The 17th Suspect (Women's Murder Club 17)

Yuki: Mr. Bevans, did Ms. Hill use inappropriate sexual advances to manage or manipulate her staff?

Bevans: I would say that she’s all woman with a masculine determination to git ’er done. You looked at her, you thought about sex, and she carried a gun. That was sexy, too.

Yuki: You say that you heard about Marc Christopher’s accusation that she’d raped him. What was your reaction to that?

Bevans: You’re asking me if I think she could have done it? Yeah, if I had to make a wager. I’d bet she made him her bitch.

Yuki: Did you ever see her make inappropriate demands on Marc Christopher?

Bevans: They were dating. You know that, right? So, did she slap his butt once? Yeah. Sure. I saw that.

Yuki opened the next transcript, the interview with Bill Keely, CEO of the Ad Shop and Briana Hill’s superior. She remembered that Keely’s wardrobe was gray, his haircut was Republican, and his work history was account management, not creative. Briana Hill had a dotted-line reporting relationship to him. He had made the final decision in hiring her, and recently he had put her on waivers.

Keely: I didn’t want to suspend her. But this situation is a distraction, and our clients don’t want any association with her.

Yuki: How would you describe her worth to the firm?

Keely: A+. Hardworking. Corporate values. Delivered a great product. I don’t know her personally. So, is that all?

Yuki: Almost. Were there any complaints about her being sexually provocative or aggressive with agency staff?

Keely: I heard some hallway gossip that I put down to sexism. She was a good-looking woman in a power position. But no complaints came to me officially.

Yuki opened the transcript of her interview with Maria Cortes, the production department assistant. Cortes had worn tight jeans, a black shirt, and great lace-up boots, and had tattoos on her hands and neck. If Keely would be the last to know if Hill was guilty of sexual harassment, Cortes would be the first. She reported directly to Hill and was the go-to person for the whole production staff.

Cortes: Briana is tough. She has to be. She’s not a rapist, that I can tell you. Men like her. She likes them. They flirt with her, too. But she’s honest and has a good heart.

Yuki: You like her?

Cortes: I do. And I like Marc, too.

Yuki: What do you think of the rape accusation against Ms. Hill?

Cortes: I’d like to say it was all a misunderstanding.

Yuki: Thanks, Ms. Cortes. I appreciate your time.

Parisi called Yuki on her private line. “I thought you’d still be there.”

“I’m reviewing my notes now,” she said. “I have another interview in five minutes that could be a decider. I’ll have a point of view in the morning.”

“I’ll be standing by,” said the DA.

CHAPTER 13

PAUL YATES WAS about thirty, lanky, with thinning hair and a thick beard, conveying an overall pleasant good-guy appearance. He shook her hand.

“I’m Paulie.”

She offered coffee and Yates asked for orange soda.

“Coffee or water. That’s what I’ve got,” she said with a laugh. “Your choice.”

He said, “Water would be great.”

“Hang on a sec,” she said.

She went out to the kitchen, got a glass bottle of water out of the fridge, and returned with it to her office.