I’d missed the introductions, I wasn’t sure exactly what her role was, but I assumed she was another detective.
“Then why did you talk to your campus police about how to file a restraining order? And why didn’t you tell us this when we first talked to you?”
Summer gathered her long red hair, pulled it over one shoulder, and leaned forward. “Look, the guy was getting to be a nuisance. He asked me out. I said no, but then he kept on asking. I found out what my options were. I didn’t tell you earlier because I didn’t know who had died. You only wanted to know where I was on Monday afternoon. You didn’t mention his name.”
I felt myself go very still as I thought back over my conversation with Summer. She had known the name of the man who died. At least, she had when we talked. Why was she lying now? Why had she held back before? Was she afraid of the police?
“And why didn’t you file a restraining order?” Brown didn’t seem to be aware of the other detective moving around the room, but it bugged me. Her light brown hair was pulled off her puffy face into a ponytail. Her slightly uneven bangs were plastered to her forehead. I watched her as she strolled around the studio apartment like she was browsing in a store, but the gaze from her small, closely spaced eyes roved over everything.
Everything Summer owned was out there in the open. Was the detective seeing anything she shouldn’t? I gave myself a mental shake. Of course the detectives could look around all they wanted. Summer had nothing to hide.
“After I found out how involved the whole process was I decided I’d just talk to him. It worked. He left me alone after that,” Summer said.
“So you threatened him.”
Summer sat up straight and assumed a rather haughty air. “No. I did not threaten him. I told him to stop asking me out, to stop watching my house, to leave me alone or I’d have to go to court.”
Brown jumped on her slip. “So he was watching your house, too? How often? Did you record the dates he was here?”
“No. At that point, I didn’t realize how persistent he was going to be. I didn’t know I needed to write stuff like that down. Are we through here?”
“Not quite.” Brown turned to me as he flipped though his notebook. When he looked up, his gray eyes were cold as they focused on me. “Mrs. Avery. You were in the Metro station that afternoon as well.”
Surprised, I choked on another swallow of water. “Yes, I talked to the police Monday. They took everyone’s contact information.”
“And were you aware of your sister-in-law’s conflict with Mr. Dominguez?” His jowls vibrated a bit as he tossed his head in Summer’s direction.
I didn’t like the turn his questions had taken. “No, I didn’t even know she knew him. I didn’t know who he was.”
“I see.” His tone clearly said he didn’t believe me.
“You’d been in touch with your sister-in-law before you arrived here?”
“Of course. We talked about getting together while we were in town.”
The female detective made another loop of the room. For some reason, her slow, silent circuits made me think of a shark. I felt a prickle of sweat break out at my armpits. I tried to push my nervousness down.
Summer said, “You can’t be serious. There’s no way we’d do what you’re insinuating.”
Brown ignored her indignant voice and kept his monotone as he turned back to her. “We’re not insinuating anything, just confirming information. Where were you Monday afternoon between three and five?”
I could tell Summer relaxed just a bit, because her foot stopped swinging so frantically. “Back to that again? I was right here, babysitting the Archer’s daughter at their house. And before you ask again , I didn’t make any phone calls or talk to any of the neighbors.”
“Then why was your Metro card used at four-oh-five in the afternoon at the Metro station where Mr. Dominguez died?”
“What?” All the hauteur went out of
“Then why did you talk to your campus police about how to file a restraining order? And why didn’t you tell us this when we first talked to you?”
Summer gathered her long red hair, pulled it over one shoulder, and leaned forward. “Look, the guy was getting to be a nuisance. He asked me out. I said no, but then he kept on asking. I found out what my options were. I didn’t tell you earlier because I didn’t know who had died. You only wanted to know where I was on Monday afternoon. You didn’t mention his name.”
I felt myself go very still as I thought back over my conversation with Summer. She had known the name of the man who died. At least, she had when we talked. Why was she lying now? Why had she held back before? Was she afraid of the police?
“And why didn’t you file a restraining order?” Brown didn’t seem to be aware of the other detective moving around the room, but it bugged me. Her light brown hair was pulled off her puffy face into a ponytail. Her slightly uneven bangs were plastered to her forehead. I watched her as she strolled around the studio apartment like she was browsing in a store, but the gaze from her small, closely spaced eyes roved over everything.
Everything Summer owned was out there in the open. Was the detective seeing anything she shouldn’t? I gave myself a mental shake. Of course the detectives could look around all they wanted. Summer had nothing to hide.
“After I found out how involved the whole process was I decided I’d just talk to him. It worked. He left me alone after that,” Summer said.
“So you threatened him.”
Summer sat up straight and assumed a rather haughty air. “No. I did not threaten him. I told him to stop asking me out, to stop watching my house, to leave me alone or I’d have to go to court.”
Brown jumped on her slip. “So he was watching your house, too? How often? Did you record the dates he was here?”
“No. At that point, I didn’t realize how persistent he was going to be. I didn’t know I needed to write stuff like that down. Are we through here?”
“Not quite.” Brown turned to me as he flipped though his notebook. When he looked up, his gray eyes were cold as they focused on me. “Mrs. Avery. You were in the Metro station that afternoon as well.”
Surprised, I choked on another swallow of water. “Yes, I talked to the police Monday. They took everyone’s contact information.”
“And were you aware of your sister-in-law’s conflict with Mr. Dominguez?” His jowls vibrated a bit as he tossed his head in Summer’s direction.
I didn’t like the turn his questions had taken. “No, I didn’t even know she knew him. I didn’t know who he was.”
“I see.” His tone clearly said he didn’t believe me.
“You’d been in touch with your sister-in-law before you arrived here?”
“Of course. We talked about getting together while we were in town.”
The female detective made another loop of the room. For some reason, her slow, silent circuits made me think of a shark. I felt a prickle of sweat break out at my armpits. I tried to push my nervousness down.
Summer said, “You can’t be serious. There’s no way we’d do what you’re insinuating.”
Brown ignored her indignant voice and kept his monotone as he turned back to her. “We’re not insinuating anything, just confirming information. Where were you Monday afternoon between three and five?”
I could tell Summer relaxed just a bit, because her foot stopped swinging so frantically. “Back to that again? I was right here, babysitting the Archer’s daughter at their house. And before you ask again , I didn’t make any phone calls or talk to any of the neighbors.”
“Then why was your Metro card used at four-oh-five in the afternoon at the Metro station where Mr. Dominguez died?”
“What?” All the hauteur went out of
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