“Oh, I meant it. But I didn’t act on it.”

“As you wish. He meant it, but he didn’t kill Graham. He wouldn’t. There’s nothing left to discuss.” Nearly four decades of friendship meant I heard the doubt hiding in Libba’s tone. Did Charlie hear the same thing?

I let Charlie’s guilt or innocence go. For now. “Misty said tempers were running high all around.”

Libba snorted. “Let’s just say Merit and Graham didn’t agree on the direction of the country. President Ford deciding to run for a second term is causing some angst.”

“At least she got to discuss ideas.” And prove she had a great mind.

Libba barked a short laugh. “I’m not sure she enjoyed it. She left in tears.”

“Why?” That didn’t sound like Merit.

“Graham called her a patronizing twit.”

“That’s not so bad.” It wasn’t polite, but he could have called her an uptight bitch.

“He also told her she had a stick up her keister.”

“Ah.” That covered the uptight part.

“She looked at Tommy for support, but he shrugged as if he agreed.”

“Yikes.” Not the response a woman hoped for from her husband.

“Then she called Graham a money-grubbing bottom-feeder.”

“And?”

“He told her he wasn’t the only money-grubber at the table. When Tommy remained quiet, she asked if he was going to allow that kind of talk.”

“And?”

“He told her if she insisted on picking fights, she should learn how to win them.”

“Wow.” Not wrong, but wow.

“No kidding. She burst into tears and ran off into the night.”

“And then?”

“Then there was an awkward silence.”

I bet. “What did Tommy say?”

Charlie chuckled. “He talked about John Mayberry’s stats.”

“Who is John Mayberry?”

“He plays first base for the Royals.”

“That’s it? Baseball stats?”

“He drank,” Charlie added. “A lot. We all did.”

For a half-second, I was grateful for the snake that caused my early departure. “Which client?”

“What are you talking about?” asked Libba.

“You said Graham stole Perry’s biggest client.” I turned in my saddle and looked at her. “Which one?”

“How would I know?” She pursed her lips and tilted her head. “I did hear it was worth millions to the firm.” Scrunched her face. “A tobacco company?”

“I asked you earlier who Perry would support for managing partner, and you told me to ask Liz.” She could have told me that Perry had a beef with Graham.

“Things have changed.”

Because Graham was dead. Thatch didn’t have to worry about competition for his managing partner’s job. “What happens now? With the client, I mean.”

“I assume Perry will resume his role as lead counsel.”

Inwardly, I groaned. In thirty minutes, I’d found three people with reasons to kill Graham. Four if you counted Liz, who would do anything for Perry. And I had a feeling the number of suspects would multiply.