Page 86 of Family Affair

“Cade never alerted you to his arrival?”

Coco threw a puzzled look at the detective, and then humiliation burned her cheeks bright red. “I think the surveillance video has given you a wrong impression, Detective. I met Cade for the first time on July 4th, at a party. I understand why you might think differently, but apart from this one moment in time, we don’t have any history. He’s been kind enough to help me on a couple of occasions, and we had one dinner, and he was leaving, and… it went out of hand,” she trailed off.

Smirnoff’s expression turned sympathetic. “Sure, sure. It’s a delicate situation, I see. So, Cade never mentioned to you why he came?”

“No, he didn’t. I assumed he came for the 4th of July holiday.”

“Of course, of course. A reasonable enough assumption. And he was leaving, you said? After the dinner?”

“Well, yes.” Coco felt very unsettled, like she was walking on a tightrope without a balancing pole. Everything she said could be interpreted against Cade. “Not that very night, but soon.”

“He said so?”

“Yes. It was a farewell dinner.”

Detective Smirnoff produced a wrinkled notepad and scribbled something on the page.

“Has Cade ever mentioned Ward Williamson to you?”

“No, he hasn’t. I already told Detective Willis that.”

“Very well, very well. Forgive the repetitive questions. We follow a protocol, you know.”

Smirnoff hadn't read his partner’s transcript. Or he tried to trip her in a lie by asking the same questions again.

Coco inclined her head. “Of course.”

“Has Dan ever talked to you about the relationship between Cade and Ward Williamson?”

“No. I wasn’t aware they, Cade or Dan, knew Ward Williamson until Detective Willis turned up with all his questions.” Coco couldn't help but throw his pardner under the bus here. Smirnoff’s involuntary scowl brought her some petty satisfaction. Was Willis not supposed to question her on his own? Interesting. These two definitely had a complicated dynamic.

“I don’t know much of anything,” Coco said. “But I know that Cade couldn't have gone to Ward Williamson’s house as implied because he was with me that night. At the restaurant.”

“Actually, he did. There’s a witness. Did you know that Ward Williamson’s residence is located but a few blocks away from your restaurant? And Cade admitted going to see Ward Williamson, at least once. Now, the question is, when exactly that meeting took place. And why.”

Coco sat there, stunned.

“It’s especially interesting,” Smirnoff continued, fully aware of the effect his words were having on Coco, “if you know the history between Cade and Williamson. Cade disliked the preacher immensely. He publicly made derogatory comments about Ward Williamson on numerous occasions, and once got into a fight with Frank Sheffield over it in church. They were both put in handcuffs to cool off, there’s a record of it in the police archives. Cade supposedly hasn’t seen the preacher in years. Until now.”

“Well.” Coco folded her hands in her lap for the lack of anything else to do. She schooled her features into her best doll face, like Lucy liked to call it, revealing nothing but serene pleasantness. “You just shared with me more about Cade’s past than Cade ever had.”

“And for a reason, Catherine.”

“Coco. I go by Coco.”

“Coco, then. Please think carefully about everything Cade Sheffield has ever told you. There might be something, some small detail you overlooked that you may remember. Let me know.”

“Of course.”

“By the way, do you know if Cade regularly attended church?”

“I really can’t say.”

Smirnoff nodded and rose from his seat.

Coco rose as well. “I am sorry I can’t help more, Detective.”

“Sometimes you don’t know what can help move an investigation along. A word can be of importance.”