The Villa

apartment," Sophia said, again. She tried to study the face of the man who questioned her. Like his name—Detective Lamont? Claremont?—his features kept slipping out of focus.
    "Did your father, or anyone else, have a key?" The name was Claremont. Alexander Claremont.
    "No, I… Yes." Sophia lifted a hand, pressed a fingertip against her temple as if to loosen the thought. "My father. I gave him a key not long after I moved in. He was having some decorating work done on his place, and I was going to be out of the country. I offered to let him use my place while I was gone. I don't think I ever got the key back. I never thought of it again."
    "Did he often use your place?"
    "No. He didn't use it when I offered, but stayed at a hotel." Or said he had, she thought. Had he used her apartment then, and since? Hadn't there been times she'd come back from a trip and felt someone had been there in her absence?
    Little things out of place.
    No, that was stupid. It would have been the cleaning service. Her father would have had no reason to use her apartment. He'd had his own, with Rene.
    He cheated on your mother, a voice murmured in her brain. He cheated on Rene.
    "Ms. Giambelli?"
    "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
    "You want some water? Something?" Tyler interrupted, to give her a moment to tune back.
    "No, no thanks. I'm sorry, Detective. I keep losing the thread."
    "It's all right. I asked when was the last time you had contact with your father."
    "Saturday night. There was a party at our vineyard. It's an annual event. My father was there."
    "What time did he leave?"
    "I couldn't say. There were a great many people. He didn't say goodbye to me."
    "Did he attend alone?"
    "No, his wife was with him. Rene."
    "Your father is married?"
    "Yes, he was married the day of the party. Rene Foxx. Hasn't she been contacted?"
    "I was unaware of her. Can I reach her at your father's address?"
    "Yes, I… Yes," she said again, biting back what had nearly tumbled off her tongue.
    "Do you own a gun, Ms. Giambelli?"
    "No."
    "You had no handgun in your apartment?"
    "No. I don't like guns."
    "Did your father own a gun?"
    "I don't know. Not to my knowledge."
    "When was the last time you were in your apartment?"
    "Over a week ago. As I told you, I'm staying primarily in Napa for the next several months. I came here today, after Mr. MacMillan and I left the offices downtown, to pick up a few more things."
    "What was your relationship with your father?"
    She toughened up. Sitting beside her, Tyler felt it. "He was my father, Detective. Why don't I save you the trouble of asking me if I killed him. No, I didn't. Nor do I know who killed him, or why."
    Claremont's voice remained steady. "Did your father have any enemies?"
    "Obviously."
    "That were known to you," he added without skipping a beat.
    "No. I don't know of anyone who would have killed him."
    Claremont looked down at his pad, appeared to study some notes.
    "How long have your parents been divorced?"
    "They've been legally separated over seven years."
    "Separated?"
    "Yes. They haven't lived together, in any real sense, since I was a child."
    "Would this Rene Foxx be your father's second wife?"
    "That's correct."
    "Just married a couple days ago."
    "So I was informed."
    "When were your parents divorced, Ms. Giambelli?"
    There was a cold ball in her belly now. She wouldn't let him see the nerves. "I believe the decree was final the day before my father married Rene. It was only a legality, Detective."
    Though her knees shook, she got to her feet. "I'm sorry, I have to go to my family. I don't want them to hear about this on the evening news, or from a stranger. I need to go home. Can you tell me… what happens with my father now? What arrangements need to be made?"
    "We'll continue our investigation. My partner is working across the hall with the crime-scene unit. I'll discuss arrangements with next of kin."
    "I'm my father's only child."
    "His wife is his legal next of kin, Ms. Giambelli."
    Her mouth opened, closed. When her hand fluttered up, Tyler simply took it in his and held it. "I see. Of course. I have to go home. Ty."
    "We're going."
    "Mr. MacMillan, I have some questions for you."
    "I gave you my address." Tyler shot a look over his shoulder as he led Sophia to the door. "You know where to find me."
    "Yeah." Claremont tapped his pad as the door closed. "That I do." He had a feeling he and his partner were going to take a ride into the country, very soon.
    He walked to the bedroom