Page 19 of The Grave Artist

“Was he ever in Italy?” Heron asked.

“I don’t know,” Allison said, looking at Ben.

Ben said, “Years ago. A couple of us went to Europe. We stopped in Rome, Paris and Prague. But it was just a vacation.”

“Did he know anybody in Italy?” the detective continued.

“No. And we were together the whole time.”

“Any issues at work?” Carmen asked. “Did he handle sensitive information?”

Ben laughed sadly. “No. He was a CPA. Basic work for the government.” The smile faded and he choked back tears. “He loved his job. He was career government. He could have gone to work for one of theBig Five or Big Six—or however many big accounting firms there are. But he wanted to stick with civil service. Felt he had a higher calling working for the public rather than a hedge fund. He was going to run GAO someday. Or Office of Management and Budget, or something.”

Allison glanced at each of them in turn. Her eyes had narrowed. “Okay. We’ve got federal agents and LAPD. Do you have leads?”

Carmen studied their reactions while Heron displayed screenshots of the person of interest.

“That’s aclue?” Allison muttered, confused. “Who’s that supposed to be? You can’t see anything.”

“That’s what we’re trying to find out.”

She looked at Ben, who shook his head. “You think she’s a witness?”

“We don’t know,” Tandy told her. “She was in the garden not long before he died.”

Allison examined the images a moment more and then waved a dismissive hand at them.

Carmen asked the names of everybody who had remained at the end of the wedding reception and might have been present around the time of the death.

“Most everybody had left,” Ben said, glancing at Allison. She nodded.

On the drive here, Carmen had spoken to Anthony’s parents, who had taken the red-eye back to their home in Florida, then returned immediately the next morning after learning the news. They knew nothing helpful.

Tandy said, “And I called his sister, Lauren. Never heard back.”

“I think she left right after the reception,” Allison said. “Before ... it happened.”

Tandy said, “Still like to talk to her. Mr. Brock might have said something—that he was being followed or threatened. The memorial this afternoon? Will she be there?”

“Doubt it.” Allison explained that Lauren took the death very hard, and she had tried to connect with her new sister-in-law in the days sincethe death without success. “Given her background, I’m afraid she might be on a bender.”

Carmen asked, “Lauren has substance-abuse issues?”

Allison nodded. “Anthony saved her life, got her into rehab. They were very close. And now with him gone, I’m sure she’s having trouble coping.”

She realized Allison hadn’t mentioned her own family and asked if they were still in town.

“My parents have passed,” she said. “And I was an only child.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “They would have loved Anthony ... and as for me?” Allison muttered, with more ice in her voice than self-pity. “Everything’s gone. All the plans. All my future. I have to start over again. Now, forgive me. We need to get to the service.”

“Where is it?” Carmen asked.

“You might’ve heard of it,” Ben said. “A place called Cedar Hills Cemetery.”

Chapter 9