In Death 26 - Strangers in Death

Peabody.”
    “Have a seat. What can we get you? Coffee, bottled water, a sports drink?”
    “We’re fine. We’re hear to speak with you about Thomas Anders.”
    Humor danced over Forrest’s expressive face. “Don’t tell me Uncle Tommy’s in trouble.”
    “Uncle?”
    “My mother’s brother. Please, sit.” He gestured, then dropped down into a chair. “More, really, as he basically raised me after my mother died.”
    “How did she die?”
    “Eaten by a shark.”
    Intrigued, Eve sat. “Really?”
    His grin flashed. “Yeah, really. I was about six, and don’t remember her that well, so it’s more interesting than tragic for me. Scuba diving off the coast of Madagascar. Anyway, what about my uncle?”
    Sticky now, Eve thought. “I’m sorry to have to tell you Mr. Anders was killed this morning.”
    Amusement snapped into shock that leached the healthy color out of his face. “What? Killed? How? Are you sure? Wait.” He rose, dug a ’link out of his pocket.
    “Mr. Forrest, we’ve just left your uncle’s home, and his widow.”
    “But…we’re going to the Knicks game tonight. We—we played golf on Sunday. He…”
    “Ben.” Leopold moved across the room. After taking the ’link out of Ben’s hand, he laid a hand on Ben’s shoulder, eased him down into the chair. “I’m very sorry. So very sorry. I’m going to cancel the rest of your appointments for the day.” He walked to a cabinet, tapped the door. When it opened, he took out a chilled bottle of water, unscrewed the top. “Drink some water.”
    Like a puppet, Ben obeyed. Eve made no objection when Leopold ranged himself like a guard behind Ben’s chair.
    “What happened?”
    “He was strangled.”
    “That can’t be right.” Ben shook his head slowly from side to side. “That just can’t be right.”
    “Do you know anyone who wished him harm?”
    “No. No.”
    “Where were you this morning between one and four A.M. ?”
    “Jesus. Home. Home in bed.”
    “Alone?”
    “No. I had…a friend.” He rubbed the cold bottle over his face. “Gatch Brooks. She was there all night. We got up about six, worked out together. She left—we both left around eight. You can check. Just check. I wouldn’t hurt Uncle Tommy. He’s like a father to me.”
    “You were close. How would you describe Mr. Anders’s relationship with his wife?”
    “Great. Good. Ava’s…you said you’d talked to her. Told her. God. Leopold, get the number where she’s staying. I need to—”
    “She’s home, Mr. Forrest,” Peabody told him.
    “She…Oh, she came home. She came home when you told her…” Ben pressed his fingers to his eyes. “I can’t think straight. I need to get over to the house, to Ava. I need to—Where is he? Is he still home, or…”
    “He’s been taken to the morgue.” He didn’t bother to fight tears, Eve noted. He let them come. “You—your family—will be able to make arrangements as soon as we finish our examination.”
    “Okay.” Now he pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes, leaning forward to brace his elbows on his thighs. “Okay.”
    “Who was your uncle sexually involved with?”
    “Huh.” Ben’s eyes, already rimmed with red, lifted to Eve’s face. “Well, Jesus, Ava. I mean they were married for Christ’s sake.”
    “Outside of marriage.”
    “Nobody.” Anger and insult snapped through the grief, brought color back to Ben’s face. “That’s a hell of a thing to say. He didn’t cheat. He wasn’t a cheater. You don’t know the kind of man he was. He believed in honesty, in good sportsmanship, in playing to win, but playing it straight.”
    “Who stands to gain from his death?”
    “Nobody,” Ben replied. “His death diminishes all of us. You mean financially. I would, Ava would.” He let out a long breath. “I don’t know how things were set up. There are probably charitable organizations, there’d be something for Greta—the house manager. But what you’re talking about, that would be me and Ava. I need to get over there.”
    Even as he rose, the ’link Leopold still held signaled. After a glance at the display, Leopold offered it. “It’s Mrs. Anders.”
    Ben grabbed the ’link, turned his back. “Privacy mode,” he ordered. “Ava. God, Ava, I just heard…I know. I know. It’s all right. Yes, the police are here. Yes, that’s right. I’m coming right over. I—” His voice cracked, then firmed again. “I can’t believe he’s gone. I can’t take it