Page 44 of Zero Divergence
“Kendall found Vivian?” he asked, confirming the senior partner knew about their living arrangements. “Oh, that poor kid. He must be devastated,” Elderwood said. “He idolized her.”
“He was very shaken,” Sawyer confirmed.
“Where is he now? Is he okay? You don’t have him at the station, do you? I understand that the person who finds the body is often a suspect, but Kendall isn’t capable of killing another person. I will be representing Mr. Blakemore, and I request you don’t interview him without my presence.”
We’re all capable of killing under the right circumstances.Royce wisely kept his thought to himself. “He packed some things and is going to stay with a friend for a while. Kendall’s alibi has already been confirmed,” Royce said.
Elderwood narrowed his eyes and studied Royce intently. “You’re one of the detectives on the case? Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”
Royce remained calm and kept his gaze steady on the lawyer. “No, sir. It’s not. I am committed to bringing Ms. Gross’s killer to justice.”
“I want to believe we’re on the same side for once,” Elderwood said. Royce didn’t feel obligated to convince the man of anything. The proof was in the Southern banana pudding. Royce and Sawyer would solve the case, then trust Babineaux to prosecute the killer to the fullest extent of the law.
“We all want to uncover the truth, and we all want justice for Ms. Gross,” Sawyer said smoothly. “There is no conflict of interest here.” His boyfriend sounded every bit as polished as the politicians he claimed to dislike. “To show our good faith, Chief Mendoza sent us here to inform you he is personally guaranteeing no one will search her home office without a representative from your law firm present. We will make sure her client files and any agency property are returned to you without interference or inspection.”
Elderwood tipped his chin up a higher notch. “How is your chief going to guarantee that?”
“He’s at the scene now and will remain there until someone shows up,” Sawyer replied.
“I guess that will have to do,” Elderwood said. “I’ll shower and go over as soon as we complete this interview.”
Sawyer nodded and began asking the standard questions they’d ask any employer.
Elderwood hesitated when Sawyer asked about Gross receiving threats. “You don’t represent the powerful clients we do without ruffling feathers. People are convicted in the court of opinion long before they make it to trial, Detectives. They want to rule guilty or not guilty by the way a victim or defendant makes them feel instead of facts presented. Don’t get me started on the media. Of course she received threats from angry people, especially women who don’t understand her motivation. She hasn’t told me about any recent threats, but she probably wouldn’t have.”
“Why?” Royce asked.
“Vivian and two other lawyers were vying for partner. Vivian was the only female candidate, and to be honest, worked harder and acted tougher than her male counterparts. She would’ve worried we’d view her as too soft if she spoke up.” He sighed deeply and frowned. “If anyone knows about recent threats, it would be Kendall. He managed her mail, email, and phone calls, as well as kept her court calendar up to date. If the threats exist, we will cooperate and turn them over to you as long as they don’t contain confidential information.”
“I appreciate that, sir,” Royce said.
Sawyer asked about conflicts in the agency, earning a scoff and harrumph from the older man. “I won’t dignify that with an answer.”
“What about her social life. Do you know if she was seeing anyone?” Royce asked.
“Vivian was very private. I’m not aware of her dating anyone, but again, Kendall would probably know.”
They wrapped up the interview a few minutes later and left the lawyer to shower and get ready.
“What do you think?” Royce asked Sawyer when they jogged down his porch steps.
“I think we need to talk to Kendall again.”
Royce looked at Sawyer over the top of the car. “I agree.” A second interview with Blakemore was high on his priority list, second only to Senator Vincenzo. One would be much easier to accomplish than the other.
Even though Kendall hadn’t requested the presence of an attorney at any point during their first interview, Sawyer thought the wisest course of action would be to wait and question Kendall, as well as the rest of the law firm staff, once Elderwood left the crime scene. “It’s a sign of good faith and shows we’re committed to solving her caseandplaying by the rules,” Sawyer told Royce, who grumbled but agreed with him. The adorable scowl on Royce’s face made it super hard for Sawyer to resist leaning across the console and kissing his lips once they reached the precinct.
The wait gave Royce time to digest the bitter pill he’d nearly choked on. Sawyer searched the internet for any potential suspects by looking up details on cases Vivian Gross lost within the last year, or even older ones if the client had the resources and connections to order a hit and make it look like Humphries did it. Ms. Gross didn’t just represent clients in Savannah, so they broadened the scope to Atlanta and other areas as well as South Carolina, since she was licensed there too.
They also used the time to set up another Operation Venus Flytrap meeting. They wouldn’t be able to share the particulars of the case with Felix, Jonah, or Rocky present, but they could reassess their next steps for their joint endeavor in light of Ms. Gross’s death.
Nearly three hours later, Elderwood made sure all the key players were at the firm and willing to assist them in their investigation. He greeted them with cordial handshakes, then introduced each of the attorneys and their key staff members. The mood was as somber as they expected, and their shock and grief seemed genuine instead of forced.
They decided to start with Kendall because he was closest to Gross and looked like he was barely holding himself together.
“Did you drive?” Sawyer asked the younger man, whose head was bent forward as he silently cried. His curtain of white-blond bangs hid his face from them.
Blakemore slowly lifted his head and met Sawyer’s gaze. “No. Jonah drove me here and is waiting in his car.” Sawyer couldn’t say he was surprised, because there was a gentleness about the big man that most people probably missed because of his size and wicked scar. Blakemore faced Elderwood. “Thank you for giving me a few days off. I know it’s not convenient since I’m most familiar with Vivian’s caseload.”