“Mr. McDonald, we’re here because the remains of Celia Murdoch were found recently. She was murdered, and we know you visited her a few times while she was in House Cusabo.”
Reuben’s face fell. “Oh, Celia. Damn. I always suspected she was dead, you know, because she wasn’t the type to just vanish. But having it confirmed….” He sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. “Fuck. Pardon my language. I’m just glad Chloe doesn’t have to hear this.”
“Chloe?” Geena’s voice was soft, understanding. Perfect for coaxing information without the person being questioned even realizing it.
“Celia’s mother. We were friends. Went to high school together.”
“Was that why you visited Celia in House Cusabo?”
Again, Reuben sighed. “Yes. You know, she had her out of wedlock. She was a wild thing, Chloe. Never knew who the father was. Or never told, hard to say with her.” He smiled fondly. “A stubborn beast she was.”
“We found no hints that she ever visited her daughter.”
“She couldn’t. At the time Celia was brought to House Cusabo, Chloe was already very sick. Breast cancer. She died half a year before Celia went missing.”
“Oh. That would explain why we couldn’t find any next of kin.” Geena was talking to George, who nodded.
“Yeah. Chloe was all Celia had.” Reuben sounded so sad.
“I’m so sorry to ask you this, Mr. McDonald, but did you have an argument with Celia before she died?”
Reuben looked at Geena with a sharp expression. “Depends on how you define argument. She was seeing this guy, TJ, I think his name was, who was also a patient at House Cusabo. She was terribly in love, and they wanted to marry. I tried to talk some sense into her, cautioned her to wait until they were both more stable. Just like her mother, she wasn’t very good at listening when what was said didn’t fit with what she wanted.” Again, there was a certain fondness in his voice. Andi was sure Reuben had loved the women’s stubbornness.
“So you weren’t angry at her?” Geena insisted.
“Angry? No. Annoyed? Worried? Definitely.”
“It’s just, we found a belt with your initials with Celia’s remains. She was strangled with it.”
They all were waiting for a reaction. Reuben shook his head.
“I’ve never worn a belt in my life, Agent. Can’t stand them. And surely not one with my initials. Not my style.”
Which was obvious. Reuben was more the loose, worn jeans and colorful T-shirt type of guy. True to his words, he wasn’t wearing a belt at the moment. Geena got her cell out, and Andi knew she was looking for the picture of the belt buckle in the hopes of shaking Reuben up. When she found it and showed it to him, he started laughing.
“Oh man, I didn’t think I’d ever see one of those again.” Then he seemed to remember that he was looking at Celia’s murder weapon and sobered up instantly. “Sorry. I’m just shaken. That,” he gestured toward the belt buckle, “stands for Ronny, Manny, Danny. They were a local country band back in the late eighties who rightfully never made it past Charleston’s city limits. They were so bad, it was cult to go to their concerts. I think it was Manny’s dad who ordered a thousand of those buckles and sold them as fan merch.”
“You never owned one?” Geena hid her disappointment—a sharp flare that ended in a smooth undertone—quite well.
“As I said, no belts for me. Plus, I’m more into Dragonforce and the likes.”
“Pardon me?” Geena looked as puzzled as Andi felt.
“Speed Metal.” Reuben shrugged. “The guitar solos help me to stay sharp on the road.”
“Ah, I see. Well, thank you for your help, Mr. McDonald. If you remember anything you think might be helpful, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Even the smallest things can help.” Geena handed him her card, and George followed her example. Reuben took both and put them on the coffee table.
“Will do.” He hesitated. “Please find whoever did this. Celia didn’t deserve to be murdered. She may not have been perfect, but nobody is, and she had so much to look forward to.”
“I promise we’ll do our best to catch the killer, Mr. McDonald.” Geena led the way out of the apartment, back to the car. Once they were all seated again, she looked at them.
“Not our guy?”
Andi shook his head. “I’m pretty sure he had nothing to do with it. Apart from the fact that he wasn’t even remotely nervous, he’s also too small to have done it.” He held up his hand to stop Geena from interrupting him. “I know height can be deceiving, but believe me, there is no way Reuben was able to get a man the size of Marco Flores down the ladder into the bunker without letting him fall, which according to Evangeline, he didn’t. We’re looking for somebody who is taller. Roughly George’s height and build.”
Geena cocked her head to the left, in George’s direction. “Or we’re really looking at two killers.” She didn’t sound convinced by her own idea.
“We should definitely keep that possibility in mind.” George, ever the diplomat. “Until then, let’s ask Shireen about this country band.” He hesitated. “Or perhaps google it first. That might spare her some work.” Staying on Shireen’s good side was important.
