“Oh, sorry,” Rina replied. “Anyway, someone was angry and wanted the world to know who Azor Sparks really was. I could see a spurned, unbalanced wife doing that.”

“Why do you say unbalanced?” Decker asked. “Bram mention something to that effect to you?”

Rina looked down. “Just that she had been a bit nervous when they—the triplets—were growing up. She couldn’t seek professional help because it would have been an embarrassment to her husband. So she turned to barbiturates. Dr. Sparks prescribed the medication himself, but left Bram in charge of dispensing them to her. She was addicted to them for a while.”

Decker tried to keep his voice soft. “Might have helped if you would have told me all this in the beginning—”

“Peter, are you saying I should have implicated Dolly in her own husband’s murder based on her past drug use?”

“I’m just saying—”

“Besides, I couldn’t mention Bram without you having a fit—”

“That’s nonsense!”

“Is this really important now?” Marge asked.

“No, it isn’t!” Rina stated. “What is important is Dolores Sparks hated Decameron. She probably felt he had stolen her husband. Either directly—as in they were having an affair—or indirectly—as in Decameron being a bad influence on Azor.”

Marge gloated. “And like I always said, Kenneth Leonard was just an innocent bystander. He came to Decameron’s to clear his conscience about the fraud. Instead, he wound up with a bullet in his head.”

Oliver said, “I think it still could be Fisher/Tyne.”

“It could be,” Decker said. “I haven’t ruled out anyone…including Bram.”

Rina folded her arms across her chest. “He would never, ever hurt anyone. He probably knew what was going on. He was protecting his father’s name, Peter.”

Marge said, “Sounds to me like he’s protecting his mother from a murder rap.”

Oliver said, “She couldn’t do it by herself.”

“So she had help,” Marge said.

“Who?”

“Someone who’s been spending lots of time with the family.” Decker stood up from the table. “It’s time we pay Dolores Sparks a visit.”

30

“She’s unavailable.” Michael was hostile. “Next time call before you harass us.”

“Sorry, but it’s important.” Decker sidestepped around him, entered the house, Marge and Oliver keeping pace behind him.

Stunned, Michael hesitated before shutting the door. “You just can’t barge in here like that.”

“Fine,” Decker said. “Kick me out. Make it obvious to everyone that you have something to hide.”

Michael’s mouth dropped open. “I’ve got nothing—”

“Where’s your mom? Upstairs?”

“You pester my family, you arrest my brothers, you throw around ridiculous charges, you—”

“Save it for the judge,” Oliver said.

“Sorry about the intrusion,” Marge said.

“I don’t believe this!” Michael raised his voice. “I’m calling my lawyer.”

“You mean Waterson?” Oliver asked. “I wouldn’t call him if I were you.”