Knox's Stand(12)

Chapter Five



Early the next day, Mrs. Langley answered her door when she heard Diamond’s knock.

“Mrs. Langley, I’m Diamond Richards. Thank you for seeing me.”

“Please come in. I’m anxious to be of any help I can.” The older woman’s face was grief-stricken. Samantha, Diamond had come to find out, was Mrs. Langley’s only relative. With her death, she no longer had any family left.

The woman showed her into a formal living room that was very well taken care of with several family photos and expensive knick-knacks placed around the room.

Sitting on the couch, she accepted the cup of coffee the woman had waiting for her.

Diamond didn’t want to upset the woman further, but she needed answers. “I am sorry for your loss, but do you mind me asking if Sam had stopped by the day of her death?”

Mrs. Langley nodded, placing her shaking cup back down on the ornate coffee table. “Yes, she came by for a few minutes then left. She didn’t stay thirty minutes.” Her voice cracked.

“Did she come by for any particular reason?” Samantha carefully probed.

“She needed some money.” Mrs. Langley answered, a tear running down her cheek.

“Did you give it to her?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t much. I’m not wealthy, but I have enough to live on. Sam wanted several thousand dollars. She was upset with me when I couldn’t give it to her.”

“So she left when you told her no?” Diamond asked gently.

“No, she asked me for some of my jewelry to sell.”

“Did you give it to her?” Diamond disliked the woman she was investigating. The more she learned, the more her dislike grew. Seeing the woman in front of her, Diamond wished Samantha was alive so she could kick her ass.

“Yes, I gave her two rings and a necklace. She took them and left. Do you think that the jewelry could have drawn the killer to her?” The thought had her hands shaking.

“No, I’m sure it didn’t, Mrs. Langley.” Diamond felt angry with herself because it could be a false assurance, however she couldn’t help wanting to make her feel better.

Diamond finished drinking her coffee and sat with the woman a few more minutes. She was about to leave, but then brought up a subject that she knew would further upset the woman. “I understand the sheriff is currently investigating the whereabouts of your great-grandchild?”

“Yes, Samantha had the baby in Jamestown. From there, they can’t find a trace of the child. She tried to claim that Gavin James was the father, but I put a stop to that.”

“Do you know who the father is?”

“No, I can’t help you there. Samantha always kept that part of her life secret from me. She knew I wouldn’t approve.”

“Thank you for your time, Mrs. Langley. I know this is a very difficult time for you,” Diamond apologized and meant it; the woman seemed really sweet and didn’t deserve the ungrateful granddaughter fate had given her.

Mrs. Langley nodded and then showed Diamond to the door. She hated leaving the woman alone in her grief, but having no other option, she reached into her purse to find one of her cards, giving it to the woman.

“Take my card. If you need anything I can help you with, please call, Mrs. Langley.”

“Thank you, Ms. Richards.” Mrs. Langley managed a weak smile.

“Call me Di,” Diamond said, waiting until Mrs. Langley nodded her head and then closed the door before she returned to her car. When the car started, Diamond put it in gear, then backed out of the driveway, thinking of Samantha. The sheriff hadn’t mentioned the jewels, which meant the only one who knew about them had to be the murderer. If she found the jewels, she would find Samantha’s murderer.

* * *

On the way back to her office, Diamond passed the diner as several bikers were going inside. She caught a quick glance at one of the men’s jackets. Coming to a sudden decision, she braked sharply and turned into the diner’s parking lot.

Leaving her briefcase in the car, she grabbed her purse then braced herself to go inside the busy diner.

Inside, she saw the men she was looking for sitting at a large table. Searching the group, she found the one she thought might be the leader.

Diamond assumed her professional mantle as she strode forward confidently. As she approached, the men noticed her and quit talking to see if she would be brave enough to talk to them.

“Hello. May I talk to you gentlemen for a few moments?” Diamond addressed her request to the man with the long blond hair. His moustache and beard covered a good portion of his face, but Diamond could still see he was an attractive man. He appeared to be in his late thirties; however the dead look in his eyes spoke of a man much older. For some reason Diamond couldn’t explain, she felt sympathy for this man who had been through something that had marked him to such an extent.