The First Victim

CHAPTER 44

LaMoia found it difficult to fit his tall frame into the front seat of her 325i. All that money and so little room! The car was running, its heater going, the windows fogged. LaMoia opened his window a crack.

‘‘You stuck around,’’ he said. ‘‘We appreciate that.’’

‘‘I. . I’ve never touched one before. You know? All my reporting, you just look. You never touch them.’’

‘‘You said she had something to tell you.’’

‘‘She said she had something to tell me,’’ Stevie corrected.

‘‘She was claiming the reward?’’

‘‘Trying to. Yes.’’

‘‘You told her you’d protect her as a source,’’ he guessed.

‘‘Of course.’’

‘‘Who else did you tell about it?’’

‘‘No one!’’

‘‘An editor? A cameraman?’’

‘‘No one!’’

‘‘Coincidental timing?’’ he asked. ‘‘Boldt won’t like that.’’

‘‘No, I won’t,’’ Boldt said. He carried a hot tea, handed them each a coffee, apologizing if it wasn’t still hot, but it was. After a few needed sips, LaMoia switched places with his lieutenant. Boldt rolled up the window and LaMoia headed back to the crime scene.

‘‘She panicked and killed herself,’’ Boldt said.

‘‘You believe that?’’

‘‘No.’’

‘‘She knew they’d get her. Said as much. If I hadn’t gotten stuck in traffic. If I’d come right here instead. .’’

‘‘Who else did you tell?’’

‘‘No one.’’ She paused and blurted out, ‘‘You don’t believe me?’’ Her lips found the edge of the Styrofoam cup.

‘‘Doesn’t matter.’’

‘‘It does to me.’’

‘‘It isn’t relevant,’’ he said.

‘‘It is to me.’’

‘‘You’ve been sharing information with Agent Coughlie.’’ He answered her dumbfounded expression, ‘‘We hear things.’’

‘‘I didn’t share this!’’

‘‘You sure?’’

‘‘You suspect Coughlie?’’ she blurted out.

‘‘I didn’t say that.’’

‘‘You didn’t have to.’’

‘‘When there’s a lot of money at stake, we suspect everyone.’’

‘‘The INS? My god. .’’

‘‘Coast guard. Our own people. The list is pretty long, I’m afraid.’’

‘‘You’re wrong about Coughlie,’’ she warned.

‘‘I didn’t say anything about Coughlie. It’s just that his attorneys-the federal prosecutor’s office-tried to get hold of that video today. And since I’d heard you’d seen him. . I thought maybe-’’

‘‘Well you thought wrong!’’

‘‘How can I help if I don’t know what’s going on?’’ Boldt asked.

‘‘You stole that tape from me.’’

‘‘I made a bad decision,’’ Boldt said. ‘‘Let’s say I’d be willing to reverse that decision?’’

‘‘In return for?’’

‘‘A look at the videos you took from her apartment.’’ He cautioned, ‘‘And don’t tell me you didn’t. Being a reporter doesn’t allow you to lie to a cop.’’

‘‘I’m cold,’’ she complained, knowing when to cut bait.

‘‘We’ll get you home,’’ he offered. ‘‘Our officers will see you home.’’

She said, ‘‘So if it wasn’t coincidence, someone knew I was coming here.’’

‘‘Is that so impossible? Do you use a walk-around phone by any chance?’’

‘‘Not at the office. She called me at the office.’’

‘‘Cellphone?’’

‘‘It was my office phone.’’

‘‘No one in the room? No other calls? Cancel a dinner, something like that?’’

‘‘Nothing!’’

‘‘So maybe it was coincidence,’’ Boldt said. He added, ‘‘But it wasn’t suicide. Wasn’t even a good try at it.’’ He informed her, ‘‘Broken blood vessels in the eyes-manual strangulation. We think he may have raped her. If he did, it was postmortem.’’

She sat paralyzed behind the wheel. ‘‘You’re trying to scare me into cooperating.’’

‘‘Not at all. I’m just reporting. Funny, isn’t it? I’m reporting. You’re here investigating.’’

‘‘It’s not funny at all.’’

‘‘We can protect witnesses,’’ he said.

‘‘They’re not coming after me, Lieutenant. I got here too late.’’

‘‘But she contacted you,’’ Boldt reminded. ‘‘They may know that. How often do they sweep the station for surveillance devices?’’

‘‘That’s ridiculous.’’

‘‘I’m willing to trade tapes, Ms. McNeal,’’ Boldt repeated, hand on the door handle. ‘‘Offer stands. The offer of protection stands as well.’’

‘‘Someone to drive me home would be nice. I’ll take you up on that.’’

‘‘Well, that’s a start,’’ he said. ‘‘You think about the rest.’’