Odd detail to notice, Romana commented.
Im a details kind of guy.
If his lopsided grin was intended to charm, the attempt fell flat, as he likely would when he tried to stand. Romana didnt envy Fitz the remainder of her date.
Abandoning pretense, Patrick ditched his cup and drank from the thermos.
Romana waited until he lowered it to remark, You wanted her to come on to you, didnt you?
Patrick stared at the pond where two dozen kids ranging from five to fifteen years of age struggled to glide, twirl and hop in full costume. What I wanted wasnt something I shared with Belinda. I told myself Id wait. I never believed shed last with Critch. He was possessive and gruff and, from what Id seen, potentially violent. He had a tendency to freak whenever he caught her talking to another man. I figured when the marriage ended, shed need a friend, and there Id be.
A friend whod segue into a lover.
We all have our pipe dreams, Romana. Mine died with Belinda six Christmases ago. If Knight didnt kill her, maybe Warren did. But like I said, I lean toward Knight.
Because they argued.
He hitched an irritable shoulder. Well, its really more because of what she said afterward.
A light shiver chased itself across Romanas skin. Which was
He swung the now-empty thermos by its silver neck. This wasnt part of our personal conversation. I heard her on the phone in the staff lounge. She sounded halfway to hysterical. She said shed just had lunch with Jacob Knight.
Thats not news, Patrick. Jacob admitted in court
He halted her with a raised finger. Not done yet, former Officer Grey. Belinda stated very clearly that she was frightened for her life. She said she wouldnt have thought it possible, but Jacob Knight really did want her dead.
YOU PRETEND TO RIDE THE ostrich, Broderick, you dont drag it around like a bag of trash. Play the game, young man, or therell be no trip to Disney World this spring.
While Jacob observed the exchange from the guardrail, James Barret straightened from his crouch, snicked his elegant coat cuffs back in place and gave the back of an eight-year-old boys head a light tap.
Go. Cooperate. Act like a godson I can be proud of. When the boy slumped off, he gave his head a rueful shake. That one has delinquent written all over him. Without turning, he raised his voice. What do you think, Detective Knight? Will you be arresting him in ten years time?
Go. Cooperate. Act like a godson I can be proud of. When the boy slumped off, he gave his head a rueful shake. That one has delinquent written all over him. Without turning, he raised his voice. What do you think, Detective Knight? Will you be arresting him in ten years time?
Interesting that Barret would recognize him. Unfazed, Jacob went with the question. I doubt it.
You cant deny he has an attitude.
But no venom. Hes dragging his feet, not using them to kick anyone.
Barret flashed neon-white teeth and twitched his cuffs again. Ill have to trust you there. Hes the son of my wifes best friend. My wife wanted to be a godparent, and what Shera wants, Shera usually manages to get.
Had Shera wanted Belinda Critch dead? Jacob set the question aside as Barret extended a well-manicured hand.
You were questioned during the investigation into Belinda Critchs death, he noted. How did you know her?
Fitz appeared at Barrets side and slid her arm through his. James makes a point of knowing everyone and everything that matters. I thought you two might need an introduction, so I came back. Guess I neednt have bothered.
You neednt have, Barret agreed, but Im glad you did. Fitz can liven up even the most awkward conversation, Detective.
Jacob regarded him without emotion. Are we having an awkward conversation?
If you came here tonight to ask me about Belinda Critch, then, yes, we are.
You knew her personally?
I did.
Fitz glanced from one to the other. Uh, listen, guys, this probably isnt the best place to
How well?
Thats a very broad question, Detective.
Barrets practiced smile had a snap far more vicious than the wind that slapped at their cheeks. Because he relished a challenge, Jacob let his anticipation rise and his own eyes gleam.
Ill rephrase. Did you have an affair with her?
Whoa-hi-now thats a loaded question, Jacob. He felt his own arm being snagged and squeezed as Romana added through her teeth, Mayors a good friend of his, Knight. She offered a smile that would have bewitched a corpse. Hello, Mr. Barret. Im Fitzs cousin, Romana Grey. We met a few years ago at a university alumni dinner.
Met and danced. I remember the event very well. He took her free hand, didnt raise it to his lips as Jacob had expected, but held on and transferred his full attention to her. Youre even more beautiful than I remembered.
Fitz craned her neck to peer across the pond. Wheres Patrick, Ro? You promised to, uh-keep him company for a while.
He drank too much hot cocoa and fell asleep. I buttoned his coat and stuck a pair of earmuffs on his head. But you should probably check on him. The winds a bit nasty tonight.
