Mary interrupted, “Detective Krakoff, none of this makes any sense. I was told that John was killed in the course of a burglary.”
“No, that’s incorrect.”
“But that was what Detective Azzic told me last night.”
“He was mistaken.”
“He heard it directly from you.”
“He did.” Detective Krakoff didn’t blink. “But I didn’t confirm or deny to you last night, if you recall. Before your contractions, that is.”
Mary let it go. “Why did you tell him that, if it wasn’t true?”
“We may have believed that initially, given the signs of struggle and the disappearance of the victim’s electronics. But there was no sign of forced entry, so that didn’t square.”
“I see.” Mary found herself wondering instead if Detective Krakoff had misled Detective Azzic, playing close to the vest with his investigation, which seemed likelier. If so, Detective Krakoff was no pushover.
“As I was saying, I don’t have the authority to offer your client a deal, but we can informally explore—”
Mary interrupted again, “And as I was saying, I’d like to hear the facts that you found. That was the question I asked you, and I reiterate that my client is completely innocent of John’s murder. Otherwise we’ll just end the interview.” Mary fake-reached for her purse. “We were at work today and we have a major case to prepare for.”
“Fine.” Detective Krakoff pursed his thin lips. “The medical examiner has performed his autopsy and placed the time of death as between nine o’clock and eleven o’clock last night. We know, Ms. Carrier, that you were the victim’s girlfriend and that you were at his apartment at that time last night, engaged in a quarrel.”
Mary controlled her expression, though she felt fear bolt through her. “What evidence do you have for that?”
“The next-door neighbor heard arguing in the apartment for much of Friday night and into Saturday, up to and including the relevant time period. She was able to identify Ms. Carrier’s voice as the one she heard, and she identified her as the victim’s girlfriend.”
Mary felt her heart sink, but didn’t let it show.
“Emergency dispatch received a call from another neighbor at nine fifteen concerning arguing in the apartment. She lives across the back and she saw Ms. Carrier and the victim arguing in the apartment, though it was too far to hear them. She worried because she has a personal history of domestic abuse by an ex-boyfriend. She said she felt ‘triggered’”—Detective Krakoff made air quotes—“and suspected it may have been a domestic dispute. She identified the woman in the apartment as Ms. Carrier. In addition, there was a dog barking constantly in the victim’s backyard on Friday night, which annoyed her. She works at home, a website designer.”
Mary took mental notes, since he was filling in the gaps in her information. So the detectives had an eyewitness and an earwitness, which was substantial evidence.
“Although emergency dispatch got the call at nine fifteen, an officer was not dispatched to the scene until later. As you may have heard, there was a double homicide in the Northeast last night, which drew uniformed resources. So it wasn’t until 11:16P.M.that a patrol officer went to the domicile and discovered the victim, who was deceased.”
Mary kept her game face on, and so did Judy.
“The facts lead us to believe that the victim was killed by someone he knew, someone he felt free admitting to his apartment, or even had her own key, like a girlfriend.” Detective Krakoff glanced at Judy. “The medical examiner confirmed that the victim was killed by blunt force trauma to the back of the head. There was a heavy Luxor lamp on his desk, and the killer used its base. We believe it was opportunistic. Somebodylost her temper, like a girlfriend in a fit of anger.” Detective Krakoff eyed Judy hard. “That’s why we brought you in for the interview.”
Mary bore down, setting her emotions aside. “Detective, my client had nothing to do with any of that, even assuming that scenario, which I might add, involves a great amount of speculation.”
“Ms. DiNunzio, these are facts, not speculation. We find the facts and we follow where they lead, and in this case, they lead to your client.” Detective Krakoff spread his palms. “As I mentioned to you, we have seen the videotape of the press conference. We know about the reverse-discrimination lawsuit that was filed against your firm. It quotes the victim stating a position contrary to the interests of the firm’s partners, of which Ms. Carrier is one. We believe that the fight that night concerned the victim’s statements in the Complaint and at the press conference. I think we can prove that, if we have to.”
Mary said nothing but told herself to stay the course, since she had answers to the questions. It wasn’t a great picture for the defense, but it was hardly airtight on the part of any prosecution.
“I know you haven’t spoken with the assistant district attorney yet, and I’m talking out of school, but I bet that he’d make Ms. Carrier a reasonable deal. She could plead out and get fifteen years.”
Mary masked her fear. It terrified her to think of Judy spending even a moment in prison. She felt herself break a sweat, not daring to look over at Judy. “My client has nothing to confess. She’s completely innocent, as she told you.”
“What about the videotape of her on the victim’s street?”
“The fact that you think you captured her on film doesn’t prove that it was her. Plus Old City is a busy neighborhood, especially on a Saturday night. There’s tourists, restaurants, bars, and clubs. It could’ve been anybody on the videotape, includinga burglar whom John may have admitted, mistakenly.” Mary kept going, wanting to make him doubt his own conclusion, so they didn’t bring any charges against Judy. “Are there traffic cameras on both ends of the street? I don’t recall that there’s an intersection at the other end.”
“We’re checking into the other video cameras.”
“Then you jumped the gun, obviously. If you don’t have a camera at that end of the street, that leaves open the possibility that the killer could’ve come in by the other end of the street. There’s a myriad of other possibilities.”
“Like what?” Detective Krakoff’s eyes narrowed.
