“It’s hard,” Bennie blurted out, surprised to hear the words coming out of her own mouth. “It took me so long to get attached. I’m attached.”
“She’s not a puppy, babe.”
“I know, but I’m worried about her. She won’t have anybody if Carrier stays with me. She’ll be completely on her own.”
“Didn’t I just hear you pitch Judy to stay with you?” Declan smiled slightly, his crow’s-feet crinkling with amusement.
“I know.” Bennie hit Refresh, and suddenly the screen changed, to a video feed in front of the Roundhouse. A new headline readMan Questioned in Stabbing Death. “Look, something’s happening!”
“What?” Declan got up and came around Bennie’s other side, watching the laptop over her shoulder.
“There’s video!” Bennie clicked to play the video, whichshowed a man being escorted into the revolving doors at the Roundhouse, which was the police administration building.
The voiceover said: “Police have brought in for questioning an unidentified male in connection with the death of Todd Eddington, the Horsham man found stabbed to death today. Authorities have not yet identified the man, who has not been arrested for the crime. He is considered a person of interest…”
Bennie eyed the man. “I wonder who he is.”
“That’sthe perp? What is this, chess club?” Declan snorted, but Bennie fixated on the screen as the video showed the man disappearing inside the building, followed by a small woman whom she recognized instantly.
“That’sMary!” Bennie hit the button to freeze the video.
“Your partner?” Declan asked, incredulous.
“Yes!” Bennie rewound the video and played it over again, confirming her identification. She felt a bolt of surprise when she put two and two together. “The person of interest must be Simon!”
“Oh, whoa.” Declan grimaced. “So the cops think Simon killed Eddington? Damn. Now that makes sense.”
Bennie found herself on her feet. “Why? What would make you say that? You don’t know any of these people.”
“Common sense.” Declan shrugged. “Eddington fired Simon. And when Simon sued him for it, Eddington sued him back. That’s motive.”
“Poor Mary.” Bennie edged backwards, suddenly restless. “I need to get back to the city. She’s got a murder case on her hands. She hasn’t done that many of them.”
“Hold on. Think this through.” Declan rose, holding up a hand. “Like I just said, she’s not your problem. She’s a lawyer. She knows what she’s doing. Let her do it.”
“I can help. I’ll be backup, I won’t interfere, just let her know I’m there if she needs me. It’s not like we’re in conflict anymore.This isn’t a civil case, and Dumbarton isn’t on the other side. The Commonwealth is.”
“I know. But that’s not your problem.” Declan came toward her, touching her arm. “Babe. You can stay here. Relax for the weekend.”
“She’s got a tiger by the tail.”
“She didn’t call you.”
“She probably didn’t feel she could. Or she didn’t have the time.” Bennie thought a minute. “Just like you, when you offered me the loan. I didn’t ask for it, but you offered it. That was just kind. I appreciate that. I want to be kind to Mary. If she needs me, I’ll be there. I have to go.”
Declan sighed. “Okay. I understand. Good thing we had sex first.”
Bennie burst into laughter and gave him a big hug and a kiss. “I agree,” she said, meaning it.
“Take your veggie burger,” Declan said, kissing her again.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mary followed the detectives, the remaining cops, and Simon, bringing up the rear as the group funneled into the narrow corridor that led to the Homicide Division. She knew she was taking a backseat but it was only for the time being. She would assert herself when it counted, once they got inside the squad room. She wasn’t the most experienced criminal defense attorney in the world, but she’d been involved in one or two murder cases, even one recently. She was no Bennie Rosato, but she could get the job done. She hoped.
She hurried down the corridor, which curved because the Roundhouse was three round sections put together, the source of its nickname. She was no longer surprised by the poor condition of the building: Fluorescent lights flickered, greenish floor tiles were grimy and broken, and the walls were of cheap paneling, circa 1960s. They passed the bathroom on the right, its door propped open by a trash can, and it smelled as bad as she remembered from last time. Every year, politicians talked about moving the department to a nicer building but it never happened, and Mary suspected the police needed a better lawyer. She would do it for free, for the public servants who kept her hometown safe.
The group reached the end of the hallway and went through a secured door next to a plaque that read simplyHOMICIDE,then filled up the tiny entrance lobby, lined with rubbery black seats and wanted posters. Beyond the reception area was a front desk and a bustling, if cramped, squad room.
