“Obviously, otherwise he’d be alive.”
Luca wasn’t sure that was a helpful answer to his question. “Are you aware that Alden Jenkins recently pointed your father out as the head of the Shadow Syndicate? Then soon after that, Alden was nearly killed in prison and your father was targeted.”
Kira looked at Luca. “The medical files don’t support murder.”
“There are plenty of ways to kill someone that don’t look like a crime. It took someone more than one attempt to end Ralph’s life.” Whatever had happened in the hospital that led to his death needed to be investigated. Someone might have snuck into his room and done something to him. Only, what evidence would there be when Destiny had already had her husband cremated?
The whole thing was more than suspicious.
Roger said, “How would I know anything about some shadow syndicate in town? I don’t have anything to do with my father’s business.”
“No one is accusing you of anything.” Kira lifted her hands. “I’m sure there’s no reason for anyone to call the police about this conversation either. It was just a friendly chat, right?” She glanced at Luca, then back at Roger. “Maybe we could all go our separate ways and pretend this never happened.”
Luca wondered if she thought Roger might press charges against him for storming in here. Was she trying to save him from getting into trouble?
“You’re exactly right, Dr. Yassan. This was just a friendly chat.” He motioned to Roger’s cheek. “Although you might want to report whoever punched you to the police. They shouldn’t get away with hurting you.”
“Who cares?” Roger got up and crossed to the door. Not the first time he’d been hit, and maybe Roger thought it wasn’t going to be the last. In fact, he didn’t seem bothered by what’d happened at all.
But Luca had to try. “I’m a private investigator. If you tell me who did this to you, I could go and talk to them. Maybe smooth things out.”
Roger opened the door and held it. “I don’t need your help. Either of you. My father is dead, and that’s the end of it.”
One way or another, Luca needed to get answers still. Whether that was by finding a way to get information about Roger without him knowing, or tracking down the guy’s friends and associates and getting what he needed from them.
Maybe Jamie could hack Roger’s phone. Or his home computer.
She probably drew the line somewhere with illegal activity, but he figured it didn’t hurt to ask. If she didn’t want to do it, he could figure out a way to get enough probable cause that Detective Martinelli would be able to get a warrant for the same thing. Keep it all above board.
But all that did was tip off the bad guys that they were being investigated.
Kira stepped into the hallway first. Luca walked with her downstairs, his hand on the small of her back. She wore heeled boots that came up high enough they disappeared under the hem of the skirt below her knees.
When he glanced back, Roger had moved out of sight.
“Guess he’s not coming down with us to placate his mother.”
She turned to him at the bottom of the stairs, a look on her face he’d never seen before.
Luca shrugged. “What?”
“Are you serious?” She couldn’t even elaborate enough to verbalize the problem. Did he really not know what the issue was? “This is a memorial service. Roger is processing his father’s death. Even if you think he’s in on it, this isn’t the time or the place to talk to him.”
Luca didn’t seem the least bit repentant. Or he had schooled his features enough that she couldn’t tell what he was feeling. “I took the opportunity I was given. Maybe even the one God gave me.”
“And you aren’t the one who hit him in the face?”
Both of them could have been lying to her about that. She wouldn’t put it past a guy like Roger to go along with what was said. The charisma of a man like Luca would sweep along a certain type of person in his wake. He was the kind of guy who drew people to him, whether he liked it or not. They trusted him, and some even wanted to impress him.
“I didn’t hit him, Kira.”
Not that he wouldn’t. Just that he didn’t this time.
She sighed. “That’s good. Because he could have called the police and had you arrested for it.”
Luca shrugged. “I’m not worried about Roger. He probably knows more than he’s saying, but he goes along with far too much to make waves. If he files a police report, they’re going to show up here asking a whole lot of questions. Digging into his life and his family. So either he wants to protect himself or them. But whichever it is, the police won’t get called.”
“It’s only Destiny now. His mother is all he has left, and Roger needs to be down here helping her.”