Suspicion of Malice by Barbara Parker

fell out.
    Dub stared at the blank screen. "I guess I don't get any tonight."
    "Up yours."
    "What about you, Lizzie? Why did you want Roger dead?"
    "I didn't say that."
    "Come on. You started this game."
    Her hair was in her eyes, and she swept it back and held it. "Me. Well, why did I want him dead? His ideas weren't bad, but he was such an asshole. Roger never listened to me, and I've been there for twenty-four years! Does that count, Dub? Wanting to kill someone because he ignores you?"
    Dub reached into the drawer for his pint of bourbon. "Roger wanted to fire you. He said you were overstepping your authority."
    She hooted a laugh. "Let's call it saving the com pany from bankruptcy."
    Liquid flowed into the glass. "Lady of leisure. What would you have done all day? Get yourself a regular massage. Go to ballet parties with Claire. Maybe find a tennis instructor who likes mature, foxy women."
    "Maybe just find a man who can get it up."
    "Where were you that night, Lizzie?"
    "I was here with Sean and Patty, as well you know."
    "Couldn't have jumped in the car and run over to Jack's? It would have taken five minutes to get there. Find Roger, plug him a few times. You could've told the kids you were soaking in the tub. Or said you were going over to give the neighbor a blow job. 'Now, don't tell your dad.' 'Okay, Mom.'"
    "Stop it, Dub. That isn't fun."
    "Sure it is. You can do whatever you want now. Shit, when Porter's gone, you can even be president."
    "Let's finish the game. Where were you that night, Dub?"
    Dub tilted the glass, sliding the last ice cube into his mouth. "With Roger and Porter at the Black Point Marina. We took those Canadian CEOs out for a cruise. I sold two boats, just doing my job. As soon as we landed, Roger split. I don't know where the hell he went."
    Liz rolled onto her stomach and slithered up till her mouth was at his ear. "No, Dub. That's what you told the police, but you told me that Roger was going over to Jack's. Did you find him? You didn't get home till two in the morning."
    "I took the guys out to the Strip Mine. They wanted to see some firm young bodies."
    Her breath was hot on his neck. "Nobody would have missed you for an hour. I believe you even have a .22 pistol in your gun locker."
    "I had no reason to shoot him, Liz. I had no quar rel with Roger, not like you."
    "But you did. What better way to get back at Por ter? Poor Dub. Always in second place. Porter got an M.B.A., but you didn't finish college. Porter is presi dent of Cresswell Yachts. You're the lowly director of sales."
    "So I was jealous and shot his son?"
    "More than jealous." She burrowed closer. "Why did you rush all the way up to Aventura to tell Porter and Claire about Roger, when Diane told you that the police wanted to inform the family? Why, Dub?"
    "Not because I hated him."
    "Oh, yes. You wanted to see his reaction. You wanted to deliver the news yourself. 'Oh, boy, I get to tell Porter. I get to see him bleed.' "
    "Elizabeth, you are one cold-hearted bitch."
    She whispered into his ear. "It's why you married me." She left tooth prints on his earlobe, then sat up, kimono falling off one shoulder. "It's late. I'm going to take a shower. Set the alarm for six o'clock, will you? I have a meeting with the Detroit Diesel rep at seven-thirty." Her kimono belled out behind her as she crossed the bedroom.
    In the shiny curve of the blank TV screen Dub could see a distorted image of Lizzie going into the bathroom. The water went on. The shower door slid shut. A minute later steam started rolling out.
    What if she fell? Slipped on some soap and hit her head on that gold-plated tub faucet that cost a thou sand bucks for the set. Would she drown? How deep would the water have to be?
    Dub closed his eyes and drifted. He thought of his island. A warm-skinned brown woman with breasts ripe as mangos. The breeze in her black hair. A small house painted yellow and turquoise. Water clear as gin, warm as blood.

Chapter 7

    "Never do