Golden in Death (In Death 50)

Eve wondered if her parents had any idea when naming her she’d reflect the name as a walking cliché for a side piece.

“Thank you, Muffy. Be sure to shift my next appointment.”

“You don’t— Oh, yes, Mr. Cosner. Right away.”

She picked her way back out, shut the door.

“Now.” Cosner beamed another smile. “What can I do for you?”

“You can start by telling us where you were on the nights of April twenty-seventh and April twenty-ninth, between nine-thirty and eleven.”

His smile didn’t fade. It just froze. “I’m sorry, what?”

“We’re investigating the murders of Kent Abner and Elise Duran. Your name has come up in the course of our investigation.”

She took a moment, sampled the cappuccino. “Good coffee,” she said, and waited.

17

“This is crazy. My name came up? I don’t know the people you’re talking about. How did my name come up?”

“You attended the Theresa A. Gold Academy?”

“Yes, years ago. What does that have to do with anything?”

“I take it you’re not following this case closely, as you were the Icove investigation. The victims were both spouses of people I think you’d remember. Dr. Rufty, who replaced Headmaster Grange at Gold before your parents sent you to boarding school, and Jay Duran. He taught you language arts in your final term there, and creative writing the years before.”

Nerves just poured off him.

“I hardly remember the names of all the teachers I’ve had in my life. And Rufty—he was only headmaster for a couple weeks before I left Gold. I simply don’t remember them, or their spouses. Why should I?”

Lying, Eve thought. Lying badly over something inconsequential.

“Because they had a part in you being shipped off to Vermont, a boarding school, and away from the circle of—we’ll call them friends—you’d formed for bullying, cheating, disrupting. Then there were the parties, with underage drinking, with illegals.”

“That’s absolute nonsense and exaggeration! My parents felt I would benefit from a finishing term at a very prestigious school out of state. This is ancient history, and it’s insulting to have you come here accusing me of cheating or bullying or—”

“Miguel Rodriges.”

“I have no idea who that is.”

“Just one of the many you and your friends pressured, intimidated to do your schoolwork.”

His eyes looked everywhere but at Eve. “That’s absurd and untrue.”

“That’s documented, Mr. Cosner. Why don’t we go back to your whereabouts on the nights in question?”

“I don’t have to tell you a damn thing.” He rose. “Now, you can leave on your own, or I’ll have security escort you.”

“If you don’t want to answer, that’s your right. You may want to engage an attorney—particularly since you’ve yet to earn your law degree—when we have you brought into Central for formal interview.”

“You can’t compel me to—”

Now Eve rose. “Watch me, and believe me when I tell you your old family friends the Icoves thought the same, and were proven wrong.”

“Just wait. Just wait.” He sat, gestured for her to do the same. “There’s no need for this animosity. You simply took me by surprise. I’m not used to having the police accuse me of crimes.”

“You’ve had some knocks, so you should be. You used and trafficked in illegals.”