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“What was your purpose in filing the lawsuit?”

Monig looked at Beau as if he were an idiot. “I wanted him to acknowledge that he was my father!”

“Sure. So, your only motive was emotional closure?”

“Hell, no! That was part of it, of course, but John Perry was rich as hell. He led my mother on for years, skipped out on his responsibilities to me, and spent thousands of dollars chasing ghosts and funding bullshit paranormal research. Did I want to confirm my inheritance rights? Hell yes. I think anyone in my position would.”

Monig believed what he was saying. Wholeheartedly. His was also getting more angry and hostile as the interview progressed. Neither anger nor hostility was a sure sign of guilt. Innocent people did sometimes get angry and offended at being questioned, especially if they were aggressively interrogated or wrongfully accused. Archie had not exactly been filled with sunshine and light when Beau had seemed to believe him capable of murder.

Behavioral analysis was not Archie’s area of expertise, but he’d run into his share of sociopaths. John Breland had been a classic case. Monig’s anger and hostility reminded him of the anger and hostility typical of sociopathy.

The other thing that occurred to Archie was that Beau was actually pretty good at interrogation—not counting that second off-the-rails interview with him. Beau had perfected an easy, low-key manner that made a police interview seem like any not-enjoyable but necessary task: getting your teeth cleaned, paying your taxes. He projected…not friendliness, exactly, but an openness to hearing you out, to being convinced. He seemed persuadable.

“Sure,” Beau said again. “Now, did your mother encourage you to file that paternity suit? Did she support your decision?”

Monig’s expression closed. “No.”

“Why do you think that was?”

“My mother was intimidated by John. He was the senior partner. He owned the building where they practiced. He held all the power in that relationship.”

Swenson clicked his pen and jotted down a quick note.

“I see. But your mother told you that Dr. Perry was your father.”

Monig struggled with it for a moment, before admitting, “No. She denied it. It was obvious that she was afraid of the repercussions. But it was evident to everyone that I was John’s son.”

“How so?” Beau sounded genuinely interested.

“First of all, I look like John. I look like all the Perrys. Secondly, the way John treated me when I was young. Very different from how he treated me once he decided he was through with my mother. My name. Obviously, my mother named me for John.”

Swenson said, “Your name is Jonathan, isn’t it?”

Monig said impatiently, “The spelling is different. The name is the same.”

Nope. John’s name was John. Not Jonathan. Monig’s insistence that a couple of vague coincidences were solid evidence was beginning to sound more and more like obsession to Archie.

“I see.” Beau glanced at Swenson, who subsided.

“Clearly, you don’t. But these are facts.”

Beau nodded. “When you approached Dr. Perry with your belief that you were his son, what happened?”

Monig said impatiently, “I don’t know why you’re focusing on me. It’s obvious Archie Crane killed John. Everyone knows it. He’s the one with the million-dollar motive. Not me.”

“We have to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.” Beau asked, “What’s your relationship with Archie Crane like?”

Monig smiled. “Never as close as yours used to be.”

It was a jolt. But, yes, of course Jon would remember the whole drama of Beau being outed.

Beau didn’t bat an eyelash. He smiled too. “I’m asking about your relationship.”

Monig shrugged. “There wasn’t one. He was an arrogant prick. Spoiled and pampered from the day he arrived.” He added, “That’s a reason not to like him not a motive to kill him.”

“True.” Beau added casually, “I’ll admit, it raised questions when you neglected to mention anything in your original statement about that lawsuit you filed.”

It took Monig a moment to catch up.