“When was the last time you were in London?”
“London?” Her brow creased. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
“Humor me.”
“I was there a few weeks ago on business.” With the annoyance still creased between her eyebrows, she picked up a small pocket calendar, keyed in for the date. “July eight and nine and ten.”
“Alone?”
There was a quick flicker in her eyes before she set the calendar down. “Yes, why?”
“Your husband ever go over with you?”
“We went in April. Tom thought the experience would be fun for Jed. I had business, and he wanted to do some research. We took an extra two days for a family holiday.”
“Buy any souvenirs?”
“What are you getting at?”
“I guess you travel to Europe pretty regularly,” Eve said, changing tack. “For your business.”
“I do. For fashion shows, for events, to meet with my counterparts in our European offices. Just what does this have to do with Tom helping you in an investigation?”
“It’s part of my investigation.”
“I don’t—” She broke off when her pocket ’link rang. “Excuse me, that’s my private line. I need to get this.”
She shifted it to privacy mode, slid on a miniheadset, and angled away so Eve couldn’t see the ’link’s view screen.
“Julietta Gates. Yes.”
Her voice warmed, several degrees, and that just-a-little-too-thin mouth tipped up in a smile.
“Absolutely. I have it on my calendar. One o’clock. Mmm-hmm. Yes, I’m in a meeting.” There was a long silence as she listened, and Eve noted the faint flush that rose to her cheeks. “I’ll look forward to that. Yes, I will. Good-bye.”
She disconnected, slipped off the headset. “Sorry, afternoon meeting. Now—”
“Can you tell me where you were Sunday morning?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” She let out a huff of breath. “Sundays, I let Tom sleep in and take Jed to the park, or to some other activity. I’m trying to be cooperative, Lieutenant, since Mavis has asked me to, but I’m finding this very annoying.”
“Almost done. How about the night of September second, between midnight and three?”
Julietta snatched up her calendar again, keyed in. Again, Eve saw the slight change cross her face. “I had a meeting with an associate. I can’t tell you precisely when I got home as I didn’t make note of it, but I think it was after nine, maybe close to ten. I was tired, and went straight up to bed since Tom was working.”
“So he was home the entire night.”
“Why wouldn’t he be? He was working. I took a pill and went to bed. I told him I was going to, so he’d hardly have left the house because of Jed. Tom’s completely devoted, and somewhat overprotective of Jed. What is this?”
“That’s it for now. Thanks for the time.”
“I think I’m entitled to some sort of—”
“If you still want, we can talk about that article.” Mavis popped to her feet. “I just need a minute first.”
She scooted out of the office with Eve, then dropped her voice to a whisper. “So? Did she kill somebody or what?”
“Doubtful. The worst I figure she’s done is cheat on her husband with whoever called her on her private ’link.”