“How’d he find out he was hitting the trail?”
“Excuse me?”
“A transmission come in, a call, a private messenger whiz by, what?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know.”
“Some housekeeper you are. How’d his eyes look this morning?”
Stevens looked perplexed, then simply annoyed. “Lieutenant, Mr. Renquist’s eyes are not my concern nor yours. Good day.”
She thought about booting the door open when it started to shut in her face, but decided it was a waste of energy.
“Peabody, start the EDD troops doing a search to find out where Renquist went, and how he’s getting there.”
“I guess he’s the one.”
“Why?”
It was Peabody’s turn to look perplexed and she hurried after Eve to the ve
hicle. “He’s molesting the nanny. He and his wife lied about him being home all morning on Sunday. He’s got a private, locked room in his house, and this morning, he’s conveniently called out of town.”
“So you cross off Fortney, just like that. Peabody, you’re an investigative slut.”
“But it all fits.”
“You can fit it this way, too. He’s molesting the nanny because he’s a royal shit and a perv. His wife’s not putting out, and he’s got a young, pretty girl in the house who’s afraid to say no. They lied because they’re both royal shits who don’t want to be hassled by the police, and saying he was home is more convenient. He’s got a locked home office because he’s got staff who might poke into sensitive material, and a kid he doesn’t want bothering him when he’s working. He’s called out of town this morning because his line of work demands he get up and go when the call comes.”
“Well, hell.”
“If you don’t think it from both ends, you don’t get the right answers. Now let’s see how Breen holds up in formal interview.”
He was waiting, examining the one-way glass when Eve stepped into Interview Room B. He turned, and sent her one of his boyish smiles.
“I know I should be pissed off, and yelling lawyer, but this is just iced.”
“Happy to entertain you.”
“I had to leave Jed with a neighbor though. I don’t trust the droid when I’m not in the house. So I hope this isn’t going to take too long.”
“Then sit down, and let’s get started.”
“Sure.”
She engaged the recorder, recited the case data, and the Revised Miranda. “Do you understand your rights and obligations, Mr. Breen?”
“Oh yeah. Look, I heard the media reports on the attack early this morning. Guy pulled a Bundy. What do you think—”
“Why don’t you let me ask the questions, Tom?”
“Sorry. Habit.” He flashed a grin.
“Where were you this morning at two A.M.?”
“At home, asleep. I knocked off work about midnight. By two, I was sawing them off.”
“Was your wife at home?”