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“I don’t have time to sit down to a fancy dinner.”
“We’re getting it delivered.”
“Oh.” She angled her head. “Good idea.”
Chapter 23
Naturally he ordered enough for everybody, but Eve couldn’t complain since she was stuffing rosemary chicken in her mouth while she stood in Observation.
“I can’t believe he didn’t lawyer up yet.” Peabody scooped up a fingerling potato.
“He’s too pissed for a lawyer—yet. And he needs to prove he’s in power. He’s Joel fucking Steinburger. He’s still thinking of spin, too, I bet. Let’s take Valerie first, let him soak in it a little longer.”
“She’s scared,” Peabody told Eve. “The uniforms said she shook all the way here when they picked her up on Accessory. And cried all the way through booking.”
“Then we’ve primed the pump.”
Tears began to trickle down Valerie’s cheeks the minute Eve and Peabody walked into the interview room.
“Please, you’ve made a terrible mistake. This could ruin my career.”
“Gee, I bet K.T. felt the same way when you and Steinburger killed her.”
“What are you talking about! We did no such thing. I’m getting a lawyer.”
“Okay.” Shrugging, Eve rose again. “That’s going to take a few hours, given the time. Peabody, take Valerie back to a holding cell.”
“No! No!” As if to anchor herself in place, Valerie gripped the table. “Don’t put me in there again.”
“That’s where you wait until your lawyer clears. Meanwhile we’ll be talking to Steinburger. I’m sure he’ll have fascinating things to say about you.”
“This is crazy! I haven’t done anything.”
“Sorry, we can’t talk to you once you’ve requested a lawyer until your lawyer is present. Peabody.”
“No! I’m not going back in that cell. I’ll talk to you now.”
“You are waiving your right to a lawyer?”
“Yes. Yes. Let’s just get this straightened out.”
“Who left the theater on the night of K.T. Harris’s death?”
“K.T.” Valerie hunched her shoulders, gripped her forearms. “I saw her go out as soon as the houselights dimmed. Julian went out a few minutes later. I’m not sure how long, but a few minutes. And then, well, a few minutes later, Joel went out.”
“Anyone else?”
“Yes. Connie went out the side door. I only noticed because I was going to move over to her, ask her some questions about the buffet, for a story. But she slipped out even before K.T. And—and Nadine Furst, she went out. That was after everyone else.”
“Now try reverse. Who came back?”
“Connie, but close to the end of the show. And Nadine. I don’t think she was gone long. Ten or fifteen minutes, maybe. I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Keep going.”
“K.T. and Julian didn’t come back, but Joel did. He was only gone a little while. Fifteen minutes, maybe. Not much longer than that. But I’m not sure. Honestly, I was getting some work done. That’s the truth.”
“Why didn’t you give us this information before?”
