“Understood.” She was angry already, so I might as well ask for an answer to something that had puzzled me since last night. “Why didn’t we do this last night?”

“Because I chose not to.”

In other words, I thought, you goofed and won’t admit it. The murder rate in Athena County was very low, and Kanesha probably had little real experience investigating homicides. The last murder here—that I knew about—occurred seven or eight years ago when an outraged husband killed the man who’d been sleeping with his wife. Since he did it in plain sight of several people, there wasn’t much to investigate.

Kanesha picked up a pen from the desk and put a notepad in front of her. She scribbled something. “Take me through your day yesterday, starting with Godfrey Priest’s arrival in your office.”

Suppressing a sigh, I complied with her request. Diesel curled up and went to sleep, and I talked for what seemed like half an hour.

Kanesha interrupted me only twice before I reached the point when I decided to go to the hotel to check on Godfrey and Justin.

“Why were you so concerned about a man you barely knew anymore? A man you said you didn’t really like. And, according to your statement, one you hadn’t seen in nearly thirty years. I’m not sure I understand.”

I thought for a moment. “I suppose I was really more concerned about Justin and the fact that he was still gone. He was under a considerable emotional strain yesterday, even before he found Godfrey dead. Plus, Godfrey probably never missed any opportunity for people to pay lots of attention to him. It just seemed odd somehow.”

“Why are you taking such an interest in Justin? He’s not your son.” Kanesha leaned back in her chair, her gaze cool, as if she were eying a specimen of some kind.

“No, he’s not. But he is in my care, in a way. He boards with me, and naturally I take an interest in the welfare of someone who lives under my roof. He’s also the son of an old friend.”

“I see” was all she said in response.

I decided to venture a question of my own. “Are you aware of how much Godfrey was disliked by people who knew him?”

A faint smile played on the deputy’s lips. “I’ve picked up on that, yes.”

“Then you must realize there were probably people who had far stronger motives to kill him than either Julia or Justin. Or me.” Mindful of Azalea’s plea to me this morning, I decided I had better share the gossip I had gleaned. I didn’t like having to implicate someone possibly innocent of Godfrey’s murder, but I had little choice if I was to help Justin.

“Such as?” She put her pen down on the desk and leaned back in her chair.