“Yes, for defamation, based on some comment Simon made about Eddington and also for trade libel based on quality control.”
“Man.” Declan waved the smoke away from his face. “Do you think your buddy Nate knows about that litigation?”
“I think so,” Bennie answered, because she had been thinking the same thing. “He wouldn’t normally, but this time, he’s taking it personally.”
“Because you’re involved. Hell hath no fury like a lawyer scorned.”
“You think he’s doing it to get to me?”
“Yes.” Declan nodded, matter-of-factly. “You know what convinced me? His bringing Mary in front of a disciplinary board. That’s way out of line. You could ruin somebody’s career. And for what? A judgment call?”
“I know, right? It’s weird.”
“Not weird, obvious. He knows you care about her, so he’s going to hurt her. He’s throwing everything he has at your girl.” Declan picked up a spatula and a platter from the side of the grill.
“Hmm.” Bennie scrolled to the complaint, skimming the statements that Simon was alleged to have made. “I don’t believe a word of this. I think this Todd is a liar. Was a liar. I just don’t know why they would do this. And I don’t know what, if anything, either of these suits has to do with his murder.”
“It was definitely murder,” Declan said, with the confidence of a former cop. “Unless they find a note, not a suicide. And maybe even if they find a note. Not a suicide.”
“I agree, but what makes you say that?”
“It’s almost impossible to kill yourself by stabbing yourself in the chest. The sternum gets in the way. It’s even hard to stab somebody else through the sternum.” Declan took the food off the heat and set it on the table. “Dinnertime.”
“Educate me,” Bennie said, rising with the laptop. She came over to the picnic table, sat next to him, and set the laptop on her right so she could keep checking.
“The sternum is a big, thick breastbone that runs down the center of your chest. It’s meant to protect the heart. It does a good job. I arrested a guy once, he broke a hunting knife on another guy’s sternum.” Declan picked up the ketchup and squirted it all over his burger, and Bennie tried not to imagine blood.
“Did the guy live?”
“Yes. The knife died.” Declan grinned crookedly. “You have to pick the exact right spot. The ribs get in the way.”
“But it’s possible. If Todd didn’t do it himself, then somebody did it to him.”
“I didn’t say it couldn’t be done. I said he couldn’t do it himself. Highly unlikely.” Declan placed his hamburger bun on top of his burger, then mashed it down with the flat of his hand. Ketchup oozed out of the sides, and Bennie started to lose her appetite. She had been so preoccupied with the case that somehow, she had forgotten the fact that a human being had died.
“This is so awful, I don’t know who would kill Todd Eddington. A sales manager at a cubicle manufacturer? Sitting in a parking lot at his country club?”
“You told me he drove a Porsche. Could’ve been a carjacking gone wrong. What about his wallet and watch?” Declan took a big bite of his burger, chewing away.
“I don’t know. And they left the car.”
“When the job goes wrong, they don’t take the car.”
“But a carjacking in broad daylight?”
“It’s pouring in Philly. Visibility is low. Nobody’s outside. Nobody’s playing golf. The lot couldn’t have been that full. Opportunity plus motive equals crime. I’m good at math.” Declan chewed happily away, but Bennie had grown used to his gallows humor, having been around enough homicide detectives to know that it was a defense mechanism.
“But how random could it be? A country club is private property.”
“I doubt they check your ID when you go in. We could find out in five minutes.” Declan gestured at the computer. “Or it could be another member. Jealous husband. Has our boy been fooling around?”
“Possibly. He was divorced and not terrible looking.”
“He had a big job. That’s catnip.”
“Don’t be sexist.” Bennie shot him a look. “I have a big job.”
“Why do you think I’m sleeping with you?” Declan took another big bite of his burger, which was almost finished. “Aren’t you going to eat your veggie burger? I cooked that barley to perfection.”
“Thanks, in a minute.” Bennie turned to the computer, refreshing Philly.com for the local news, but there was nothing new. “So much is going on, and I’m worried about Mary. She sounded shell-shocked when I called her.”
“I agree, she’s got a lot going on. ADA case. Ethics complaint. Defamation case.” Declan smiled in a knowing way, reaching for his beer bottle. “Luckily, she’s not your partner anymore. Or your problem. She’s leaving your firm, remember?”
“I know.” Bennie felt a pang. “She wouldn’t if she didn’t have to.”
“I know that,” Declan said with a smile, and Bennie knew he meant it because he liked Mary.
“Then what’s your point?”
“She’s leaving. You’re going to have to let her go.”
“I’m letting her go. I’m not stopping her.” Bennie hit Refresh again.
“I mean figuratively. Let her go.” Declan met her eye directly. “Her problems are not your problems anymore.”
“But I still care about her.”
“Try to detach.”
“It’s hard,” Bennie blurted out, surprised to hear the words coming out of her own mouth. “It took me so long to get attached. I’m attached.”
“She’s not a puppy, babe.”
“I know, but I’m worried about her. She won’t have anybody if Carrier stays with me. She’ll be completely on her own.”
“Didn’t I just hear you pitch Judy to stay with you?” Declan smiled slightly, his crow’s-feet crinkling with amusement.
“I know.” Bennie hit Refresh, and suddenly the screen changed, to a video feed in front of the Roundhouse. A new headline read Man Questioned in Stabbing Death. “Look, something’s happening!”
“What?” Declan got up and came around Bennie’s other side, watching the laptop over her shoulder.
“There’s video!” Bennie clicked to play the video, which showed a man being escorted into the revolving doors at the Roundhouse, which was the police administration building.
The voiceover said: “Police have brought in for questioning an unidentified male in connection with the death of Todd Eddington, the Horsham man found stabbed to death today. Authorities have not yet identified the man, who has not been arrested for the crime. He is considered a person of interest…”
Bennie eyed the man. “I wonder who he is.”
“That’s the perp? What is this, chess club?” Declan snorted, but Bennie fixated on the screen as the video showed the man disappearing inside the building, followed by a small woman whom she recognized instantly.
“That’s Mary!” Bennie hit the button to freeze the video.
“Your partner?” Declan asked, incredulous.
“Yes!” Bennie rewound the video and played it over again, confirming her identification. She felt a bolt of surprise when she put two and two together. “The person of interest must be Simon!”