“Of course he was,” Ewing answered before Malcolm could speak.“He’s the head of security.But he was monitoring the main entrance, far from the soundstage where the event took place.Multiple security staff can confirm his whereabouts throughout the evening.”
Hayes pushed off from the wall, stepping closer to the table.“Mr.Hartley, we’re currently searching your office.We’ll be obtaining warrants for your residence and electronic devices as well.Is there anything you’d like to tell us before we find it ourselves?”
Malcolm paled slightly, his eyes darting to Ewing.The lawyer placed a hand on his client’s shoulder.“Detective Hayes, unless you’re formally charging my client, this interview is over.Mr.Hartley has cooperated fully, explained the context of the photographs in his office, and provided information about his past interactions with the victim.Without specific evidence linking him to the crime, continued questioning constitutes harassment.”
Hayes and Ewing locked eyes in a silent battle of wills.Finally, Hayes said, “We’ll take a break here.”He called out, “Officer,” and the door opened to reveal a uniformed policeman, “Please escort Mr.Hartley back to holding.”
“This is outrageous,” Ewing protested, rising to his feet.“My client has not been charged with any crime.You can’t continue to detain him without cause.”
“We can hold him for 48 hours,” Hayes countered calmly.“And given that he fled from federal agents, we have cause.”
As Malcolm was led from the room, Ewing gathered his leather portfolio and straightened his tie.“I’ll be filing a formal complaint about this treatment.And when my client is eventually released—which he will be, as you have no actual evidence against him—we’ll be discussing civil action for wrongful detention and defamation.”
With that parting shot, he strode from the room, leaving Riley, Ann Marie, and Hayes alone in the suddenly quiet space.
Hayes dropped into the chair Ewing had vacated, running a hand over his face.“Well, that was illuminating, if not entirely productive.”
“I disagree,” Riley said.“We learned quite a bit about Malcolm’s reason for hating Veronica.”
“And that gives him motive for murder,” Hayes pointed out.
“It does.But something doesn’t quite fit.”
Hayes looked at her with surprise.“Seriously?The guy had a shrine of mutilated photos of the victim, a decade-long grudge against her for destroying his career, and he ran when we tried to question him.What part of that doesn’t scream ‘guilty’ to you?”
“The part where he’d wait ten years to kill her,” Riley replied.“And the method.Poisoning her during a public event, in a setting that recreates her mother’s famous death scene?That’s incredibly specific and theatrical.It doesn’t align with Malcolm’s grudge, which was academic and personal.”
“So what are you saying?”Hayes asked, frustration evident in his voice.
“Malcolm Hartley is definitely hiding something.But I’m not convinced that ‘something’ is Veronica’s murder.”
Ann Marie added.“The searches of his home and computer should tell us more.If he’s our killer, there will be evidence of planning, research into poisons, something concrete.”
Hayes sighed.“Fine.I’ll let you know what the searches turn up.In the meantime, what’s your next move?”
Riley stood, gathering her notes.“We need to find out more about Roberta Rimes.If Veronica was willing to destroy a man’s career to keep her testimony secret, it might be the key to something we’re missing.”
Ann Marie followed Riley’s lead, rising from her chair.“Thank you for your help, Detective.We’ll be in touch.”
Outside the police station, the two BAU agents moved away from the building.
“There’s a café about a block from here,” Riley said.“Let’s regroup there.Maybe we can get a decent cup of coffee.”
As they walked, she glanced at Ann Marie.“That was impressive, what you did with Hartley.”
Ann Marie smiled, a hint of color touching her cheeks.“Funeral home diplomacy.My father always said that when people are defensive, sometimes the best approach is to acknowledge their pain rather than challenge their position.”
“Well, it worked brilliantly.This HUAC angle is interesting.If Roberta’s testimony was as damaging as Malcolm claims, it could explain why Veronica was desperate to keep it buried.”
“And why someone might want revenge,” Ann Marie added.
“Exactly.”
They paused at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change.The café Riley had mentioned was visible across the street—a small establishment with outdoor tables shaded by large umbrellas.
When the walk sign lit up, she added, “Something in the past … something we don’t yet know about Veronica Slate and her mother.”
CHAPTER NINE
