Strangers In Death

She drank again, three small sips. “I was supposed to take it off after, the rope, but leave it there. Then go down, through the house, through the kitchen, and take the security tapes. That would make it look like I’d been there before, that it was all an accident-like it was his own fault. I was supposed to walk out, turn everything back on-the security, then walk all the way to the subway on Fifth.”

“What about the ’link, the discs?”

“She was to contact me on it at two. It was supposed to be done by two, but it wasn’t. I couldn’t…Then she called, and she was so angry. So I did it. I did what she said, except I couldn’t stand the idea of him knowing, and I used the medication I’d gotten from the doctor to help me sleep, and I couldn’t watch him die, so I ran out.”

“Where’s the ’link, the discs, the remote?”

“I was supposed to put them in a recycler on Fifth. But I forgot. I can’t even remember getting on the subway, but I must have because I was home. I didn’t remember about them until the next day, after my kids came home from school. They stayed at a friend’s the night before, because I couldn’t leave them alone. And I guess I always knew I’d do what she told me. I was afraid to put them in a recycler near the house. I was afraid to keep them in the house. I didn’t know what to do. I shoved the bag in the closet because I couldn’t think.”

“Do you still have them?”

“I was going to take them to the park today, where the kids practice. I was going to put them in the recycler there. But you came.”

Eve signaled Baxter, who rose and strode out of the room. “Detective Baxter has left Interview. Has she contacted you again, Suza

“No, not since that night-that morning. It’s like a dream. I was walking, walking-after-and she called on the ’link. She said: ‘Well?’ And I said I’d done it. And she said, ‘Good girl.’ That’s all. ‘Good girl,’ like I’d finished my chores. I killed him. I know he was a monster, but I think she’s one, too.”

“You think?”

“What’s going to happen now? Can you tell me what’s going to happen now?”

“We’re going to go back over the details. What kind of vehicle did she drive?”

“A black one.”

“Do better.”

“It was black and shiny. Expensive. I don’t know about cars. I’ve never had a car.”

“When you were walking with her, the day you were going to the market, did you see anyone you know?”

“I don’t know many people. Ned didn’t like-”

“Stop it,” Eve said sharply, and Suza

“I guess I do. I don’t remember. I was so surprised to see her, and Ned had just…”

“No one spoke to you?”

“Just Ava. It was really cold, and I was looking down-the way you do.”

The way you do, Eve thought. “Was the car on the street or in a lot?”

“A lot. An auto lot.”

“Which way did you walk?”

“Ah, um…West because we went right by the market, and then we crossed after a few blocks, and walked north. I think maybe on Seventh. Maybe. I’m not sure.”

“Which rest stop did she use?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know. They all look the same, don’t they? I was sick.”

“How long were you gone? No, don’t give me that ‘I don’t know shit,’ Suza

“About nine-thirty.”

“What time did you get home?”

“It was almost noon. I had to take the bus. She dropped me at the transpo center across from the tu

“How long did you wait for the bus?”

“Only a few minutes. I got lucky. I got off and walked back to the market. Mr. Isaacs said how he thought I wasn’t coming in that day.”

“Mr. Isaacs?”

“He runs the market, and I always go on Mondays, before ten. He said how I looked tired, how I should try to get some rest, and he gave me pop treats for the kids. I forgot that. He gave me treats for the kids. He’s a nice man. He and his wife run the market. I went home, and I put everything away, and I thought, ‘None of this is happening. It’s not real.’ Then I got sick again, because it was. I have to tell my kids. I don’t know how.”

“When you were at the retreat and made your bargain, where were you?”

“In Ava’s suite. She told me to come up after the last seminar, but not to tell anyone. People get jealous. She just wanted to relax with a friend.” Tears spurted again. Eve wondered how the woman had any more in her. “She said we were friends.”

“You had drinks. Did she order them?”

“There was a bottle of wine and a pretty platter of fruit and cheese. Everything was so pretty.”

“Did anyone call or come by while you were there?”

“No. She had the Do Not Disturb on the door and the ’links. So we could relax, she said.”

Eve pressed a little more, then judged she’d wrung Suza

She rose as Baxter came back in. “Detective Baxter reentering Interview.” When she crossed to him, he spoke quietly.

“Got the search warrant. Do you want me to take that?”

“No. Walk her through Booking. She’s tapped out for now.”

“I contacted the sister while I waited for the warrant to come through. She’s confused and shocked, like you’d expect. She’s making arrangements to come up for the kids. CS cleared that.”

“You pushed some buttons.”

“The kids are going to have it hard enough. Not their fault.”

“Walk her through,” Eve repeated. “I’ll have Peabody and Trueheart exercise the warrant. I need a couple hours to sort through all this. We need to keep this arrest off the radar.”

With a nod, Baxter walked to Suza

Eve waited until he’d led Suza

When she stepped out, Mira was there. “I don’t want to hear about her emotional trauma, her fear of authority figures, or her goddamn remorse. Thomas Anders died by her hand.”

“Yes, he did. That doesn’t make her less pitiable. A year in prison, twenty years, Suza

“Tell me this: Did Suza

“Yes, she was. She is culpable for her act, and should pay for what she did. Are there extenuating circumstances, would I-or any other psychiatrist-consider diminished capacity? Yes. But she killed Thomas Anders fully aware of her actions.”

“That’s good enough for me.”

“Eve. You’re so angry.”

“Damn right I am. Sorry, I don’t have time to comb through my own psyche. I’ve got work.” She turned, and pulling out her communicator, strode away.

In her office, she hit the AutoChef for coffee before sitting down at her desk to begin the calculations for the most likely lots Ava had used, and the rest stop where she’d taken Suza

When the computer spit out its most probables, she studied the map, gauged the distances, the locations, simmered them with her understanding of Ava.

“I think we’ve got that. Yeah, I think we do,” she muttered. And only grunted at the knock on her door.

“Hello, Lieutenant.”

She barely glanced at Roarke. “She doesn’t go far-just far enough. But she’s not as fucking smart as she thinks she is. Doesn’t know people as well as she believes.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” He sat on the corner of her desk. “A moment?”