“What are you saying?” Steve Bearing jumped to his feet. “That’s a damn lie. You take that back right now. If you spew such slander about my mother publicly, I will destroy you.”
She calmly studied both men. Whereas Saul had turned pale, red infused Steve’s face. They appeared to be genuine reactions of shock. “As I said, I’m very sorry, but Pastor John has confirmed the fact, as have several other parishioners.”
Saul shut his eyes and leaned his head back on the chair.
Steve dropped back onto his seat. “Dad, did you know this?”
Saul’s jaw went slack. “No. I figured something was going on with her, and I did wonder if it might be an affair. She seemed happy and secretive, and she’d lost some weight.” Saul stared down at his knees. “That’s a fucking cliché, isn’t it?”
“Stop talking,” Steve said, sobering. “Right now, this interview is over.”
“No, it isn’t,” Laurel said. “I really want to find who killed your mother. Where were you last Wednesday night, Mayor?”
He looked at her as if not quite seeing her. “Last Wednesday night?” He looked away. “I don’t know. Let’s see. Oh, yeah, that was a charity bowl-a-thon for the children’s center. I was there until a little after midnight. The event was covered by the local news.”
“And then?” she asked.
He gestured around the opulent room. “I came home. I went to bed.”
“Did you call your wife that night?”
He sighed. “No. She seemed more than happy to be leaving for the spa, and frankly, I was tired after bowling. We hadn’t been talking much for a while, and after her arrest, it just got worse.”
“Were you angry about that?” Laurel asked.
Steve Bearing leaned forward. “Watch yourself, Agent Snow.”
“No,” Saul said, ignoring his son. “I wasn’t angry. I was just, I don’t know, tired.” He sighed. “I should have talked to her, or I should have tried to figure out what was going on, but I’ve been so busy. Life is exhausting sometimes.” He looked at his son. “I didn’t know she was having an affair. But don’t be angry at her. She’s gone, Steve.”
“I’m not angry,” Steve said, the pitch and volume of his voice rising.
Saul nodded. “Whatever went wrong, it was on both of us. I wish she’d talked to me though, instead of turning to . . .” He jolted. “Did you say Pastor John?” His voice rose.
“Yes,” Laurel said.
Steve slammed his hands on his legs. “That bastard. He was in a position of trust, and he took advantage of somebody in need.” He looked at his father. “You don’t suppose she went to him for counseling and then he seduced her?”
Saul nodded vigorously. “I’m sure that’s what happened. With me so distant, she was vulnerable, she was lost, and instead of talking to me, she went to a trusted clergyman. I’m going to kill him.”
“Whoa.” Laurel held up a hand. “Mayor, I need you to take that back. I can’t have you threatening Pastor John.”
Saul swallowed and took a deep, shaky breath. “You’re right. I’m not going to kill anybody, but you can bet your ass I’m going to sue that bastard and that whole church.”
Steve looked at his dad and then at Laurel. “Does Pastor John have an alibi for the night of the murder?”
Laurel cleared her throat. “I can’t discuss the case with you, but I can assure you that we’re looking at all possible suspects. Mayor Bearing, can anybody confirm that you were here all night Wednesday into Thursday morning?”
Saul’s shoulders sagged. “No. I was by myself. Unlike my wife, I don’t have a lover. I go to work. I come home. I engage in activities like bowling for the city. We don’t have any live-in help.”
“What about your younger son?” Laurel asked.
Saul shook his head. “Tommy was at a sleepover Wednesday night after his basketball game. On Thursday, he was at school when the sheriff arrived to notify me of Teri’s possible death.”
None of that sounded helpful. “Where is Tommy now?”
“Sleeping,” Steve said. “He finally crashed an hour ago—hasn’t slept in days. I can awaken him if you like, but he doesn’t know anything more. I’d prefer you let him sleep.”
She’d need to speak with Tommy, but right now, she believed Steve. “Please have him call me when he’s up and around. Preferably later today or tomorrow.” Laurel looked around. “Do you have security cameras?”
