Mac.” Theirs was a his-and-her answering machine household.
“Who?” he asked as he emptied the bags.
“A Detective Eikenberg. Actually, the message was more for me. She wants to interview me regarding Pauline’s murder.”
“Why you?”
“Go listen.”
He went to the study, and hit Play. It rewound, then Darcy Eikenberg’s voice came smoothly from the small speaker like an all-night disk jockey playing “Misty.”
This is Darcy Eikenberg, Professor Smith. Seeing you today brought back fond memories, reminded me how much I’d learned from you. At any rate, I understand your wife was present at the board meeting of the National Building Museum the night Pauline Juris was murdered. I would like an opportunity to speak with her as soon as possible, and for you to be present as well, if that doesn’t pose too much of an inconvenience. Again, it was wonderful seeing you
.
She left the number of her direct MPD line.
Annabel entered the study as Mac was resetting the machine. “Routine,” he said. “They’ll interview everyone who knew her.”
“Of course. What did she mean, ‘fond memories’?”
Smith laughed. “She was at Wendell’s this afternoon questioning him. I had her in a class not long ago. She’s close to her doctorate in urban studies, or something like that. And I caught a lecture she gave at the university on forensic police techniques.”
“You didn’t tell me about that,” Annabel said.
“Nothing to tell,” Smith replied. “When do you want to get together with her?”
“Whenever.”
“I suggest you do it quickly, get it over with. Call her back.”
“I thought you might want to do that. She made a point of wanting you present.”
“Can’t imagine why, but okay. What’s good for you?”
“I have to be at the gallery late afternoon tomorrow. Any time before that will be fine. How did it go with Wendell?”
“He’s upset, of course. Maybe that’s not the right word. He’s concerned what kind of impact Pauline’s murder will have on him. Maybe the family.”
“That sounds cold.”
“Probably sounds colder than he means it to be. He hinted that all isn’t exactly pure romance with him and Marilyn.”
Annabel said over her shoulder as she headed for the kitchen, “I sensed that the first time I met them. He’s a cold man who tries to be warm. Wants to be diplomatic, but being blunt comes easier.”
Smith followed. “Pauline was killed with a blunt instrument,” he said.
“The detective told you that?”
“Yeah. Wendell’s a prime suspect, of course. Can’t go out of town without prior notification to the police.”
Annabel began unwrapping the packages Smith had brought from the market. “What do you think she’ll ask me?”
“The detective? What you might have observed the night of the board meeting. Did you notice anything unusual with Pauline?”
“No. She was businesslike as usual. And pleasant.”
“Seem upset about anything?”
“No.”
“She say anything to anyone that might …?”
“Mac, I appreciate being prepped, but it gives me the chills.”
“Sorry. Force of habit.” He laughed. “I did the same thing with Darcy, asked a lot of questions. She didn’t appreciate it, either.”
They enjoyed a quiet dinner. During it, Mac fell into a prolonged silence. “Something wrong?” Annabel asked.
“I was thinking of that kid who drowned up at the falls. It keeps coming back to me like an out-of-control VCR. Actually, when I see that little child down there in the water, I think of Geof.” Geof was Mac’s son who died at the hand of a drunken driver.
When her husband slipped into that dark mode, Annabel knew there was nothing she could say or do to help it pass. It simply would, and did, a few minutes later.
Dinner dishes cleared, they settled in for an evening of reading. First, Mac said, “Want me to call now and set up an appointment? She might still be at MPD.”
“Sure.”
Eikenberg answered on the first
“Who?” he asked as he emptied the bags.
“A Detective Eikenberg. Actually, the message was more for me. She wants to interview me regarding Pauline’s murder.”
“Why you?”
“Go listen.”
He went to the study, and hit Play. It rewound, then Darcy Eikenberg’s voice came smoothly from the small speaker like an all-night disk jockey playing “Misty.”
This is Darcy Eikenberg, Professor Smith. Seeing you today brought back fond memories, reminded me how much I’d learned from you. At any rate, I understand your wife was present at the board meeting of the National Building Museum the night Pauline Juris was murdered. I would like an opportunity to speak with her as soon as possible, and for you to be present as well, if that doesn’t pose too much of an inconvenience. Again, it was wonderful seeing you
.
She left the number of her direct MPD line.
Annabel entered the study as Mac was resetting the machine. “Routine,” he said. “They’ll interview everyone who knew her.”
“Of course. What did she mean, ‘fond memories’?”
Smith laughed. “She was at Wendell’s this afternoon questioning him. I had her in a class not long ago. She’s close to her doctorate in urban studies, or something like that. And I caught a lecture she gave at the university on forensic police techniques.”
“You didn’t tell me about that,” Annabel said.
“Nothing to tell,” Smith replied. “When do you want to get together with her?”
“Whenever.”
“I suggest you do it quickly, get it over with. Call her back.”
“I thought you might want to do that. She made a point of wanting you present.”
“Can’t imagine why, but okay. What’s good for you?”
“I have to be at the gallery late afternoon tomorrow. Any time before that will be fine. How did it go with Wendell?”
“He’s upset, of course. Maybe that’s not the right word. He’s concerned what kind of impact Pauline’s murder will have on him. Maybe the family.”
“That sounds cold.”
“Probably sounds colder than he means it to be. He hinted that all isn’t exactly pure romance with him and Marilyn.”
Annabel said over her shoulder as she headed for the kitchen, “I sensed that the first time I met them. He’s a cold man who tries to be warm. Wants to be diplomatic, but being blunt comes easier.”
Smith followed. “Pauline was killed with a blunt instrument,” he said.
“The detective told you that?”
“Yeah. Wendell’s a prime suspect, of course. Can’t go out of town without prior notification to the police.”
Annabel began unwrapping the packages Smith had brought from the market. “What do you think she’ll ask me?”
“The detective? What you might have observed the night of the board meeting. Did you notice anything unusual with Pauline?”
“No. She was businesslike as usual. And pleasant.”
“Seem upset about anything?”
“No.”
“She say anything to anyone that might …?”
“Mac, I appreciate being prepped, but it gives me the chills.”
“Sorry. Force of habit.” He laughed. “I did the same thing with Darcy, asked a lot of questions. She didn’t appreciate it, either.”
They enjoyed a quiet dinner. During it, Mac fell into a prolonged silence. “Something wrong?” Annabel asked.
“I was thinking of that kid who drowned up at the falls. It keeps coming back to me like an out-of-control VCR. Actually, when I see that little child down there in the water, I think of Geof.” Geof was Mac’s son who died at the hand of a drunken driver.
When her husband slipped into that dark mode, Annabel knew there was nothing she could say or do to help it pass. It simply would, and did, a few minutes later.
Dinner dishes cleared, they settled in for an evening of reading. First, Mac said, “Want me to call now and set up an appointment? She might still be at MPD.”
“Sure.”
Eikenberg answered on the first
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