Allison Brennan - Silenced

He was nervous.

“He’s the Supervisory Special Agent for the Violent Crimes and Major Offenders squad,” Stein said. “I’m his counterpart, the SSA for White Collar Crime and Political Corruption.”

Crowley’s face reddened. He dropped the pen. “I will answer questions about my relationship with Wendy, but you’re stretching to imply there was anything but a consenting adult relationship.”

“Your relationship with Ms. James is public record at this point,” Stein said. “We need to determine if there was anything inappropriate or illegal. It’s odd that she ends up dead three days before her scheduled meeting with the U.S. Attorney. What information might she have been wanting to share?”

So much for letting Noah take the lead, Lucy thought. She wanted to pull Stein aside and explain to him that anyone with basic understanding of psychology could see that Crowley considered himself a leader and wouldn’t be a pushover, just on the basis of what his office showed. His overabundance of awards and pictures was “name-dropping.” The best way to get him to cooperate would be to stroke his ego and let him think he was the one solving the case, all the while answering their very specific questions. Going on the attack right out of the gate was a big mistake.

Crowley leaned forward, both hands palm down on his desk. “I will tell you exactly what I told Agent Slater, since it’s obvious that your office doesn’t share information. I was in a committee meeting yesterday morning. The last time I saw Wendy was a week after the newspaper reported our affair. She called and wanted to meet at her apartment. I agreed to meet in public, at Dupont Circle. I brought my chief of staff with me, so no one could take pictures and accuse me of continuing the affair. We talked about nothing important because she was mad I brought Denise. We haven’t spoken since.”

He looked from Stein to Noah, then said, “I’m upset that she was killed, but her murder has nothing to do with me.”

“Sir,” Noah said, trying to settle him down, “we are simply trying to put together Ms. James’s movements over the last few days. If she ever indicated that someone was following her, maybe an ex-boyfriend she told you about, or-”

“If you have any specific questions, I will answer them through my lawyer.”

Stein said, “You understand that your refusal to cooperate makes you suspect.”

“You can leave now.”

They stood up and started toward the door. Lucy caught Noah’s eye. “Apartment?” she mouthed. He either ignored her or didn’t understand.

She turned around and faced Crowley. “Sir,” she said in her most diplomatic voice, “did you usually meet with Ms. James at her apartment?”

“My attorney,” he repeated without looking at her. He pretended to read a document on his desk, but his hands were shaking and he had to put the paper down. For a split second, she thought he was scared. Not that he might get caught at something, but maybe … was he scared someone was after him?

“Please, this is important. You must have cared about Wendy at one point.”

He looked at her, sorrow crossing his face for a split second, before his arrogance buried it. She implored him with her eyes, even though how he had handled the affair made her want to slap him.

“I truly did. We usually met at her apartment on Park Way.”

“Which apartment number?” she pretended to forget and flipped through blank pages in a notebook.

“Seven-ten. How does that help?” he asked, curious.

“Just fact-gathering, sir. Thank you.”

As soon as they were in the hall, Stein turned to Lucy and said, “What the hell were you doing? He cried uncle and you bat your eyes at him?”

“I did not,” she defended. “I needed to know where they met for sex. It was obvious to me it wasn’t in the apartment we walked this morning-and apartment seven-ten is not hers. It’s not even on the same floor.”

“Like you can tell after ten minutes in her apartment whether she brought men there? Why does it matter where they screwed?” Stein was livid. “I had Crowley panicked and asking for his lawyer, and you act like the good cop? You don’t even have a badge!”

Noah said, “Let’s take this outside.”

“I had this under control. If this case is blown, it’s on you, Armstrong. You brought Nancy Drew into this investigation.”

They stepped into the elevator. Noah gave a staff member a look that had the young man waiting for the next ride.

When the door closed, Noah said, “You pushed him too hard, too fast.”

“That’s how you have to deal with these people. They’re all guilty of something.”

“You don’t believe that.”

“I’ve worked in political corruption for more than a decade, and I don’t care who it is, they’re all corruptible. Some easier than others.”

“But he’s not under investigation for political corruption, Josh! He’s a person of interest in a homicide . Once I clear him, you can do whatever you want, but for now, we focus on the murder of Wendy James.”

“And if they’re connected?”

“When we solve the murder, we’ll know.”

The elevator opened. Lucy followed behind the two men. Stein was on his phone and walked ahead. Noah still looked irritated.

“Noah,” Lucy said cautiously. “We need to check out apartment seven-ten. Remember how I said it didn’t look like she lived there? Maybe she doesn’t, not full-time.”

“You should have talked to me before questioning Crowley.”

“I tried-”

“We could get the information in other ways. It was already a tense situation.”

“That wasn’t my fault.” Why was Noah angry with her? She hadn’t gone into Crowley’s office on a rant. “Crowley is a classic power narcissist. He responds negatively to attacks, he needs to be praised and made to feel important, then you can get him to talk about anything.”

She hadn’t realized Stein overheard her comment. He snapped his phone off and said, “I understand politicians better than you, Kincaid. I’m not going to coddle them when I know in my gut they’re crooked, and I’m not going to play pop psychology games.”

Noah said, “Josh, I understand where you’re coming from, but right now you’re fishing on influence peddling. You have no evidence. On the other hand, we have a dead body and interviewing Crowley is part of the process. I need his statement.”

Stein shook his head. “I get it, Armstrong, but I stand by my approach. Now we wait and watch. He’ll do something to tip his hand, I guarantee it. And then maybe we’ll both get what we want-I’ll nail him for corruption, you get him for murder.”

“If he’s guilty,” Lucy said. She wanted to say, he’s not guilty, but didn’t want another argument, with Stein or Noah.

“He’s guilty of something.” Stein glanced at his watch. “Can you get a taxi back to your car? I have to get back to headquarters.” He left without waiting for an answer.

Lucy followed Noah, who was walking quickly and ignoring her. “Noah, wait,” she finally said. The heat made her hot and irritable.

He stopped under a tree near the sidewalk. “I know what you’re going to say. Josh Stein is an asshole. He’s impulsive and arrogant. But he’s also my superior, and yours.” He added under his breath, “It’s my fault.” He started walking again, but Lucy stopped him.

“Noah, what did I do?” Her heart was racing and she began to panic that she’d overstepped. “I’m sorry I said anything to the congressman, but I was only thinking about what we’d been talking about earlier, that maybe Wendy James has another place. And we confirmed it!”

“I planned on coming back to talk to Crowley without Stein.”