"Loraine is a real culprit here," Sandy said. "Her greed set off the whole chain of events, starting with framing you for the murder."
"She still thinks Barner was the murderer, so she's expecting to be charged with conspiracy to commit murder, as well," Chip said. "We think she paid Barner a lot of cash up front to kill Towson. He just pocketed the money with no intention of doing anything. Let her yell. What could she do? So, when Towson was shot, Loraine naturally assumed he did it. Barner figured what the hell, tells her yeah he did it. And goes to her place for the payoff."
Sandy said, "So, Barner was in Vegas spending the down payment, and was overjoyed when he heard about the murder. The target he had no intention of shooting had been shot. He came back pretending he had finished the murder contract, and to get the rest of the money from her. And get it before the police caught the real killer. Don't you love it?"
Chip said, "So, she drowns him thinking she's covering up her part in Towson's murder. But she had no part in Towson's murder. Furthermore, she believed the gun she was trying so hard to conceal was the murder weapon, but it had no relevance."
"So, bug guy outsmarts Mensa Babe. Can you nail her for drowning him?" Ray asked.
"Murder by drowning is one of the toughest homicides to prove," Chip said. "We have motive but only circumstantial evidence. She's hired Gerald White, the whiz Palm Beach lawyer. Remember he got that rich Neilson kid off a couple of years ago. The senator's no-good nephew who they charged with rape, DUI and leaving the scene of the accident that killed his date. Moran can't compete with him."
"So, Chip, you think Loraine will still get the big life insurance payoff on Towson?" Ray asked.
"Sure. The insurance company will try to hold things up, still I don't see how the conspiracy charge can be proven with Barner dead."
"Here's the big twist," Sandy explained. "Moran was indeed faced with the murder of a very important public figure. But, he was so focused on making it into a big national crime he overlooked a simple small-town killing for unrequited love. He'll get a conviction on Tammy. She'll face some years behind bars. Nevertheless, her trial will be small potatoes compared to Loraine's."
"What do you mean?" Ray asked.
"Loraine's trial is going to be a huge national sensation. It will be a circus. Think about it: you have sex, a seventy-year-old beauty in a thong, millions in insurance money, conspiracy and a murder-for-hire scheme. Plus, one additional murder by drowning thrown in at no extra charge. Seriously, the media will go wild."