Thicker Than Water

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was something in her voice and Louis had to ask, “Do you?”
    â€œI think Jack Cade killed that girl twenty years ago. But Spencer kept Jack Cade out of the electric chair.” Her brows knitted. “Why would you kill the man who saved your life?”
    Louis was silent for a moment. “Miss Silvestri, you probably knew Spencer Duvall better than anyone on earth. If you were me, who would you talk to?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWho else would want Spencer Duvall dead?”
    Ellie trained her green eyes on Louis. “Candace?”
    Louis tried not to let his disappointment show. The old thing had seen too many episodes of Matlock. “What makes you suspect Mr. Duvall’s wife?”
    â€œShe wasn’t very good to him,” Ellie said, her mouth pulling into a thin line. “Personally, I think she’s crazy.”
    Oh great . Overly protective secretary secretly in love with powerful boss and hates his wife. Episode 502.
    â€œSpencer was going to divorce her,” Ellie said.
    Louis couldn’t hide his surprise. “He told you this?”
    â€œWell, no, but I knew something was wrong between them,” Ellie said. “He had been staying at the apartment more and more.” She paused. “She was here that morning.”
    â€œThe day Spencer was shot?”
    Ellie nodded. “I was shocked to see her. She never came down here unless she had to. She never even called. Not like she used to when they were first married. He married her right after college, you know. I thought it was strange to get divorced after all that time.”
    Louis shook his head. “But you have no proof your boss was getting a divorce.”
    Ellie was staring at the desk. “Wait,” she said. “I made an appointment for him. It was with another lawyer here in town, a man named Brian Brenner. He handles a lot of divorces.”
    â€œThey could have just been meeting for lunch,” Louis said.
    Ellie looked dubious. “No, I knew Spencer. Something was wrong at home.”
    â€œDid Mr. Duvall keep the appointment with the other lawyer?” Louis asked.
    â€œNo, it was for the following week. I’d look it up for you, but the police took Spencer’s appointment book.”
    Louis heard voices and turned to see Bernhardt coming down the hall, leading his client out. Bernhardt’s eyes darted between Louis and Ellie.
    â€œI need to see you. Now,” he said to Ellie. Bernhardt went back down the hall to his office. Ellie let out a big sigh.
    â€œAre you going to get in trouble for this?” Louis asked.
    â€œI don’t care,” she said with a shrug. “I could never work for a man like Lyle. Maybe I’ll retire. My daughter lives over in Clewiston and says she has a room ready for me.” She paused, her green eyes hopeful. “I’ve never been there. Have you?”
    Louis shook his head.
    â€œClewiston,” she said softly. “I think I’d miss the water.” She started toward Bernhardt’s door.
    â€œThank you,” Louis said.
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œFor helping me. You didn’t have to, and I appreciate it.”
    She hesitated. “Do you believe Jack Cade killed Spencer?”
    â€œI believe a man has a right to be believed until the evidence proves he shouldn’t be.”
    She gave him a small smile. “That sounds like something Spencer would say.”

Chapter Eight
    When Louis called Brian Brenner’s office, his secretary told him that Brenner had already left for the day and wasn’t expected back in the office for several days. Louis quickly concocted a lie that he was an old college friend in town only for a day. The secretary obligingly offered up the information that Brian had gone to the family home on Shaddlelee Lane to meet a real estate appraiser and that Louis could still catch him there if he hurried.
    Shaddlelee Lane turned out to be just south of

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