Among other things, Jacob reflected.
Fitz fluttered at Barret. Guess Ill go, then. She gave Romanas hip a swat in passing. Call me, she said in an undertone.
If I survive. Romana squared up, refocused. You know, you two, this really isnt the place
But Barret brushed aside her objection. Its as good a place as any. I have no idea why my godsons riding a wooden ostrich in this pageant and no particular desire to watch him do it.
She sighed. Doesnt anyone but me know about the Island of Misfit Toys?
Because Barret still hadnt answered his question and likely wouldnt head-on, Jacob opted for a roundabout approach. How did you meet Belinda?
Barrets eyes, already cool, iced over. I could tell you its none of your business. Unfortunately, in my experience that response seldom works with the police. Its a matter of record that we met at a New Years Eve party nine years ago.
Before Jacob could counter, Romana reaffixed her dazzling smile. I love New Years Eve. Its such an uninhibited night. Was Belindas husband at the party?
Surprisingly, some of the ice in Barrets eyes melted. No, he wasnt. I cant tell you why. What I can say is that she never mentioned a husband while she was coming on to me. Sorry to sound crass, but thats what she did for the first part of the night.
Where was the party? Jacob asked.
Also a matter of record, Detective Knight. It unfolded at Gilhoolies Pub, and before you make a snide remark about the earthy nature of the venue, Ill remind you that Im a self-made man whose father traveled from Galway to America at the age of fifteen and worked in a Portland, Maine, fish processing plant for much of his life. As a teenager, I worked hard alongside him.
Romana gave Jacobs ankle a kick before venturing a pleasant, How on earth did you go from processing fish in Maine to making furniture in Ohio?
Barrets eyes glinted. My father, bless his whiskey-soaked soul, met a man very similar to him in a bar. His name was Ben Brown. Ben had an idea, and my dad had every dollar hed saved since arriving on these shores. I was nineteen at the time and more than ready to leave the smell of fish behind. We formed a three-way partnership. My father passed on three years into the deal, leaving Ben and me to build on the framework of our infant business venture. We built well. Our partnership held fast until Ben died six years ago.
The same year Belinda Critch died. And under somewhat questionable circumstances. Jacobs prod was deliberate. It earned him another kick from Romana and a cool arch of Barrets left eyebrow.
Did I mention, Detective, that I wasnt the only man Belinda came on to that cold New Years Eve?
You havent mentioned much at all-about that night or any other. Jacob ignored Romanas hissed, Mayors your boss, Knight, and countered Barrets visual dagger with a level one of his own. Ive read the police report on Belindas death. Details are sketchy in several areas. Yours is one of them.
Possibly because I was never a viable suspect. I cooperated with your department in as much as I was required to. However- Barret revved up the false smile again and gave his right cuff another vicious snick -if its details you want, I can give you one I neglected to pass on to any of the officers I encountered.
Not going to be good, Romana predicted from Jacobs side.
Is this detail connected to Belindas death?
Your call, Knight. Im sure you know that off-duty police officers frequently stop by Gilhoolies for an after-shift drink. The pubs divided into two sections-public front, private back. On that particular New Years Eve, about seventy of us were partying it up in a back room that was as tight for space as the sardine cans my father and I used to stuff. It was approaching midnight, and I needed air to counteract Gilhoolies special blend of whiskey. I stepped into the front of the pub and immediately spotted a group of off-duty officers. I also spotted Belinda. She was wrapped around a guy with curly brown hair who had cop written all over him. Now the guy might have been wearing a wedding ring, but Ill tell you this for nothing. From my vantage point, he wasnt using it to fend her off.
Although Jacob maintained his neutral expression, he sensed where this was heading. Still, he shrugged. Spit it out, Barret. I dont shock as easily as you might think.
Cops name was Michael OKeefe, Barret obliged. Married for ten years, I discovered later. One kid. Impeccable record on the force. Apparently, not quite so impeccable on his own time. His eyes glittered, steely-blue. I saw your partner slip the publican a C-note, Knight, then watched him fumble his way toward the upstairs rooms in the company of one very drunk, very married Belinda Critch.
Chapter Five
Hes lying. Romana tried to sound adamant but knew she fell short. Even if he was having problems at home, OKeefe wouldnt have had sex with a married woman. She slanted Jacob a mistrustful look. Unless you introduced him to Belinda Critch before that New Years Eve party, so she wasnt a complete stranger to him.