“We never talked about things like that. Never talked much, period. He was a lovely boy, gentle, considerate. I can’t see why anyone would want to kill him.”

Milo showed her the dead woman’s picture.

“Who’s—my God, she’s …”

“Do you recognize her, Ms. Holman?”

“Absolutely not.” Thrusting the photo back.

“The other women at the firm—Sheryl and Bettina. Single or married?”

“Single.”

“Reason I ask, ma’am, is we need to check out irate boyfriends, husbands.”

She stared at us. “Ned? Not a chance. For a husband to be irate, he needs to be aware, and Ned isn’t. Even if he did find out, he’s not exactly in a position to do anything about it, is he?”

The flippant cruelty of the last sentence hung in the air.

“Speaking of which, I’d best be getting back, gentlemen. Ned might need freshening up.”

CHAPTER

6

Marjorie Holman sprinted up the ramp to her deck.

Milo said, “Freshening him up. Hubby as houseplant. Some nest of vipers ol’ Des got himself into.”

We headed back to the car, crossed a footbridge above still, green water.

I said, “Sounds like ol’ Des dove into the nest with enthusiasm. If he took Passant and Sanfelice to construction sites, we’re talking predictable, high-risk behavior.”

“Come away with me to le beeg deeg, mon amour. Might as well wear a Stalk Me sign. So maybe this will boil down to another jealous domestic and no matter what Holman says, we coulda just met the main players. A mister bitter over his plight. Missus thinks he’s greenery but there could be plenty of animal left.”

“Charming Helga called Holman a nibbler of forbidden fruit. It’s possible her flings weren’t limited to Backer.”

“All the more reason for pent-up anger, but right now the only lothario I care about is Backer. Mr. Smooth. Coming out and asking for it ain’t exactly suave, let alone three women in the same office. But it worked, so what do I know?”

I said, “Sounds like Backer had a nose for emotional vulnerability. Think about the Holmans’ house: Ned’s got no access to the second floor, where Marjie sleeps. She’s an architect, if anyone could figure out a way to get him up there, it’s her. They’ve chosen to live physically segregated lives. It’s not just a matter of sex, it’s intimacy. And that’s what she says she got from Backer.”

“He tries a little tenderness, she falls right in.”

“My question is, if her needs were being met, why limit it to a one-night stand?”

He rolled his shoulders. “She lied to us and she and Backer had something serious going on?”