“That’s right. What’s this about? Is there some trouble in the neighborhood?”
“Not that I’m aware of. May we come in and speak to you, Mr. Dunwood?”
“All right. Sorry, I’m a little punchy.” He stepped back, gestured them into a wide foyer with marble floors glowing under the lights from a three-tiered silver chandelier. “I’ve been in bed a couple of hours. I’m not used to having the police come to my door.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you so late. I have some difficult news. It might be better if we sat down.”
“What kind of news? What’s wrong?”
“Mr. Dunwood, I’m sorry to tell you that your grandfather is dead.”
“My grandfather?”
Eve watched with reluctant admiration as he paled, lifted a hand that trembled very slightly to his lips. “Dead? My grandfather’s dead? Was there an accident?”
“No, he was murdered.”
“Murdered? Oh God, oh my God. I do need to sit down.” He made it as far as a long silver bench in the foyer, then collapsed on it. “I can’t believe this. It’s like I’m dreaming. What happened? What happened to him?”
“Your grandfather was found in the East River earlier tonight. The investigation into his death is underway. I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Dunwood, but it would help us if you’d answer some questions.”
“Of course. Of course I will.”
“Are you here alone?”
“Alone?” His head came up and she saw suspicion pass quickly over his face before he lowered it again.
“If you’re alone, perhaps there’s someone you’d like my aide to call. To stay with you.”
“No. No, I’m all right. I’ll be all right.”
“When’s the last time you saw your grandfather?”
“He’s been away, some consult business off planet. I suppose it’s been several weeks.”
“Did he at that time express to you any concerns, any fears for his safety?”
“Why no.” Lucias looked up again. “I don’t understand.”
“There’s a possibility your grandfather was killed by someone he knew. A car registered in his name was set on fire only hours before his body was found. The car was parked near the ground-shuttle tracks off East One-forty-three. Are you aware of any business that would take him to that area?”
“None whatsoever. His car was set on fire? That sounds like—like some sort of vendetta. But Grandfather was, he was a humanitarian, a great man who dedicated his life to medicine and research. This has to be some terrible mistake.”
“Are you studying to be a doctor?”
“I’m taking a leave from schooling just now.” He pressed his fingers to his temple, covering most of his face. And Eve studied the dragon’s head carved into the sapphire in the blended gold ring on his right hand.
“I wanted time to think, to explore, to decide what area of medicine would suit me best. My grandfather . . .” His voice broke, he looked away. “He leaves big footprints to fill. He was my mentor, my inspiration.”
“I’m sure he was very proud of you. You were close then?”
“I think so. He was larger than life, a man who drove himself to excel. I hope to be worthy of his memory. To end like this, thrown in the river like . . . sewage. My God, to have been stripped of his dignity at the end of his life. How he would hate that. You have to find who did this to him, Lieutenant. They have to pay for what they did.”
“We’ll find them, and they’ll pay. I’m sorry, but I have to ask, it’s standard procedure. Can you account for your whereabouts tonight, between the hours of seven and midnight?”
“My . . . Christ. I hadn’t thought . . . I’d be a kind of suspect. I was home here until about eight-thirty. Then I went out to a club. I didn’t actually talk to anyone. Didn’t see anyone very interesting. I’d been hoping . . . Okay, I confess. I’d thought I might pick up a girl for the evening, but it didn’t work out. I came home early. Ten-thirty, I’d say. My security system would verify that.”
“So you were alone, essentially?”