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gave her pause. “The alliance is governed by a seven-person board, with David as the chairman. The vice-chairman, a guy named Barry Struthers, sometimes expressed frustration that David refused to approve more aggressive forms of protest.”
    Like acts of eco-terrorism, thought Books.
    â€œBut I can’t see him getting involved in a plot to kill David. I just don’t see it.”
    Books would need to find out more about Barry Struthers but that would have to wait. Instead, he turned the interview in a new direction. “How did you and David meet?”
    â€œI met David when I was a grad student at Berkeley. David was the chair of my master’s degree thesis committee. He was a professor in the microbiology department. Later, I became his graduate assistant. We grew close, and, over time, one thing led to another until we fell in love. David’s marriage had been on the rocks for years.”
    â€œSo after his divorce, the two of you decided to marry?”
    â€œNot right away, but after a time, yes. We married in Las Vegas a little over four years ago.” Her voice remained steady, but she used Kleenex to wipe tears from her eyes.
    â€œWould you like to take a short break?” said Books.
    She took a deep breath and shook her head.
    â€œAll right. What kind of relationship did David have with his former spouse?”
    â€œOkay, as far as I could tell. They haven’t had much to do with each other since the split. Lillian is a professor of English literature at Berkeley. The divorce was amicable considering the circumstances. They divided the personal property, split the proceeds from the sale of their home, and went their separate ways. They never had children.”
    â€œCan you tell me about your husband’s estate? Did he have a will or perhaps a trust?
    â€œDavid never talked to me much about stuff like that.”
    â€œAnd you never asked him?”
    â€œNot really. Financial stuff bores me. He did mention once that he was working with his attorney on a will.”
    â€œWhen did he mention that to you?”
    She hesitated, “Maybe a year or so after we married.”
    â€œIs his attorney local?”
    â€œNo. Even after we moved, David kept his Berkeley attorney—the same guy who handled the divorce. I can get you his name and number later if you want it.”
    â€œI’ll need that, thanks. Did David ever ask you to sign a prenuptial agreement?”
    â€œNo, and if he had, I would’ve refused.”
    â€œWhy is that?”
    â€œThere’s something creepy about starting a new life with someone and having the cloud of a prenup hanging over everything. I would never have married David, or anyone else for that matter, if a prenuptial agreement was part of the deal.”
    â€œWas there a life insurance policy?
    â€œThere was, but again, I don’t know the specifics. I can look into it and get back to you.”
    â€œI’ll need that information as well. Can you provide me with the insurance information when you get back to me with the name of David’s lawyer?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œPlease don’t be offended with my next question, but I’ll need you to tell me where you’ve been the past forty-eight hours.”
    â€œI’m not offended at all. I know why you’re asking and I understand. I spent the weekend in Las Vegas. It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. I knew David wouldn’t be back until Sunday night, and I was bored. I love to shop, so I drove down Saturday morning and came back today.”
    â€œSo you spent two nights in Vegas?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhere did you stay?”
    â€œThe Hard Rock. It’s my favorite casino hotel.”
    â€œAnybody go with you?”
    â€œI went alone. I’ve got an old high-school girlfriend who lives in Las Vegas. I tried calling her before I left and after I got to the Hard Rock. I kept leaving messages, but I never