Free Fall

43

Means, opportunity, motive.

Christine had all three.

Provided, of course, she knew how to get her hands on some potassium cyanide.

“We need to chat with Christine again,” says Ceepak.

“What about Revae Dunn?” I ask.

“I think it’s more important that we speak with Christine. Immediately.”

“Should I set it up?”

Okay. I’m stalling. I’m half-hoping Ceepak will say something like, “Ah, let’s forget this one. Arnold Rosen was going to die anyhow and Christine is cute. So let’s go grab a beer and ask Christine to join us.”

But he doesn’t.

“Please do,” he says. “And Danny?”

“Yeah?”

“For what it’s worth, I will be greatly surprised if these rumors and accusations prove to be true. I suspect Christine is the unfortunate victim of idle gossip.”

Okay. That makes me feel a little better.

Until I call Christine.

“Hey,” I say when she answers the phone.

“Hey.” She doesn’t sound very cheery.

“You busy?”

“Sort of.”

“Ceepak and I need to talk to you again.”

“Danny?”

“Yeah?”

“Why are all these people calling me?”

“What people?”

“Let’s see. The Bollendorfs. The Crabtrees. Janet Malone. Addie Galloway. All the people whose parents I worked for before I went to work for Dr. Rosen.”

“Well …”

“Did you really ask Jodi Bollendorf if her dad died ‘under mysterious circumstances?’”

I sigh into the phone. “It’s my job, Christine.”

“To do what? Ruin my life?”

“No. Find out the truth.”

“I’m telling you the truth.”

“Yes. I think you are.”

“You think I am?”

Okay. Bad choice of words.

“Can you swing by the police station and talk to us?” I say. “Or, if you like, we can come back to my apartment and …”

She cuts me off. “The police station.”

“Great. Say in half an hour?”

“No. My lawyer can’t be there till three.”

“Your lawyer?”

“Harvey Nussbaum.”

“You hired a lawyer?”

“It is her right to consult with an attorney,” says Ceepak, who’s, of course, listening to my side of the conversation. “And to have that attorney present during questioning.”

Great. My partner’s giving me the Miranda warning.

“Okay,” I say. “Three o’clock. Bring Harvey.”

“Danny?”

“Yeah?”

“I thought we were …”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

And she hangs up in my ear.