Code 61 - Donald Harstad [60]
“So,” she said, changing the unspoken subject, “where is everyone?”
“Well, most of them have been put up in area motels for last night, but they should be allowed back in here sometime this evening, I think.”
“Most of them?”
“Well,” I said, “all but Toby. Toby's in jail.” I do love my job.
Jessica's mouth opened slightly, but before she could say anything, Borman picked that moment to glance out the window and announce that the reserve deputies were now outside. Not his fault, but any immediate reaction I was hoping to get from Jessica was forever lost. I sure would have liked to hear what she was going to say.
Judging from the way Borman was looking at Tatiana of the shimmering hair, I'd say he probably wouldn't have heard Jessica at all.
The main result of Borman's announcement was that all four of us glanced out the window. I checked automatically for Jessica's car. I couldn't see quite all of it, because both reserves were standing around it, but it was the BMW Z8. I'd never seen one before. It struck me that, although completely modern, the car went with Jessica Hunley just as the old Mansion did.
“I'm glad you got here when you did,” I said to Jessica. “We're going to need somebody to unlock the third floor for us.”
“Why? It's only unlocked when I'm here. There couldn't have been anything to do with this … this killing. Not up there.”
“Well, like they say, a lock only keeps an honest man out,” I said. “Let's just agree it's supposed to be locked while you're away.”
“Let's say it's supposed to stay locked when I say it is,” she said, and reached into her slacks pocket, and produced a remarkably small cell phone. She dialed, while saying, “I'm calling my attorney…. This is Jessica Hunley. Is he in?” There was a brief pause. “Yes, it's me. I'm at my house above the river,” she said. “There are some local cops here with a search warrant. Get up here now.” She spoke in a near monotone, and if I hadn't been party to what was actually going on, I would have thought her completely unconcerned. She terminated the call and put the phone back in her pocket. She looked at her watch. “He'll be here in ten minutes,” she said. It was a statement of fact, not an estimate.
Well, he either had to be a local or a damned good swimmer. I was anxious to see which of our local attorneys she had so thoroughly wrapped around her finger. “We can wait,” I said. “We have lots to do yet, before we go up to the third.”
She moved to hand the copy of the search warrant back. “No,” I said, “that's yours. We're required by law to either leave it with the owner, or post it on the premises where the owner can easily find it.” As she folded it, I asked, “Do you have the only key to the third floor?”
To my surprise, she said, “I think I'll wait for my attorney to be present before answering more.”
“That's fine,” I said conversationally, “but you really don't need to do that. You're not a suspect here.”
“Anyone,” she said, “can be sued.”
Ah. Right. Absolutely right. I had a feeling that Jessica would qualify as a very deep pocket.
I asked her and Tatiana to please remain in the parlor, and told Borman to stay with them. No complaint from him.
I went to the kitchen, told the lab tech to keep going, and then went up to the second to give them the news.
As I walked down the hall, I saw there were two yellow chalk marks in the blue and red and gold Oriental carpeting. I couldn't see anything particularly different between the areas inside or outside the circles, but I knew they'd found something. All three of them were in the bedroom across the hall from Edie's. By the clothes scattered about, I assumed it was the room of one of the males.
“Hester, got a second?”
“Sure.”
I told her what was happening downstairs.
“Crap.”
“Right,” I said. “You should see Jessica Hunley and her buddy Tatiana.”
“Why?”
“A tad more … oh, sophisticated than we're used to. She drove the Z8.” I grinned. “I think Borman's wondering if he can take Tatiana home as a war bride.”
“Like you're not susceptible, Houseman,