with Gail.

No.

After a moment Nate returned his gaze to the road. He sighed. Let it go, my friend. God knows, it hurts and you grieve, but this too shall pass.

Anthony might have laughed but for Nate's doleful expression. "Nate . . . no one died. I got my ring handed back to me. Que lastima. Too bad. I was saved from my own stupidity, marrying that woman. Believe me, I am not crying about it."

Listen to that. You can't even say her name.

Gail. All right?

A little snappy this morning, aren't we? Out partying last night?

Yes, with a box of files from my office.

Was it fun?

No.

Rain streaked the passenger window. Through it Anthony gazed out at U.S. 1, which had been widened and prettified with palm trees and flowers. Welcome to Aventura. The cars were expensive, the faces were white, and the conversations would all be in English. The Taurus turned at a massive shopping mall and headed east toward the water.

Listen, Nate said. If I get the appointment to federal court, there's going to be a vacancy in the circuit court. You should run for judge.

I don't have the patience to put up with that shit.

Sure you do. Don't underestimate yourself. You'd have no problem getting elected. Good connections in the Cuban community, an excellent reputation in the bar. You know the law. On the bench you have a chance to do some good. The job doesn't pay what you're used to, but I suspect you've accumulated enough not to worry about it.

I have accumulated enough not to worry about anything. Anthony leaned against the headrest and closed his eyes. When I was in Spain, I considered not coming back. It's different there, Nate. Not so rushed, so nervous. They don't have a federal regulation for every damned problem, and you can smoke your cigar in a restaurant or compliment a woman without being accused of harassment. It's a beautiful country. The people are polite. They have pride in themselves, in their history, not like Miami. Hot as hell this time of year, but I'm used to that.

''You're kidding."

Am I? Anthony gazed out at the low hills of a golf course, which once had been mangrove swamp. Sixteen years as a lawyer. Maybe it's enough. I'll be forty-three next month. Incredible. Even so, it's not too late to start over. I could do anything. Go anywhere.

Sure, but Spain—

Why not? I speak the language. Where do you think Cubans came from? Look at this. He pushed his coat sleeve up his forearm. Three weeks on the Costa del Sol, I look like a gypsy. I could buy a house on a cliff and lie in the sun. Come over and visit me. The women are gorgeous. You live like a monk, that's your problem.

Nate put on his turn signal and waited for traffic to clear. I could use a little debauchery. Sign me up.

They were nearing the ocean, marked by a line of condominiums that completely obscured the view. Beyond them, patches of blue showed through white-topped clouds.

Tell me about Cresswell Yachts. What they do. Who runs it. I want to pretend I know something.

The Cresswells' condo had a view from twenty-six floors up of the winding intracoastal, the curve of the Atlantic, and the skyscrapers of downtown Miami. The housekeeper led Anthony and Nate Harris over antique oriental rugs on tile floors, past silk-upholstered chairs and gilded tables on which sat orchids in porcelain pots. Finally they were taken into a wickered and rattaned sitting area that opened onto a glassed-in terrace. Ceiling fans twirled, and green plants cast tropical shade.

A slender blond woman in casual slacks and a pastel blue blouse hurried toward them. Smiling, she pressed her cheek to Nate's. "Hello, you sweet thing. I haven't seen you in weeks!" Her bright smile swept around. Anthony knew her age—sixty-one—but she dazzled. Her hair was cut youthfully, feathering on her cheeks. If there were tucks at her ears and jaw-line, they were too discreet to be noticed.

Mr. Quintana, I'm so pleased you're with us. I'm Claire. She took his hands.

He smiled down at her. No, no, call me Anthony. Will you?

Her cheeks went pink. All right—Anthony. My goodness. Porter? Come meet our guest.

Her husband studied the newcomer with gray eyes set in a square, sunburned face. A cleft divided his chin.

Driving the last half-mile, Anthony had learned that Porter Cresswell owned the company with his brother, Duncan, whom everyone called Dub. Porter was president, and Dub was in charge of sales. Dub's wife, Elizabeth, who had risen from within the company, oversaw scheduling and production. The three of them had maintained a fairly good balance until Porter's illness. Porter persuaded his son, who ran a related yacht leasing business, to sit in the president's chair for a while. He had made him a ten-percent owner. This new arrangement had not pleased Dub and Liz, but Porter was used to having his way. Now Porter was well again, but Roger refused to step down.

