“Sue Beth Litton?” Decker asked.

“Yes.”

“What about Luke’s younger sister?” Decker asked. “Carla Darcy?”

Donaldson shrugged. “I wasn’t even aware that there was another sister. Who is she?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Decker tried to sound casual. “She’s out of the picture.” But in his notepad, he wrote, CARLA DISINHERITED and underlined it three times. Decker steered the conversation back to Linda.

“So you and Linda were pestering Luke to keep after his father to sell.”

“Not pestering,” Donaldson said. “We were presenting him with options. We had several—one included giving Pappy Darcy free farming rights until such time as Manfred chose to develop the property. A very generous offer, but Pappy Darcy refused to hear us out.”

“When was the last time you saw Linda Darcy?” Decker asked.

“At our last appointment—around two weeks ago. You can check with my secretary for the exact date.”

Decker didn’t say anything, just stared at the wall, then at Donaldson. The vice president seemed antsy under scrutiny. He got up and poured himself another scotch. Swirling the amber liquid, he asked, “How did she die?”

“In a very ugly way,” Decker said.

“Was she by any chance…” Donaldson cleared his throat. “Was she murdered by gunshot?”

Lots of people were murdered by gunshot. But Decker wondered if Donaldson’s question had been more an educated than lucky guess. He replied, “Why do you ask?”

“Because our representative…the last time he went out to the Darcy honey farm…Pappy Darcy had come out of his house holding a gun, claiming he was going to blow off the head of the next Manfred representative who trespassed upon his property.” Donaldson slugged down the scotch. “He also mentioned something about blowing off Linda’s head as part of the bargain—two for the price of one. Our representative was quite shaken by the threat.”

“What kind of weapon was Pappy Darcy holding?” Decker asked.

“Just a big gun,” Donaldson said. “I don’t believe James, our representative, told us the make.”

“What kind of big gun?”

“I seem to recall James saying that Pappy was holding a shotgun.”

How convenient, thought Decker. He just happened to recall that bit of trivia. Decker said, “Can your representative tell a shotgun from a rifle?”

Donaldson drummed his finger. “Perhaps Pappy was holding a rifle. James said it was a big gun.”

“But you recall him saying it was a shotgun.”

“Maybe I’m mistaken.”

“Can I speak to James?” Decker asked.

“He’s away on business.”

“And?”

“And he is unavailable for your questions.”

Decker said, “You sent him to a place where there’s no phone lines?”

Donaldson fidgeted a moment. Then he said, “Ask my secretary for his number.”

“Great,” Decker said. “You know, Mr. Donaldson, we’re going to be investigating Linda thoroughly. Any illicit lunch dates, motel-room trysts…we’re going to find out about them.”