Malone gave that some consideration. “Doesn’t sound like Dad, though, does it?”
“Not really. Maybe it was something in their personal life.”
“But what? It’s not like they were criminals or interacted with criminals.”
“At least, as far as we know.”
“Come on, now.” She clutched his arm. “You know they were who they represented themselves to be. No deep dark secrets or past. Right?”
“Right.” Reed’s eyes narrowed. “But then, why in the world did they need to meet with a detective?”
“Maybe Ian will have more information after his interview at Ground Floor Builders.”
“Maybe,” Reed said. But just like Malone didn’t believe her words when she’d said them, Reed obviously didn’t believe her either, and they were no closer to figuring out why their parents had been murdered.
Oscar Newton was exactly like his name suggested to Ian. A starched-shirt, black-suit, pinstripe-tie kind of guy. Not a builder. Maybe he’d once been one when Ground Floor Builders first started, but now he was all executive.
Newton ushered Ian into his office and gestured at contemporary chairs ringing a round glass table. Ian sat in one of the upholstered chairs.
Newton took a seat across from him and put his leg over his other knee. He looked down and brushed something from his black pants as if he didn’t know what to say. “Now, suppose you tell me what this is all about.”
“I’m investigating the deaths of Joanna and Lewis Rice,” Ian said bluntly in hopes of putting the guy on edge.
Newton dropped his foot to the thick pile carpet. “But they died, what? Twenty-five or so years ago in an accident. Why bring it up now?”
“Because we now have evidence that shows the crash wasn’t an accident.”
“Not an accident?” Newton tightened his eyes.
“That’s correct,” Ian said, not willing to tell him about the car tampering just yet. “Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to kill either of them?”
He sat back and clasped the arms of his chair. “I didn’t know Joanna very well, but Lewis was a valued member of our staff. He worked hard and had exceptional skills. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to kill him. Especially not anyone I know.”
Okay. He wasn’t going to mention the drywall, so Ian would. “Tell me about the Chinese drywall issues in the nineties.”
Newton shot forward in his seat, and his face blanched. “Drywall? What on earth does that have to do with their deaths?”
“Didn’t your company import the drywall and use it on projects?”
Newton gritted his teeth. “Where are you getting such information?”
“From Lewis Rice’s files, which have been kept in storage since his death.”
Newton’s grip on the arms tightened. “I’d rather not discuss that subject without our attorney.”
“Why’s that?” Ian persisted.
“I’m sure such an issue should be handled with kid gloves, and I’m not always the best at doing that.” He forced a laugh. “Don’t let this office and my expensive clothes fool you. I started as a laborer and worked my way up. My finesse in these matters isn’t always at the level it needs to be.”
“Why does it need finessing?” Ian asked, hoping to get him to admit something he was doing his best not to say.
Newton stood. “Let me get with our attorney, and we’ll schedule a meeting.”
Ian had no choice other than to comply and hope the attorney was more forthcoming. Ian eyed the man. “You know your need to call in an attorney makes you look guilty.”
“I sure didn’t kill Lewis, and no one else here did either.”
“Were you trying to cover up the drywall? Is that why Lewis had the information in his personal files?”