Porter's handshake was strong. One corner of his thin mouth rose. Nate tells me you're a pretty good lawyer, Quintana.

I wouldn't want to argue with a judge, Anthony said.

Claire was closing in on Nate, who had come in carrying a flat package about two feet by three. "Now what can that be? You said you were bringing us a little surprise, but what is this?"

It's to say thank you. You and Porter suggested I apply for the federal bench. You pushed me and cajoled and wouldn't let me say no. If I get the job, well, a lot of the credit goes to you.

Porter shook his head. Come on, Nate. This isn't necessary.

Nate held the package and Claire pulled off the tape. The brown paper fell away, revealing a canvas framed in gold. Maggie painted this, Nate said. It's from before we were married, so I'd never seen it before. I mentioned to Jack that I was looking for something, and he showed me this. He says it's the only portrait Maggie ever did.

Anthony came closer. Nate had told him he was bringing his in-laws a painting. A young ballerina with silvery hair stood alone in her tutu in the darkened wings of a stage. Her body was flat-chested, very long and thin, almost sexless, and yet compellingly beautiful. An odd blue light made her skin glow.

Claire stared down at the girl. Why, it's Diane. She's just a little girl here, isn't she? Claire looked at Anthony, explaining, Diane is Porter's niece, Dub and Lizzie's daughter. She's twenty now, a soloist with the Miami City Ballet.

Is that so? Anthony said, My daughter, Angela, is taking classes with them this summer.

Then they might know each other. What a small world. Claire smiled at Nate. "You're giving us this. Oh, it's too much. We can't."

No, no, Claire, it's my sincerest pleasure.

Why, aren't you the sweetest thing? Claire set the painting upright on the rattan sofa and came back to kiss his cheek. Porter? Don't you want to thank Nate?

Damn nice of you, Nate. Porter clapped him on the back. Hey, who wants a drink? Claire won't let me have any, but I like to play bartender. What about you, Quintana? Got some rum. You're Cuban. I make a damn good daiquiri.

Ahh . . . a Bloody Mary? Skip the celery.

Good choice. I make an even better Bloody Mary. Nate? Nate said to make it two, and Porter Cresswell crossed the sisal rug and went around a carved mahogany coffee table to get to the bar.

Anthony walked over to the windows to gaze down at the intracoastal waterway. An impressive view.

They were going to put in another building over there. Porter Cresswell indicated the spot with a jerk of his chin. We had to file a lawsuit. You know anything about condo law?

No, I specialize in crime.

A chuckle rasped out of Cresswell's throat. He came around the bar with the drinks in tall crystal glasses. Here you go, gentlemen. He growled near Anthony's ear, You and I can go in the study after we eat. Leave Nate and Claire to gab.

Anthony decided he did not like this man, and he began mentally to add digits to his bill.

A small hand curled around his elbow. Porter, darling, talk to Nate for a minute. I'm going to show Anthony the gallery.

Have a look at our newest acquisition, Porter said. I bought it from a collector in Chicago. You wouldn't want to know how much.

Oh, tell me. Anthony smiled at him.

One hundred and thirty-five thousand bucks. My daughter's last big piece. That's how much her paintings are worth, and they say the prices will only go up.

Amazing. He added another thousand or so to his fees.

Claire said, "It was on the cover of Art in America. They did a whole article on her. I have the magazine if you'd care to look at it later."

Yes, I would.

Never mind Claire. She has a stack two feet high of that magazine. You aren't obligated.

I'd like to, Anthony said. He left his drink on the bar.

A wide corridor had been turned into a gallery devoted to the works of Margaret Cresswell. The floor was black slate, and the ceiling was dotted with lights. Claire stood gazing at her daughter's art, two dozen or more pieces. The centerpiece was a huge abstraction of black with splotches of color showing through. It was spiky and jarring.

This was my birthday present from Porter. Claire laughed. Don't ask me which one! Sometimes I just . . . come in here and look at it. Maggie was such a beautiful, talented girl. Not always easy to understand, as you can guess from her work. She was never known as a Florida artist, because she spent her adult life in the Northeast. She met Nate at my nephew Jack's gallery when he showed her works, and Nate was so taken with her. He flew up to New York for her first single exhibition, and they married a year later. I'm so glad, or we'd hardly ever have seen her. One always thinks that time will just go on and on. She hesitated. ''You know about Maggie's suicide, I suppose?"

