She took the glides up. She may have felt looks aimed her way, but it was better than having them drilled into the back of her head in the confines of the elevators.
Whitney’s admin avoided her eyes altogether. “You can go right in, Lieutenant. He’s expecting you.”
Whitney sat behind his desk of command, big shoulders, big hands. His face was somber, his dark eyes direct. “Lieutenant.”
“Sir. I believe there may be a break in the Foster homicide that connects it to the drowning death of Reed Williams.”
He sat back as she gave her report, let her complete it uninterrupted. “You opted not to bring Allika Straffo in for questioning.”
“Not at this time. We wouldn’t get anything out of her, Commander. I think pressuring Mosebly will give us more juice. While they both have motive and opportunity, it’s easier to see Mosebly helping the vic into the water-or under it. They both had something to lose, but the tone of Straffo’s statement prior to being informed of Williams’s death gives it credence. She could have used the time between the murder-”
“If it was murder.”
“Yes, sir, if it was, she could have used the time to prepare, to plan how she would deal with questioning. I’m still looking at her, but Mosebly fits more cleanly.”
“And Foster?”
“It’s possible Williams poisoned him. Williams doesn’t like being pushed, and we know Foster pushed, at least on one occasion, on the sexual activities. With this new information, that Williams had been sexual with Mosebly, and if we can verify that Foster was aware of that, it turns it. Mosebly had more to lose. Foster’s knowledge compromised her position, and her sense of authority. Nobody likes their private issues made public, particularly by those under their command.”
“True enough.” His eyes remained level with hers. “Use it, and squeeze that juice.”
“Yes, sir.”
“My wife and I watched you on Nadine Furst’s new program last night.” He smiled a little. “You did very well. Your demeanor and your answers were a credit to the department. Chief Tibble has already contacted me this morning to say the same.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
“It’s good public relations, Dallas, and you handled yourself. It can be…difficult to become a public figure, to maintain and handle the inevitable invasions of privacy that go hand in hand with any sort of notoriety. If you feel, at any point, that pull and tug is affecting your work, I hope you’ll speak to me about it.”
“It won’t affect my work.”
He nodded. “I’ll observe the interview with Mosebly, if possible. Otherwise, I’ll review it at the first opportunity. Dismissed.”
She started out.
“Dallas? Gossip is an ugly and insidious form of entertainment. Maybe that’s why people can’t resist it. A good cop knows it has its uses, just as a good cop knows it’s often twisted and pummeled into a different shape for the purpose of the purveyor. You’re a good cop.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
Though she knew he’d meant it kindly, the sting of embarrassment plagued her all the way down the glides.
Her pocket ’link signaled a message straight to voice mail before she stepped into the bull pen. She drew it out, saw from the display it was from Roarke.
The urge to simply delete without checking made her feel small and cowardly. She cursed, and played the message.
His face filled her ’link screen, and those lethal blue eyes burned into hers. “Lieutenant. I didn’t want to disturb you. If you can carve out some time today, I’d like some of it. If it’s not possible-or you’re just too bloody stubborn to make it possible-I expect to have your time and attention tonight. At home. I’ll end by saying this much. You piss me off, and still I love you with everything I am. I’d best hear from you, Eve, or I swear I’m going to kick your ass.”
She stuffed the ’link back in her pocket. “We’ll see whose ass gets kicked, pal.”
But her heart had twisted again-in pleasure or in pain, she just didn’t know.
“Hey, Dallas.” Baxter pushed away from his desk, strode after her. “Ah, nice job with Nadine last night.”
“You got something to say to me that applies to a case, Detective?”
“Not really. I just…Listen, Dallas, you don’t want to pay attention to-”
She closed her office door in his face, but not before she saw the look of concerned sympathy on it.
She put another lock on the lid of her emotional box, sat and focused on writing her report until she got the signal that Arnette Mosebly had arrived.
When she walked in, Mosebly scowled. “Really, Lieutenant, I assumed we’d do this in your office.”
“You haven’t seen my office. There’s barely enough room for me in there, much less the three of us. Appreciate you coming in.”
“I want to cooperate, both as a private citizen and as principal of Sarah Child. The sooner all of this is cleared up, closed away, the better for the school.”
“Yeah, the school’s important to you.”
“Of course.”
“Just let me set up. Record on. Interview with Mosebly, Arnette, conducted by Dallas, Lieutenant Eve, and Peabody, Detective Delia, all present, in the matter of the death of Williams, Reed, on this date.” Eve took her seat. “Ms. Mosebly, are you here of your own volition?”
“I am. As I said, I want to cooperate.”
“And we appreciate it. To ensure your protection, I’m going to read you your rights.”
“My rights? I don’t-”
“It’s routine,” Eve said casually, and ran through them. “Do you understand your rights and obligations in this matter?”
“Of course I do.”
“Okay then. Again, we appreciate your cooperation.”
“Reed’s death is a shock to all of us, a loss for all of us,” she added. “Particularly coming so close on the heels of Craig’s.”
“You refer to Craig Foster, who was murdered in the school you head.”
“Yes. It was, and is, a tragedy.”
“Oh, sorry. You want coffee or anything?”
“I’m fine, but thank you.”
“Both these men,” Eve continued, “Foster and Williams, were known to you.”
“Yes.” Mosebly folded her hands neatly on the table. Her nails were perfectly manicured and painted a pale coral. “They served on the faculty of Sarah Child, where I stand as principal.”
“Are you aware that Reed Williams was questioned in the matter of Foster’s death?”
Her jaw tightened into a stern expression Eve imagined laid little licks of fear in any student’s belly. “We all were, yes. I was aware you’d spoken to him, and that he’d been arrested on other charges.”
“The possession of illegals, specifically two banned substances that are most commonly used in sexual activities.”
“They’re rape drugs.” Mosebly’s mouth went razor thin. “It’s appalling. I respected Reed as a teacher, but this information about his personal life…It’s shocking.”
“You confronted Mr. Williams on this matter.”
“I did.” And here was the pride and authority in the lift of her chin, the chilly hauteur in her eyes. “When he was arrested and charged, I contacted our board of directors to inform them of same. It was agreed that Reed be immediately suspended, that his resignation be called for. If he refused to tender it, I was to begin termination proceedings.”
“Those are complicated and often difficult. And given the circumstances would generate considerable undesirable publicity for the school.”
“Yes. But under the circumstances, there was no choice. The students are our first priority, in every matter.”
Understanding the rhythm, Peabody poured a cup of water and offered it to Mosebly. “Some parents had already pulled a couple of your students,” Peabody commented. “You’ve probably had to reassure plenty of others. It’s happened under your watch. You must have gotten some heat from the board, too.”
“The board’s concerned, of course. But has been very supportive.”
“It would’ve murked it up even more, though, if Williams made a stink. You know how it is, Lieutenant, somebody gets out of line, then tries to take the whole ship down with him.”