Swann Songs (The Boston Uncommon Mysteries Book 4) by Arlene Kay

do you have proof?”
    “I saw them. Copies, anyhow. Duff shared them with me yesterday.” I gave Keegan what I hoped was a winsome smile. “The Cambridge police have the originals. Check with Sorrel Yeagan.”
    “Funny you should say that. Officer Malloy checked, and we have no record of any police report. Strange, isn`t it?”
    “Bureaucracies are notoriously inefficient.” I sniffed. “Probably misfiled or lost.”
    Antagonizing the police is bad strategy and poor policy. By an effort of will, I clamped my jaw shut and said no more. Keegan saw my reaction and laughed—an unfriendly snort reminiscent of a rampaging elephant.
    “Tell me everything you know about this. And while you`re at it, fill me in on your former husband. I understand he feuded with Ms. Reyes.”
    I recalled the advice that Bolin Swann had once given me. “Never lie to the police, but don`t volunteer anything.”
    I shrugged. “Sorry. Gabriel Mann is a stranger to me. Has been for a decade. Come to think of it, I didn`t even know him when we were married.”
    “Well,” Keegan said. “You must know something. Most ex-wives would kill for this chance. I know mine would.”
    That didn`t surprise me one bit. Given his sexist comments, Keegan probably left a string of angry women in his wake.
    “I know all about their rivalry,” Keegan said. “Social media, you know. Cops use it too.” He sighed. “These academics fight over the damnedest things.”
    “Tenure is a very big deal,” I said. “Money, prestige, advancement.”
    “Sounds like a motive for murder to me.” He showed a set of exceptionally large teeth with a predatory mien.
    I had a sharp, sudden aha moment. He`d won the first skirmish in our battle of wills. Round one to Keegan.
    “Dr. Paskert is around here somewhere. He knows what the score is. After all, he`s the boss. However, in my experience Gabriel was not the violent type. He used other means to get what he wanted.”
    Keegan got all wide-eyed. “Hmm. Seducing the opposition, perhaps? Maybe he used his wife to eliminate the competition? Works for me. Nice and tidy, two for one.” He rose and loomed over me. “You`ve been very helpful, Mrs. Swann. You`re free to go now.”
    THE MOMENT I shut the door, Deming and Anika swarmed me.
    “Don`t say another word,” Deming hissed. “Just keep on moving.”
    For once I didn`t argue. My brief encounter with the lieutenant had spooked me. Who knew what tricks he`d use on Gabriel? No doubt about it—Keegan was wily, and that made him dangerous.
    “Is your dad still here?” I asked.
    “He walked Sonia to her car,” Anika said. “Mr. Yeagan will take her home.”
    We exchanged glances but kept our thoughts to ourselves. For an avowed feminist and strident activist, Sonia certainly knew how to handle men. Lookism aside, she used her beauty to great advantage.
    I expected the lobby to be jammed, but the throng had dissipated, leaving only a few posters and some stragglers from the Bella Brigade. In a jarring note, yellow crime scene tape cut a swath across the ladies’ room area.
    “Is she . . . have they moved her yet?” I asked Deming.
    He nodded and put his arm around me. “The coroner’s van just left. Come on. Let`s go home, Eja. We`ll talk it over there.”
    Right on cue, the Bentley pulled up to the curb.
    “Bolin texted me,” Anika said. “He`ll be here awhile. Po will drop us off and go back for him later.”
    My limbs felt as stiff as a marionette’s. I stepped gingerly into the Bentley and snuggled next to Deming.
    “Feeling sad?” Deming asked. “You`re a pro at this by now.”
    I couldn`t explain it. Duff Ryder was a virtual stranger, but I felt an almost primal grief for the ungainly young woman whose life had been snuffed out. I`m a writer and a damned good one. Maybe I could pierce the veil of anonymity around her life and give her death some visibility. I shuddered to think about one of those bland, featureless obituaries that so often