She dabbed her eyes. “I thought it was a possibility, even though he told me he didn’t do it. He swore that he didn’t lay a finger on Ben.”

Decker said, “So he was still coming around after Ben was murdered?”

“He came a couple of times. That’s when he swore he didn’t do it.”

“And you believed him?”

“I don’t know what I believed,” Melinda said. “All I know is he finally stopped showing up at my doorstep. I had to convince him that if he didn’t leave me alone, the police would think he murdered Ben. I told him that, for his own sake, he had to hide out for a while and that I would contact him when it was safe.”

“And he agreed to that?”

“All I know is he stopped coming around and we never had any more contact.”

“Did you wonder why he stopped seeing you, stopped trying to contact you?” Decker asked her.

“No, I didn’t wonder why. I was just relieved. After Ben died, I was so stunned. I was scared, I was broke, and I was crazed. I had two kids to support, and I had no one to turn to. I suppose that I assumed that Ryan got bored waiting for my phone call and moved on to another woman. He was an easy mark. A little flattery and he’d give you anything he had.”

“He gave you money.”

“He gave me lots of money until the other band members took over his bank account.”

“You were angry at them?” Marge asked.

“Of course. I was furious. But it was the best thing that happened to me. It made me realize how low I’d sunk. I tried to call it quits with Ryan, but then I realized he was in love with me.”

Oliver said, “So why didn’t you just dump him?”

“Because I was afraid he’d say something to Ben. And I felt a little sorry for him…he seemed like a gentle giant until he started showing up at my house ten times a day. Then all pity flew out the window.”

“So you think if anyone murdered Ben, it was Ryan?”

“I don’t know.” She threw up her hands. “It’s over. Ben’s dead. I’ve moved on.”

Decker said, “What was your relationship with Rudy Banks like?”

“It was torrid and it was brief. Rudy was a good-looking guy and a total psychopath. We had an affair and then poof, it ended, which was fine for both of us.”

“Did you know that Rudy was a North Valley student and that he knew your husband?”

Melinda looked confused. “I don’t…I seem to recall him being a local.”

“Rudy didn’t like your husband,” Marge said. “He claimed that your husband got him expelled from high school.”

“News to me,” Melinda said.