Page 101 of State of Suspense

“It’s about to be.”

Fortunately, Laurel Sellers returned before her two minutes were up. “Come in.” She glanced at Vernon, who followed them inside. He didn’t normally do that, but with the heightened state of alert, he was staying closer to Sam than usual. “Who’s that?”

“I’m with the Secret Service, ma’am.”

“Oh. Okay.” She led them into a living room that smelled of lemon polish and potpourri. “What can I do for you?”

“Is your husband here, by any chance?”

“He’s working in his office.”

“Here?” Carlucci hadn’t been able to figure out his work situation the night before.

“Yes.”

“Will you please get him?”

“He’s in meetings.”

“Like I said before, we can do this here, or we can do it downtown. It’s up to you.”

She gave Sam a foul look before she got up and left the room.

Freddie chuckled. “That line works every time.”

“I need to use it more often.”

The husband appeared with her a few minutes later. Ralph Sellers carried extra weight that gave him a burly appearance. His salt-and-pepper hair was cut short, and his complexion was ruddy. He wore a Bluetooth phone thing in his ear. “What’s this about?”

Sam and Freddie showed their badges, and she introduced them.

While Laurel returned to her seat on the sofa, Ralph stood in the doorway to the room as if he couldn’t be bothered to come all the way into the room. “What can we do for you?”

“We’re investigating the murder of Tom Forrester.”

“What’s that got to do with us?”

“You countersued him when he filed a claim to get you to pay for his dog’s vet bills after your dog attacked his, right?”

“Yeah, so?”

“I’ve never been sued by a neighbor, but I have to think there’s a lot of anger exchanged before lawsuits are filed.”

“He was a self-righteous prick.”

“Ralph! Stop.”

“What? He thought he was Mr. Law Enforcement at home, too. It was his way or the highway around here. Ask anyone.”

“Did he have challenges with the other neighbors?”

“No one liked him. He made sure everyone knew he was a bigwig at Justice.”

Sam glanced at Freddie, who seemed as perplexed as she felt. “That doesn’t sound like the man we knew.”

“Well, that’s who he was around here. He liked to be right about everything.”

“Did you feel you bore any responsibility for your dog harming his?”

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