J. Robb - Innocent In Death

She stopped, sighed. “A small scheduling nightmare. I had intended to wait for Reed to come out of the locker room, give him another chance to leave on his own. Then, as ordered by the board, I would call security and have him escorted out of the building. I didn’t know Nurse Brennan had made the nine-one-one call until the medical technicians were rushing in. I didn’t know…I had no idea what had happened.”

“You know the routine by now. I need the names of everyone who was in the building between seven and eight-thirtyA. M. My partner and I will begin interviews.”

“But…but this was an accident.”

Eve smiled thinly. “That’s what you said about Foster.”

There was little variation as far as staff on premises, Eve noted. But it was very interesting to learn that Allika Straffo had signed in, with her daughter, at seven-thirty-two, and hadn’t signed out again until eight-twelve.

Her gauge had put Williams’s TOD at seven-fifty.

She mulled it over as she set up to interview Mirri Hallywell.

“I don’t know how much more we can take,” Mirri began. “This place, it’s like a tomb. Like it’s cursed. That sounds dramatic, but that’s how it feels to me.”

“Why were you here so early? I show you signing in at seven-fifteen.”

“Oh. Drama Club. We’re meeting before classes. In the theater. Discussion, a vid of some scenes fromOur Town. ”

“I’ll need a list of the students and staff present. Parents and guardians.”

“Of course, no problem. I was the only staff there.”

“Did you leave the theater at any time during the meeting?”

“No. I was there from seven-thirty to eight-fifteen. Actually, a little before seven-thirty as I set up the vid, and probably a few minutes after eight-fifteen as I broke them down. I didn’t hear about Reed until I was back in my classroom.”

“You knew Williams had been arrested yesterday.”

“Everyone knew.” She lifted a shoulder. “I can’t say I was surprised, and maybe-I probably shouldn’t say this, but maybe a little pleased. Comeuppance, you know? But this? Drowning the way he did, that’s horrible. I just don’t know how it could’ve happened.”

We’re going to chat with the fragile and lovely Mrs. Straffo.” Eve got behind the wheel. “I wonder how she handled the irony of having her husband defending the guy she dicked around on him with. And what she was doing in the building for forty-five minutes.”

“Straffo wasn’t on Hallywell’s memory list of parents in the theater during the meeting.” Peabody shifted a little, kept looking straight out the windshield. “So, how are things?”

“What things?”

“I, ah, happened to have the screen on this morning when I was grabbing a bagel. Caught that stupid bit about that blonde and Roarke. Anybody could see it was bullcrap.”

“Then why do you bring it up?”

“Sorry.”

“No,” Eve said after a minute. “No, no point in slapping at you for it. It’s outside the box right now, that’s all. And it’s staying outside the box because it’s not part of the job. Clear?”

“Sure.”

“I can’t let it in right now,” Eve said after another moment of screaming silence. “I can’t think about it right now.”

“Okay. I’m just going to say this one thing, then lock the lid. Bullcrap.”

“Thanks. Okay, why did Mrs. Straffo take the kid to school today. Why not the babysitter?”

“That would be the au pair on their level. Good question.”

Eve pulled up in front of the apartment building. “Then let’s ask it.”

She had to cut through the doorman who tried to block them. “Mrs. Straffo has her penthouse on privacy mode. Door and ’links. She doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

“Pal, I don’t know what kind of Christmas bonus you get from the Straffos, but now’s the time to ask yourself if it’s worth you getting hauled into Central and held for obstruction of justice. This is a badge. Read it and weep. Now step back, or you’re going to be sitting in holding for the next several hours.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

“Aren’t we all.” Eve moved by him, then paused. “Have you seen the au pair this morning?”

“Cora? She went out about nine. Errands. She said Mrs. Straffo wasn’t feeling very well, and activated the privacy mode. She hasn’t come back yet.”

“What about Mrs. Straffo? What time did she get back this morning?”

“About eight-thirty, maybe a little later. Didn’t look well either.”

“On foot, or by car?”

“Walking. Walked the kid to school. It’s about ten minutes away. They were scooting some. The kid said she’d be late for her meeting if they didn’t hurry.”

“Doesn’t the au pair usually take the kid in, pick her up?” Peabody wondered.

“Most of the time, sure,” the doorman confirmed. “One of the Straffos takes her now and then.”

Riding up to the penthouse, Eve worked on the timing. Leaves the school, walks home. Takes a good fifteen minutes to do it. Not hurrying then. Goes upstairs, gives the au pair errands to run. Shuts down.

Wants privacy.

At the penthouse, Eve pressed the buzzer. The security blinked, and the computer clicked on.

We’re sorry. The Straffo family has activated full privacy. If you care to leave your name and contact information, one of the family will return your call when available.

Eve held her badge to the scanner. “This is police business. You’re ordered to override privacy mode and inform Mrs. Straffo to open the door.”

One moment, please, while your identification is verified…ID verified. Please wait…

Eve was just toying with the idea of pounding a fist on the door when it opened. The doorman had it right. Allika Straffo didn’t look well.

She may have been dressed in silk lounging pajamas, but they were wasted on her as she stood pale and hollow-eyed.

“Please, can’t this wait? I’m sick.”

“You were well enough to walk your daughter to school this morning. Something happen there that made you sick? Or maybe you’ve been feeling a little off since your husband agreed to defend your lover.”

“He isn’t my lover. He was a mistake. Please, leave me alone.”

“Not going to happen.” Eve laid a hand on the door before Allika could close it. “You fix that mistake this morning?”

“I’m tired.” Tears began to gather and fall. “I’m just sick and I’m tired. I just want all of this to go away.”

“So you helped Williams go under for the third time?”

“What are you talking about? Oh, God, come in then. Just come in. I’m too tired to stand here arguing with you.” She turned away from the door, went to the living area to sit on one of the sofas, dropped her head in her hand.

“I was such a fool, such a stupid fool ever to let him touch me. Now, how much am I going to have to pay for that?”

“Did he put the squeeze on you for money?”

“Money?” She lifted her head. “No, no. That he would call Oliver, convince Oliver to defend him. What kind of a man is that? And he had those vials in his bedroom? Now, how can I be sure he didn’t use them on me? I feel sick.”

“So you confronted him this morning?”

“No. I intended to. I tried to talk Oliver out of representing him, but Oliver’s determined. I had to know what Reed said to him, had to convince Reed to find another lawyer.”

Eve sat. “Let’s get this on record, just so everyone’s protected. I’m going to read you your rights.”

“But-”

“You’re married to a lawyer. You know how this works. Record on.” Eve recited the Revised Miranda, watching Allika’s face as she did. “Do you understand your rights and obligations in this matter.”