JD and I meandered through the machines and the benches. Massive dudes curled heavy weights, pumping biceps. Veins bulged and faces reddened. Arms like tree trunks. Some guys looked like they were one step away from competing for Mr. Olympia. Others looked like their arms would break if they curled a 25-pound dumbbell.
There was a little something for everyone here.
John was a fit guy in his early 50s with wavy dark hair. He had narrow brown eyes, a low brow, and strong features. There was a hint of gray in his mustache and goatee.
A spotter stood over him as he pumped out a few presses, then racked the bar.
“Good job, bro,” the spotter said as John sat up. They bumped knuckles in triumph.
John grabbed a bottle of water from the floor, twisted the top, and took a sip.
I flashed my badge as we approached. “Mr. Wescott, my name is Deputy Wild. This is Jack Donovan with Coconut County.”
His face tensed with annoyance. “My wife said you might stop by, asking questions.”
“How much did your wife tell you about our visit?“
“She mentioned you had a lot of questions about Liam Prescott.“
“I’m just going to excuse myself,“ his spotter said. He made himself scarce. He didn’t want any part of this.
“Your daughter seemed pretty upset by the news,” I said.
John’s frown persisted. “My daughter is confused and misguided.“
“I bet you were pretty pissed off when you found out Liam was having an affair with Stephanie.”
The muscles in his jaw flexed, and the veins in his forehead bulged. “I paid that guy to improve her tennis game, not to treat her like a blowup doll.“
“Did that piss you off?”
“No. It made me ecstatic,“ he snarked.
“Did you threaten Liam?”
His eyes narrowed at me. “Now, how exactly am I supposed to react to something like that? Congratulate him? Ask him if he’s having a good time? Invite him to join the family?”
“Did you confront him?”
“Gwen was content to sit back and just let it play out. She didn’t want to do anything. Told me to keep my mouth shut. Don’t stir up trouble. Sorry, but I just couldn’t do that.”
“We’ve got a witness that says you got into an altercation at the club the day that Liam was killed.”
John frowned. “I was just trying to scare the guy.”
“Did you get physical?” I asked, knowing the answer.
“I shoved him and told him to stay away from my daughter. I told him I’d kill him if he didn’t leave her alone.” Then he added, “The guy was sleeping with everyone. I think he’s dipped his wick in half the wives in Stingray Bay.”
“What about your wife?”
“I don’t see how that’s relevant.”
“Why was your phone off the grid at the time of the murder?”
John hesitated. He didn't want to answer that.
"Was it off the grid because you went back to the tennis court and beat him to death with a racket?"
