New York Dead (Stone Barrington 1)

“Her name is Chelsea Barton. She’s a set designer here.”

“I’ll have to speak with her.”

“Her office is the other side of the reception area, on this floor.”

Dino came back into the room.

“I think we’re about finished here,” Stone said. “Thank you, Ms. Morgan. I very much appreciate your cooperation.” Dino stepped back into the hall, and Stone followed, then stopped. He turned back to the woman. “Ms. Morgan, was Sasha seeing anyone else that you know of?”

Morgan flushed. “Yes, she was. A man. She would never tell me who, but I had the feeling it had been going on for a long time.”

“Do you think it might have been someone she worked with?”

“I honestly don’t know. Sasha didn’t give much away.”

“Thank you again.”

On their way down the hall, Stone filled Dino in on his conversation with Hank Morgan.

Dino whistled. “So Sasha swung both ways, huh? How about that?”

“There was nothing in her diary to indicate it,” Stone said.

“She had a lot to lose,” Dino replied. “She wouldn’t have written that down.”

They found the office of Chelsea Barton. A rather dumpy young woman looked up from her desk as they knocked.

Stone started to introduce himself.

“Yes,” Barton said, interrupting him. “I was with Hank Morgan. All night. Anything else?”

“Thank you,” Stone said, “no.”

Back in the car Dino turned to Stone. “So, if Morgan is in love with the gorgeous Sasha, what’s she doing in the sack with Miss Beanbag the very next night?”

“That crossed my mind,” Stone said.

“I think Morgan looks good for it. Pansies are always bashing each other’s heads in with hammers, and all for love.”

“Lesbians don’t fit that mold.”

“Still, you see the build on that bitch? Sasha was little, compared to her. I think Morgan could have tossed her, no problem.”

“I think so, too. But how are you going to break that alibi? Miss Beanbag looked pretty tough to me.”

“She was on the interview list, so we’ve got her address. I think I’ll do a little checking into her whereabouts that night,” Dino said. “Maybe I can place her somewhere else.”

“You do that, and we might have something for Deputy Commissioner Waldron.”

Chapter 20

The phone was ringing as Stone reached his desk. He picked it up. “Hello.”

“Detective Barrington?” a husky voice said.

“Yes, speaking.”

“This is Hank Morgan.”