Yes. Nate told me.

He's a sweet man, Claire said. He wanted to blame himself, but she was fighting her demons long before they met. He gave her some happiness before the end. She was . . . only thirty-three. Claire fell into silence. The bright, unforgiving surroundings revealed the sagging skin of her neck that her luxurious Hermes scarf failed to cover. She looked up at Anthony with a smile. It's all right if you don't like the painting. Not everyone does.

No, I wouldn't say I don't like it, only that it is, as you say, hard to understand. He walked closer. The paint had been applied in intricate layers. The first time I met your daughter, we argued. I said art had to mean something. She said no, the observer is the one who gives it a meaning. Without the observer, it doesn't exist. I can't look at any painting without remembering what she said. She was a person of rare genius and warmth.

Thank you for saying that. Claire's eyes glistened. She took Anthony's arm. "Listen, I have to apologize for Porter. The situation at the company is causing such stress. I guess Nate explained. Porter let Roger handle things while he was sick, and before you knew it, everybody was at each other's throats. Porter decided for the sake of the company he had to go back, but Roger says, 'You're too old, Daddy. You're too stuck in the past.' Well, when it's your son, you don't just fire him. Porter is beside himself. If you could just set his mind at ease, he'd feel so much better."

Anthony didn't say anything right away. What did they expect him to do? Recite prayers? Make the sign of the cross?

He took Claire's hand and kissed it with great respect. Then he held it close to his chest. You mustn't worry. I'll make sure everything is all right.

When they came back, Porter and Nate stood at the windows talking about the list of candidates for the vacancy in the federal court. Nate was one of three. Porter was giving reasons why Florida's senior senator would send Nate's name to the White House for official nomination.

You don't want to know how much I contributed to that cocksucker's last campaign.

Do me a favor, Porter. Don't remind him.

Might do some good. Porter gave a raspy laugh. He stopped that fucking condo down there in its tracks, I'll give him that much. Money talks, bullshit walks. Remember that.

It's on a plaque outside the courthouse, Nate said.

Porter looked at him sideways and caught sight of Claire and Anthony. There you are. What were you doing, playing lovey-dovey with my wife? Her face is all red.

Claire's eyes closed. Porter, please.

The man can take a joke, honey. He put an arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek so hard it pressed her eye closed. Smile. Come on. Let's see it.

She smiled, then pulled away, patting his chest. Isn't everyone hungry? There was a phone on a table by the sofa. She pressed a button, waited, then told someone named Maria that they were ready for lunch. She hung up and flashed a smile. Okay. Soup's on in five minutes!

Porter splashed some plain club soda over the ice in his glass. A toast. To United States District Judge Nathan Alan Harris.

Hear, hear, Claire said. Anthony raised his Bloody Mary as the muted chime of a doorbell filtered into the room.

Porter said, You do a lot of drug cases, Quintana?

A few. All my clients have been wrongfully indicted, of course.

You bet. Porter grinned, then gestured with his drink to Nate, who sat at the bar eating salted peanuts. They say the only damn cases down there in federal court are drug cases. I remember this one guy wanted us to make him a fast boat. That was back in the good old days of the Cocaine Cowboys. Guy says, name your price. I told him to get lost. You remember the Don Aronow case, don't you, Quintana? I knew Don. Used to build racing boats. Nice fellow, but ran with a bad crowd. Ended up filled full of holes.

The doorbell was still chiming. Who the hell is that? Where's Maria?

Claire said, Maybe I should go answer it.

We've got a fucking housekeeper so you won't have to. Sit down. He bellowed, Maria! His face turned red. Get the goddamn door!

Anthony could hear quick footsteps on the marble floor. A few moments later a heavyset man in a green knit golf shirt appeared in the doorway, and the housekeeper's footsteps receded back toward the kitchen.

Porter frowned. You should've called. We've got guests.

Claire began the introductions. This is Duncan Cresswell, Porter's brother. Dub, this—

Why didn't you call?

Duncan Cresswell shook his head, and his jowls moved. I need to talk to you and Claire right now— in private. He glanced at Nate. Hello, Nate. Sorry about this.

Claire's hand was at her throat. What's the matter? Dub? What happened?

