Chapter 3
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This was perhaps the strangest funeral that detective Fredo had ever attended. Noone at Michael's funeral seemed sorry he was dead. Father Clarence did a typical prayer, asking God to protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the fire. He was apparently the only one who was hoping for that outcome. Erica said outright that his death didn't come soon enough. Maggie spit on Michael's grave. Noone, not even Michael's own father and brother, contradicted all the bad things said about him. While this was going on Gary decided to speak with Carlos, who was hanging out by his car.
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Fredo: Interesting funeral.
Carlos: They're not wrong.
Fredo: I take it you didn't like the deceased.
Carlos: No I did not. After what he did to Bianca, what he probably did to other young girls.
Fredo: Any particular reason for your hatred?
Carlos: I'm sure you'll find this out later, so I'll just tell you. Six years ago, when I was still in Columbia, I was in love with a woman, and someone tried to rape her. I fought him, and I killed him. I didn't mean to, but it happened, and I don't regret it for one second. I served five years in prison for this. After that, I came to America for a fresh start.
Fredo: Mind if I ask you where you were the night of the murder?
Carlos: Working, picking up various fairs. I'd be happy to show them to you.
Fredo: I would appreciate that.
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Gary Fredo looked over the names and the times. Most of the names he didn't recognize. But two names stood out, Kendall Hart and Erica Kane. It seemed that mother and daughter had done a ride share the night of the murder, they were picked up by Carlos at 11:14 pm, almost the exact time of the murder. And it was within walking distance of Michael Cambias' house, where the murder took place. Gary couldn't help but wonder if they murdered Michael and then called an Uber to get home? Or, if they of Carlos' past, did they hire him to do the dirty work? Perhaps Carlos thought he was being clever by just volunteering his past, thinking that this detective woudn't suspect him after that? He wouldn't be the first murderer to try and fail in this. Still, Gary would need more evidence, one way or another. As the funeral broke up Gary began trying to talk with some of these suspects, starting with Krystal.
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Fredo: I'm detective Fredo. May I ask you some questions?
Krystal: Sure. But if you're wondering where I was on the night of the murder, I was alone in my diner.
Fredo: You own the local diner?
Krystal: The bank owns most of it, but yes. I closed just after 10pm, then I got caught up on some paperwork. Do you have any idea how much paperwork is involved with running a small business?
Fredo: I'll guess it's a lot. How did you feel about the deceased?
Krystal: I can't say I liked him all that much. My daughter Marissa is good friends with Bianca, so she often comes into my diner. Bianca is a good person, Michael Cambias was not.
Fredo: That seems to be the majority opinion in Pine Valley. He raped your daughter's friend, did you ever worry about whether he would hurt Marissa?
Krystal: Of course I worried about that. If he had raped Marissa I would have killed him. But I didn't, and I was alone in my diner when he was murdered.
Fredo: He was killed with a gun, do you by any chance own a gun?
Krystal: Yes, it's in a safe in my office.
Fredo: May I see it?
Krystal: If you have a warrent.
Fredo: At the moment, I don't.
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As Gary and Krystal were talking David came over and began speaking to them.
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David: Everything okay Krystal?
Krystal: I'm fine.
David: If he's questioning you, maybe you should get a lawyer.
Fredo: That is certainly her right. It's also your right David.
David: So I'm a suspect now. Okay, ask what you want to know.
Fredo: Where were you the night of the murder?
David: Moonlighting at an urgent care center.
Fredo: Any medical emergencies that night?
David: Fortunately no.
Fredo: How did you feel about Michael Cambias?
David: Didn't like him. But I didn't kill him.
Fredo: Why did you move to Pine Valley?
David: Family business. Krystal and I have some, brief history. The result of which was Marissa.
Fredo: Marissa is your daughter?
David: Yes. Krystal never told me until last year, when our 18 year old daughter decided that she wanted to know her mother.
Fredo: How well do you know Bianca Montgomery?
David: Not well. But yeah, the thought that Michael might do to Marissa what he did to Bianca, scared the hell out of me. But I didn't kill Michael. Any other questions?
Fredo: Not at the moment.
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Fredo then went to see deputy JR Chandler.
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Fredo: Here to provide security?
JR: Yeah, sheriff Hayward was worried someone might desecrate Mr Cambias' funeral. But at least there was no violence.
Fredo: How did you feel about the deceased?
JR: I didn't think he was that bad. I've had to moonlight in private security, including for Mr Cambias.
Fredo: Where were you the night of the murder?
JR: Believe it or not I was working security for Michael Cambias. He was celebrating his acquittal at trial, along with his business associates Ryan Lavery and Greenlee Smythe. I was his bodyguard in case anyone tried were all at Michael's place until around 10:30, maybe 10:45. Then he said we could go.
Fredo: Interesting little reunion. As I recall the three of you all testified in court that you were with Michael Cambias the night he allegedly raped Bianca Montgomery.
JR: Yeah, the three of them were discussing business while I was their security guard. Bianca's mother Erica was involved in a business dispute with Michael Cambias, maybe she was using her own daughter to send Michael to prison so she could take his company. In any event when Ryan, Greenlee, and I left Michael Cambias he was alive. I went home, Ryan and Greenlee went off together, presumably to have sex but I couldn't say for certain. Anything else?
Fredo: Not yet, I'll let you know if I think of any later.
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Most of the remaining suspects had left by this point, so Gary decided to question the only one still here, father Clarence.
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Fredo: Interesting funeral father. Ever have one where every guest seemed to hate the deceased?
Clarence: This was a first. I used to be a prison chaplain, even there the gangs didn't interrupt funerals like that. I've had funerals for unhoused people where noone seemed to care enough to attend, but they also didn't spit on the deceased person.
Fredo: Did you know him?
Clarence: Not well I'm afraid. To be blunt, he had the spirit of antichrist in him. I don't mean the embodiment of evil the way certain writers make one antichrist out to be. I mean Michael went against what Christ stood for. Among other things he ran a debt collection agency, forced 87 year old people with Alzheimer's to give him money, thought nothing of making them or children homeless. My church does what it can for these people, but it isn't always enough. And I do not believe that Bianca Montgomery was the first girl he raped, but perhaps she was the first to come forward.
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Gary got the distinct impression that father Clarence heard more from his parishioners, but was bound by the seal of the confessional to not reveal anything. Clarence seemed like a good person, but perhaps hearing so much of Michael Cambias' evil, maybe father Clarence had a limit of how much he could take before doing something. An hour ago Gary only had six suspects, but then Alexander gave him an additional ten. Perhaps Alexander just wanted to point suspicion away from his surviving son, but five of the ten new suspects did seem to have motive. Clearly this investigation would take awhile.