Page 16 of The Death
“What the hell?” Dominic murmured. “On what charge?”
“I’ve been trying to determine that, but they’re not being forthcoming. I thought you might know. But evidently she’s not as pure as you might guess from that report.”
“Possibly,” Dominic said. “But I want to know definitely. I’ll be landing in about an hour. Until then, I want you to talk to everyone connected to her and find out why the ministering angel turned out to be a demon in disguise.”
“Of course. I’m on my way to the art studio now. I thought that’s what you’d tell me. It was just too bizarre to resist poking the bear a little. I’ll pick you up at the airport?”
“I can hardly wait,” Dominic said. “And in the meantime, I’ll make a few calls on my own and see if I can nudge a few answers myself from those noble officers of law and order…”
INTERROGATION ROOM
BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
FOUR HOURS LATER
“I don’t know where Barnaby is,” Celine said wearily. “Why do you keep asking me?” She turned to Lieutenant Jacobs,who was leaning against the wall across the room. “If I knew the answer to that, why would I have asked Charlie to call you and see if anyone at the precinct could let me know what had happened to him? You’re treating me as if I’m guilty of some kind of crime.”
The lieutenant shook his head. “No, we believe the only thing you’re guilty of is being a little too persuasive to Barnaby. It’s understandable. It would be natural for him to want to please a lovely woman like you. You were angry that some thug had tried to attack you and you wanted the man punished, so you sent Barnaby after him.”
“It wasn’t like that.” She stiffened. “I’d already punished him myself. I only ran back to the studio so that I could have Barnaby fill out a report and warn the other students to keep an eye out for him.”
Jacobs smiled slightly. “Yes, Officer Charles said that Barnaby told him that rather unusual story, but I’m afraid I took it with a grain of salt. Particularly after I caught sight of you. You don’t look nearly lethal enough to be able to cause the kind of damage Barnaby described. I’m sure you must have many other weapons available to you.”
She was getting too impatient to go on with this. Why wouldn’t he listen to her? “I’m sure you do, too. But it’s always a question of choice, isn’t it, Lieutenant? Please could you just tell me what you know about Barnaby being missing.”
He nodded. “We just have a few more questions that we have to ask you to verify your story. Barnaby told a couple of his friends here at the precinct that he was doing a favor for you when he asked to check the mug books. He said you’d been assaulted and needed to check the identityof the perpetrator. Evidently he thought he’d found what he was looking for and just wanted to locate the man for a final confirmation of ID before he asked you to file a report. Was that true?”
She nodded. “Part of it. I gave Barnaby a sketch, and he was hoping he could find the man in the mug books. I never asked him to hunt him down. I thought he was just going to file a report and then turn the case over to the police.” She moistened her lips. “Tell me he didn’t do that.”
“I’m afraid we can’t tell you any such thing,” the lieutenant said coolly. “And you told the officers we sent to pick you up at the art studio how helpful and friendly Barnaby had been to you, but you were afraid that something terrible might have happened to him. Is that correct?”
“You must know it is. I gave the officers that letter I’d received.” He’d even signed a name. Surly that should have helped. Her hands were clenching nervously into fists. “Now may I ask a few questions? Did you find Barnaby? Is he okay?”
He was silent for a long moment. “We’re not sure.” The lieutenant shook his head. “We have a body in the morgue that hasn’t been identified yet that was discovered down in the warehouse district. But it may take some time before we know if it’s definitely Barnaby.” His lips tightened. “There was severe torture involved.”
Celine inhaled sharply. “Dear God.” She felt as if he’d struck her. “Have you told his wife, Judy?”
“Not yet. We hope to have something more definite to tell her soon.”
“Yes, that would probably be better,” she said dully. “Butwhen I called to check with her about him earlier, she said he’d been gone from the house for most of the day and she couldn’t reach him by phone. She must be frantic by now.”
“You’re friends with Barnaby’s wife?” The lieutenant looked surprised. “How… cozy.”
The inference was too clear to miss. Celine pulled herself together and stared him in the eye. “I was good friends with Barnaby, and I liked her and the kids. I’m just thinking that you should have one of your department heads find one of Judy’s close relatives and have them go and keep her company until you know something definite about Barnaby. I hope we’re both wrong, but there’s a chance she might need someone.”
He nodded and for a moment almost smiled. “I was going to see to that. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“I want to know the minute you find out about Barnaby.” She rubbed her temple and tried to think. “It’s too late for me to go back to my job at the hospital. I’ll have to call and cancel for today. Could I just stay here for a little while and see if you get any news?”
“There’s a waiting room next door that we use for witnesses. It has a couch, but you wouldn’t be very comfortable,” Jacobs said. “And if that letter wasn’t just a threat, it might be better if you’re also with your family.”
“No family,” she said. “And I can take care of myself, but I’d rather stay here until I know about Barnaby, if you don’t mind.”
He shrugged. “I guess it will be okay.” He was still hesitating. “Can I have them bring you coffee or something to eat?”
She shook her head. “No, thanks. That letter was signedJossland. Do you know the name of the man in the mug shot that Barnaby found?”
He nodded. “Leon Jossland. British citizen. He worked for several criminal organizations over the years and had a very nasty track record.”
