“I am an ambassador for the foundation my mother runs. I enjoy helping other people the way I was helped.” That sounded a little too rehearsed.
“And your father?” Luca watched the other man’s reactions. “You never visited him in the hospital. Is that right?”
Roger sniffed. “We didn’t get along that well. He said I was a mama’s boy.”
“There’s nothing wrong with having a close relationship with one of your parents,” Kira said. “It’s a natural part of life that we get along with some people more than others.”
From where Luca stood, it seemed more like the beginning of a theory that had Roger and Ralph at odds. Even to the point where Roger might have believed he had a reason to kill the older man.
But was that what had happened? It was possible Roger had contracted the cartel to take out his father. Was this man colder and more calculating than he came across? Luca wasn’t willing to let the other man pull the wool over his eyes—not in the biggest investigation he’d ever undertaken.
Luca shifted and leaned against the wall beside the dresser. If he opened the drawer, would it be empty or full of Roger’s clothes?
Luca said, “Did your father ever hurt you?”
“He’s dead,” Roger said. “It doesn’t matter now.”
Kira’s body language softened. “Does your mother know?”
Roger started to chuckle. “Are you going to save me? I think she picked the right person for the vacant position on the board. Seems like you’re a real bleeding-heart type, which means you’ll fit right in, because she can have you all twisted around trying to help people. Doing all the work for her.”
“Your mother has built an incredible organization that helps a lot of people.” Kira sounded like she believed that, whether the statement was made to get Roger to argue with her or not.
“That’s the point.”
Luca frowned, unsure if the point was that Destiny worked to help people, or that everyone believed it was true. “Is there something going on with the foundation that we need to know?”
When Roger didn’t say anything for a few seconds, Kira chimed in. “I need to know what you know about the foundation. You’re one of their success stories, right? If you don’t think it’s a good nonprofit, then I’m not going to choose to be part of it.”
“I would never do anything to jeopardize the foundation.” Roger glanced between them. “Is that what you’re here to do? Undermine my mother’s life’s work?”
“No, we’re here to honor the memory of your father.” Kira didn’t let his words bother her.
Luca said, “If you’re in some kind of trouble, we can help you.”
Someone had punched this young man in the face. That and the fact he’d been talking to the cartel guy, the one who’d mentioned the hit they now knew was on Roger’s father, all added up to a whole lot of suspicion.
Roger didn’t look at him.
Luca tried again. “I saw you in the hallway outside the gala. You were talking to a man I know was involved with the death of your father. I should call the police and tell them my suspicion that you’re involved in your dad’s death. After all, you probably have reason to hate him enough to order someone to kill him.”
The young man glanced at him, those dark eyes staring at Luca. “I’m not the one who ordered him killed.”
“But you’re going to benefit from his death, aren’t you? Surely he left something to his son.”
It was a bold accusation, but only by guessing wildly did he have a shot at getting Roger to argue with him and explain the truth, just for the sake of correcting what Luca “thought.” Kira moved in a way that suggested she didn’t like what he’d just said, but she didn’t argue aloud.
“None of that is any of your business.” Roger lifted his chin. “I don’t even know you.”
“You aren’t worried about me going to the police about you?”
Roger shrugged. “Do whatever you want.”
Either he wasn’t worried about guilt, or he had protected himself enough that he believed he was insulated. Or him being hit had nothing to do with crime.
Maybe Destiny had hit him.
Luca said, “Is there anyone in your father’s life who might’ve wanted him dead?”