Code 61 - Donald Harstad [140]
I smiled at her. Flies and honey. “Now, I suppose a really good cop would say something like”—and I lowered my voice—“I dunno, 'Why would you?' Right?”
“Maybe,” she said, with a hint of a smile.
“Well, speaking as one of the cops who unintentionally misled our suspect into eluding us, I think I better ask something else instead.”
“Good idea,” she said, straightening back up into a seated position.
“So,” I said, “who would you ask if you had to find out where he was?”
It worked. Her eyes shifted to Jessica for an instant, and then back to me. I don't think she was aware she'd done it, even after it had happened. Jessica was looking directly at me, and I was pretty certain she hadn't noticed it, either.
“I can't think of anyone.”
“Okay.” I made a totally bogus check mark on my little notepad.
Jessica made a large point of pulling a watch out of the bag, and checking the time. “We really have to be getting back to work,” she said. “I can't think of anything I know about this that I haven't told you.”
“One more question,” said Hester. “Why does Dan Peale pretend to be from London?”
Jessica handled that one on the fly. “It's an affectation. A charming one. We just play that he is.”
“Ah. But it's made clear that it's an affectation, then?”
“Yes, of course.”
“But there are a lot of people at the Mansion convinced he's from England,” persisted Hester.
“And,” said Jessica, “if they choose to believe it … What's the harm? Some people are more naive than others.” She replaced some of their luncheon items in the cupboard under the counter.
“I'm just making sure in my own mind,” said Hester, “that it isn't a case of the two of you acting together to conceal his real identity.”
Again, Jessica seemed to be unconcerned. “Well, of course we are. I certainly wouldn't want one of them trying to contact him.”
She was really good.
She straightened up. “All this is being treated with the strictest confidence, isn't it?”
“Absolutely,” I said.
“Won't tell a soul who doesn't need to know,” said Harry.
“I thought as much,” she replied. “But I'm sure you understand that this little ruse we played to avoid, oh, complications, was just that and nothing more. That's all.”
“Sure,” I said. Right. I was thinking how tough this woman would be in front of a jury. I thought I'd give her something to think about. “Before we go, could you tell us how to get to the historical society building?”
“Yes.” She told us.
“Thanks,” I said. Being so damned self-possessed, she hadn't asked. Because of that, I had to tell her why we were looking for it. “I understand they have blueprints of the old Givens place, from way back. We'd just like to see 'em.” That certainly took the bite out of it.
“They're fascinating,” she said. “I hope you enjoy them.”
“And we'll be needing to see you once more,” said Hester. “This evening?”
“For?”
“I really hate being melodramatic,” said Hester, “but I can't tell you that until then.”
Hester had salvaged my objective.
“Perhaps after supper?” Jessica shrugged. “We have some guests coming late this afternoon. I'd rather not disturb them. It will be brief?”
“I hope so. Where can we call you?”
Jessica gave Hester the number of Bridgett Hunley's private line. “After seven,” she said. “I'll answer.”
After we got back downstairs, and out onto the sidewalk, I nudged Hester. “Why the hell did you have to tell her this evening?”
“I don't know.” She quickened her pace. “But I'm not going to let the woman off the hook that easy. She's lying, and we all know it. She knows where that SOB is, Houseman, and she's gonna tell me if I have to strangle her.”
“Attagirl,” said Harry.
“That'd be a sight,” I said. “But I think we might have a good lever in her Aunt Bridgett. It strikes me that Jessica would do just about anything to keep this sort of involvement from her.”
We still had a card up our sleeves. We hadn't mentioned anything about vampires.
We walked to the historical society building, and I noted us in at 12:39.