True Blue

CHAPTER 88

INCREDIBLY ENOUGH, Joe Cushman, Diane Tolliver’s ex-husband, had just found out that his former wife had been murdered. It seemed news took a while to travel that far west. But then again, Mace thought, it wasn’t like the death of an ordinary citizen would make the national news other than as a one-time blip, and only then because of the rather bizarre circumstances. Joe Cushman did not sound all that upset and was not planning to attend the funeral. Yet that was understandable, Mace concluded. His divorce had been final over a decade ago and he told her that he’d remarried. And as Roy had informed her, it had not been an amicable separation. Cushman had bellowed out the reason for that early on in their long-distance conversation.

“She cheated on me!”

“Who with?”

“Don’t know. I never was able to find out, and then I just stopped caring.”

Every few seconds he would pause and Mace could hear him dragging on a cigarette. He had the smoker’s gravelly voice too, his throat and lungs probably already full of nicotine-induced lumps.

“So how do you know she was having an affair?” Mace had asked.

“All the telltale signs. She bought fancy lingerie that she sure as hell never wore for me. She started working out, lost weight, new cosmetics, weekend ‘business’ trips, the whole shebang. We had no kids so it was basically split up the property and go our separate ways. Still, her law firm played hardball. Hell, I even had to fork up some cash for her attorney’s fees, if you can believe that.”

“Why?”

“She made good money, but I made a lot more. Commercial real estate developer in New Jersey when you could print money doing it.”

“Good for you.”

“Yeah? Well, I don’t have as much money now, but I like the beaches and the trade winds a lot better than the ice and muck in Jersey.”

“You don’t by chance remember the name of the firm that represented her?”

“Are you kidding? I sure as hell wrote them enough checks. Hamilton, Petrocelli & Sprissler. In Newark. Three ladies. Three hellcats more like it. Even my lawyer was afraid of them. They were so good I used them later in some of my deals.”

“Thanks a lot. I appreciate the info.”

“Hope it helps with whatever you’re doing. Diane and I didn’t get along, obviously, but nobody deserves to die like that. I’m thinking of sending some flowers.”

“I’m sure that would be very nice.”

Mace clicked off and looked down at her notes. She called information and got the number for Hamilton, Petrocelli & Sprissler, LLP, in Newark.

She got the receptionist and then the call was put through to Julie Hamilton.

“Yes?”

Mace briefly explained why she was calling. “Diane Tolliver?”

“You probably would have known her as Diane Cushman. She took her maiden name back after the divorce. I spoke with her ex, Joe Cushman. He gave me your name.”

“I do remember hearing something about the killing. The refrigerator, right?”

“Yes, the refrigerator.”

“But I never associated Tolliver with Cushman. I mean, I knew her maiden name was Tolliver, but it just never occurred to me it was her. It’s been over a decade. Murdered. My God!”

“Yes. That’s why I’m calling.”

“And who are you with?” This was the cautious lawyer’s voice now that Mace knew so well.

“I’m in D.C. I’m helping to investigate the matter on behalf of a man charged with the murder.”

“Like I said, it’s been at least ten years. I can’t think of any way I would have relevant information for you.”

“Do you know a man named Jamie Meldon?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because he was murdered too, right after he met with Diane.”

Caution had just transformed to ice. “I’m afraid I can’t help you.”

“I just need to ask some questions about-”

The next sound Mace heard was the line going dead.

She immediately called back.

This time the receptionist would not put the call through.

“Please, it will only take two minutes and it’s-”

The receptionist hung up on her.

Mace slowly put the phone down.