Read Online Still Life by Joy Fielding - Free Book Online Page A

be Janine Pegabo?”
    Casey pictured him consulting his notes.
    “Yes.”
    “They were partners?”
    “Yes.”
    “But they no longer work together.” The observation was part statement, part question.
    “No. They went their separate ways about a year ago.”
    “Why was that?”
    “Casey just wanted to try other things. She’d always been interested in design….”
    “And how did Ms. Pegabo feel about that?”
    “She was understandably upset, at least initially. But she came around. She’d made peace with it. She certainly wouldn’t have tried to kill Casey because of it.”
    “Do you know what kind of car she drives, Mr. Marshall?”
    “Uh, a Toyota, I think.”
    It’s a Nissan. And it’s red, not silver.
    “And it’s red,” Warren said. “Janine always drives a red car.”
    “What about Gail MacDonald?”
    “I have no idea what kind of car she drives.”
    It’s a Ford Malibu, and it’s white.
    “Gail is the gentlest person on earth,” Warren said. “I’ve actually seen her scoop up an ant in a tissue and carry it outside rather than kill it. There’s no way she’d hurt Casey.”
    This is ridiculous. Neither Gail nor Janine had anything to do with what happened to me.
    “You can’t think either of these women had anything to do with this,” Warren said, echoing her thoughts.
    “I’m just covering all the bases,” the detective replied obliquely. “You said that up until about a year ago, your wife ran a lawyer placement service.”
    “Yes.”
    “Any lawyers she might have angered?”
    “Lawyers are, by nature, always angry about something,” Warren answered. “But Casey had a way about her….”
    Wait a minute. There was this one lawyer…. The little twerp, Janine had called him at lunch.
    “I honestly can’t think of anyone who’d have been angry enough to try to kill her.”
    Dammit, what was his name? Moody? Money? No. Mooney. That’s it. Richard Mooney.
    “Maybe you should talk to Janine about that.”
    But would Richard Mooney really try to kill me because his job placement hadn’t worked out?
    “Tell me,” Detective Spinetti said, “is there anyone who would profit by your wife’s death?”
    What do you mean?
    “Profit?”
    “It’s no secret that your wife is a very wealthy woman, Mr. Marshall. In the event of her death, who inherits her estate?”
    “Probably her sister,” Warren answered after a moment’s thought. “To tell you the truth, I’m not sure.”
    “You’re not sure? You’re a lawyer….”
    “I’m not Casey’s lawyer, Detective.”
    “You mentioned a sister….”
    “Casey’s younger sister, Drew.”
    “Were they close?”
    “Not especially.”
    “Mind my asking why?”
    Another moment’s thought, then, “Even though she was extremely well-provided-for,” Warren said carefully, “Drew always resented the fact her father named Casey as executor of his estate.”
    “Effectively giving Casey control over her finances?”
    “Drew isn’t the most responsible person on the planet,” Warren explained. “She’s had her share of problems with drugs and alcohol.”
    “Do you know what kind of car she drives?”
    “I have no idea. She trades them in almost as often as she changes boyfriends.”
    Casey could almost see Detective Spinetti’s eyebrows arch. “I see,” he noted.
    “You don’t see anything,” Warren said adamantly. “Drew may be a flake. And she definitely has issues. But there’s no way she’d hurt Casey.”
    “Any idea who she’s seeing now?” the detective asked, ignoring Warren’s protestation.
    “I think his name is Sean. Sorry, his last name escapes me.”
    “So you wouldn’t know what kind of car this Sean drives.”
    “Sorry, no. You’d have to ask Drew. But again, you can’t think …”
    “I’m just gathering information, Mr. Marshall.”
    Warren took an audible breath and released it slowly. “In that case, I imagine you’ll want to know my whereabouts on the afternoon my wife was run