Free Insidious by Catherine Coulter

managed to pull back enough to pat Hildi’s face. “You’re very kind, my dear, and you, too, Glynis, but no, that won’t be necessary. Veronica will protect me. She has for fifteen years.”
    Veronica said to Savich, “I failed her this time, I know, but you can take this to the bank, Dillon. I will not let Venus out of my sight.”
    Alexander flicked a piece of lint off his gray Italian cashmere blazer. “But we’re still left with a killer who won’t talk.”
    Venus, well used to Alexander, said, “Not yet, true. Now, Dillon, we know his name is Vincent Willig. Tell me more about him.”
    Savich set down his china cup. “He’s thirty-four years old, a lifelong criminal, until recently an inmate at Attica for attempted murder. We spoke to him, offered him a deal if he would tell us who hired him. I’d wager he’ll open up soon enough.” He watched their faces as he spoke, hoping for an unguarded expression. He saw nothing except a look of relief from Hildi, a look of disbelief from Alexander. As for Guthrie, he looked miserable. Worry for his mother? Or did he still want a drink? Both Glynis and Veronica looked frankly worried. All of which told him exactly nothing. He didn’t expect this to be easy. It could be none of them was involved. Maybe it was a business associate, someone covering up a crime, or who stood to profit. Venus had sent him a preliminary list that afternoon and he’d asked Dane to help Ruth start the process of checking everyone on the list, looking for financial motives.
    Sherlock added, “We doubt Mr. Willig will want to be shipped back to prison for life. He knows that’s what will happen if he doesn’t tell us who hired him.”
    Alexander said, “It’s possible this Willig has no idea who hired him. Or he could toss out any name he wanted to. Trust me, testimony from a convicted felon isn’t worth much in court.”
    Thank you, lawyer Rasmussen . Savich gave Alexander a cool look. “Is that what you think happened? He took two thousand dollars as a down payment from someone who emailed him instructions, or wrote him a note? That he has no clue who his employer is?”
    Sherlock saw the pulse pounding in Alexander’s throat at Dillon’s questioning his opinion. Are you the one trying to murder your grandmother? She said, “He’s a career criminal, Alex, so there’s no way he wouldn’t do his due diligence—my bet is he knows exactly who hired him.And tomorrow morning, we may very well find out.” She cracked her knuckles and smiled.
    Did Alexander look alarmed? Or angry because she’d had the nerve to call him Alex and not Alexander?
    Venus dropped her bombshell. “You know, Dillon, I would very much like to meet the man who tried to shoot me. It may help if he knows who he’s dealing with. And there’s a great deal I could offer him that the FBI can’t. I’d like to be there with you tomorrow.”
    “Mother, no! You with this horrible criminal? No, you can’t possibly want to do that.”
    Veronica said, “I agree. Venus, this isn’t a good idea.”
    Venus patted Hildi’s hand, smiled at Veronica. “You know, there’s a lot that’s happened today that I’ve never done before. I never considered that I’d actually fit in that small space between the front and backseat of the Bentley, for instance, but when MacPherson yelled for me to get down, I did. Meeting Willig should be a walk in the park compared to all that.” Her tone brooked no room for argument. Savich imagined she used the same tone to shut up opposition. The Rasmussen had spoken, and that was that.
    “Good.” Savich looked at each Rasmussen in turn. “Guthrie, Hildi, Glynis, Veronica, Agent Lucy Carlyle and Agent Davis Sullivan will be speaking to you individually tomorrow morning. Please make yourselves available.”
    “What about me?” Alexander moved from behind the sofa to stand in front of the fireplace, his arms crossed, stiff as a soldier.
    “I’ll call you when you need to come to