Worst Fears Realized (Stone Barrington 5)

“I have no recollection of any of this,” Stone said. “How long ago was this supposed to have happened?”

“That’s not relevant,” Deacon said.

“Relevant to what?”

“Relevant to the murder of Susan Bean.”

“I should think it would be very relevant,” Stone replied.

“Let’s say that the incident in question occurred before the Van Fleet legal matter.”

“Then you’re talking of more than six years ago?”

“Approximately.”

“And how does this alleged incident relate to the murder of Susan Bean?”

“If it’s not relevant, Mr. Barrington, why have you been lying to us?”

“I haven’t lied to you,” Stone replied, with some heat. “You’ve made an allegation that I had some prior relationship with Susan Bean, however brief, some years ago. I’ve told you that I have no recollection of such a relationship, and that’s the truth.”

“When you began speaking with Ms. Bean in Martin Brougham’s library, you were renewing an old acquaintance, weren’t you, Mr. Barrington?”

“I had no reason to think so.”

“In fact, when you introduced yourself to Susan Bean, she told you that you had met before, didn’t she?”

“She did not. She indicated nothing of the sort.”

“Describe your conversation with her.”

Stone tried to remember. “She was reading something when I sat down; we talked about that, I think. We talked about her name, Bean, I remember. She told me that she had assisted Martin Brougham on the Dante trial, and I congratulated her on the verdict. That’s about all I recall.”

“And what did you talk about on the way to her apartment?”

“It was just idle conversation; it didn’t seem to have any particular point.”

“Did you talk about her work?”

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“I suppose so, in passing.”

“Did she tell you anything about her work?”

“I remember getting the impression that she was thinking of leaving her job.”

“What did she say that gave you that impression?”

“I don’t remember, exactly; she seemed tired of the work, I thought. She didn’t seem elated about the Dante verdict.”

“You’re aware that she went to a party celebrating that verdict?”

“Yes.”

“And you say she wasn’t happy about the verdict?”

“I recall that, at the party, she was alone in another room, reading, rather than taking part in a celebration. And I didn’t say she was unhappy about the verdict, merely that she was not elated.”