The in Death Collection Books 11-15 - J. D. Robb [90]
“Kicking righteous ass, sir?”
“Got it in one. Let’s go sweat Riggs.”
“You’re limping again.”
“I am not. And shut up.”
She limped, damn it, to Interview A, where Feeney was waiting and popping nuts in his mouth. “What kept you?”
“Just a little kissy-face with a close personal friend. Did Riggs lawyer?”
“Nope. Made his phone call. Claimed it was to his wife. I gotta say, he’s a cucumber. And polite with it. Cool and well mannered, that’s our boy.”
“He’s Canadian.”
“Oh. I guess that explains it.”
They walked in to where Riggs sat patiently in a miserably uncomfortable chair.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Riggs,” Eve said and moved to the table.
“Lieutenant. Nice to see you.” He glanced down at the rip in her pants. “A pity about those trousers. They look so well on you.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty torn up about it. Record on.” She read in the information as she took her seat. “No lawyer, Riggs?”
“Not at this time, though thank you for asking.”
“You do, then, understand your rights and obligations in this matter?”
“Perfectly. First let me say I’m full of remorse for my actions.”
Clever, she thought. This was no moron. “Are you?”
“Absolutely. I regret what happened today. It was, of course, never my intention to cause any injury. I see now how reckless and foolish it was to approach you in the manner I did. I’d like to apologize.”
“That’s really big of you. How did it happen you were armed with banned weapons while traveling on a New York street with the intention of abducting and/or assaulting a police officer?”
“I fell in with bad companions,” he said with a soft smile. “I have no excuse for having illegal weapons in my possession. I would like to say, however, that in my line of work, security consultation, it’s often part of the routine to rub shoulders with criminal elements and to find oneself in possession of illegal weapons. Naturally, I should have turned those weapons over to the proper authorities.”
“Where did you acquire those weapons?”
“From the man you killed. I was hired by him, you see, just this morning.”
“The dead guy hired you.”
“Yes. I was unaware, of course, that you were a police officer when I accepted the commission. I was told that you were a dangerous individual who had threatened him and his family with bodily harm. Obviously, I was deceived, and I’m afraid I accepted his story and the weapons at face value. Very poor judgment on my part.”
“If you weren’t aware I was a police officer, why did you call me Lieutenant at the scene?”
“I have no recollection of having done so.”
“So you just took this job. What was the name of the guy who hired you?”
“Haggerty, Clarence Haggerty. Or so he told me at the time. Imagine my shock when I discovered his purpose was not, as he told me, to frighten away by show of force, a woman who was endangering his family.”
“I’m trying to do just that,” Eve said mildly. “I guess having him grab some innocent kid and hold a stunner to his throat where it could cause permanent paralysis or death, seemed like a fine way to frighten me.”
“It happened so fast. I was shocked when he grabbed the boy. I’m afraid my reaction was slow. Obviously Haggerty—or whoever he was—was not the man I believed him to be. Anyone who would endanger a child in that manner . . .”
He trailed off, sadly shaking his head. “I’m quite glad you killed him, Lieutenant.” He smiled again. “I can’t begin to tell you how glad I am.”
“I’m sure you’re dancing.” She leaned forward. “Do you really think this lame story is going to fly, Riggs?”
“Why shouldn’t it? If you require any documentation to corroborate my brief employment by Mr. Haggerty, I’ll be happy to supply it. I keep excellent records.”
“I’ll just bet you do.”
“This, of course, in no way negates my responsibility for what took place. I will, no doubt, lose my security license. I face a prison term, or at the very least home incarceration. I’m prepared to take my punishment, as the law demands.”
“You work