Anthony stood up. We'll be in the living room. Nate nodded, and the two of them walked into the hall. Anthony said quietly, Do you have any idea what that was about?

None.

A woman's scream came from the patio, turning into a wail. "No, no, no—"

They spun around just as Duncan Cresswell came out. Maria! Maria, get in here! The woman was already on her way from the kitchen, asking what had happened, what was the matter? The man grabbed her shoulder. Their son—he's been killed. Go get Claire's pills from her bathroom. Go on! Hurry. White-faced, the woman vanished.

Nate stopped him from going back inside. Dub! What did you say?

The answer came in a whisper. Roger was shot to death last night at Jack's place. Nate stared at him, too stunned to speak. The police won't say anything, but it looks like a robbery. His wallet's gone, his watch—Diane found him. She'd been up at Jack's all night, and after breakfast she was going back to the cottage and heard the dog barking, and found Roger's body. They called 911 right away, but it was too late. I mean, Jesus, he was lying there all night. Diane called us about an hour ago. I didn't want them to hear this from the police.

Oh, my God. What about Nikki? Does she know?

Not yet. The cops sent somebody to the house. The neighbor says she's up in West Palm Beach for the weekend. They're trying to find her cell phone number. Oh, Jesus. He turned toward the door. This is terrible. Maggie's gone. Now Roger.

Let me talk to them, Nate said.

Anthony moved closer, not wanting to stare, but shock and sorrow had erased his presence. He might have been a shadow, for all the notice they paid him. Porter Cresswell's arms were wrapped tightly around his wife, who sat on the sofa and moaned. Nate crouched beside them. The housekeeper ran in with a pill bottle and leaned over Claire, weeping, touching her shoulder. Dub handed her a glass of water. Claire. Claire, honey. Take these.

Giving them privacy, Anthony walked into the living room and stared at the view till Nate came out. Stay with mem, Anthony said. I'll get a taxi.

Nate wiped his glasses on his handkerchief. No, it's better if we leave. Claire wants me to apologize to you for the disruption. That's Claire. Always the lady. I promised Porter I'd find out what's going on. Dub's going to call the rest of the family. It's a damn, miserable shame, isn't it?

Outside, the rain had stopped, but the smell of it lingered in wet earth. They waited for the valet, and finally the Taurus squealed to a stop on the cobble-stoned driveway. Anthony was just opening the passenger door when a shout came from the parking lot.

Nate! A man in a white Panama hat ran toward them, face hidden by sunglasses and a wide blond mustache. He leaped over a low hedge and stopped, breathless.

I just heard, Nate said. Dub came over. He's upstairs.

Fuckin' cops. They're all over the place. I had to slip out the back. How's Claire?

Bad. Go see her, but don't stay. The police could give you some problems for leaving the scene, Jack.

I'll deal with that later. The sunglasses turned toward Anthony. Introductions were made. The man was Claire's nephew, Jack Pascoe. The body had been found on his property. Nate repeated what Dub had said about a robbery. Do they have any idea who did it? Or when? Did you or Diane hear anything?

Pascoe glanced over at Anthony, then said, Not the first. Anyone could have wandered in from the street. My security arrangements last night were somewhat porous. Who expects something like this? Pascoe's mustache curled onto his round cheeks. He moved closer to Nate. Lucky you're here. Could we chat? I left a message on your voice mail about an hour ago. Ignore it. Would you excuse us, Mr. . . .

Quintana. I'll wait under the portico.

Anthony paced slowly, hands in his pockets, pretending disinterest, but on his first turn he noticed Jack Pascoe gripping Nate's upper arm. Their words were obscured by the rustle of palm fronds. A minute later, Pascoe rushed toward the double glass doors, which swung open, then shut, swallowing him into the cavernous marble lobby.

In the car, Nate said nothing. He gripped the top of the steering wheel as if he'd aged thirty years. At the end of the driveway, he abruptly stopped, swung the wheel to the right, and parked under some trees. The radio played at low volume. Nate turned the knob and it went off. Mind if I ask an opinion?

Go ahead. I assume this is related to the conversation you just had.

I was at Jack's house last night. He had some people over. Nate lifted the tortoiseshell

Reviews for Suspicion of Malice

[sluce_6 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Read on trip to Germany. Good airplane read.