48
“Mrs. Tate, are you all right?”
Meyers’s voice cut through the fog of Victoria’s anxiety. “Long day,” she replied, giving Meyers her best everything’s-fine smile.
Meyers looked uncertain. “Do you want to explain what happened with Mrs. Knottier?”
No, she really didn’t. “She brought a gift and asked for some HOA papers, and when I went to get them she took it upon herself to go through Warren’s things.”
“Not yours?”
“She was coming out of his office.”
“I see.”
“She tried to leave as soon as I gave her the HOA materials. I could’ve pretended I hadn’t caught her, but I prefer to have things out in the open. Being blunt works for me, and honestly, I wanted her to know she couldn’t pull that kind of move and not be held responsible for it. I don’t know what she was looking for—if she was just snooping or hoping to find dirt—but she was rattled.”
“Mrs. Tate, how would you describe Betty’s relationship with your husband?”
“Cordial?” she said distractedly. “We’ve been neighbors for five, six years? The Knottiers come to all the social events, and Dave used to golf with Warren’s crew when they were short a guy.”
Meyers scratched something down in her notepad and then met her gaze. “Had you noticed any unusual transactions in your bank account prior to Warren’s death?”
“Unusual how?” she asked.
Ding. Get rid of her. Now.
“Large sums being taken out? A pattern of withdrawals you didn’t approve but Warren might have?”
“I, uh . . .” Victoria fumbled, glancing in both directions again, trying not to appear as flustered as the texts were making her. “No, nothing like that. Why?”
“Do you feel comfortable granting us access to your financial records?”
Victoria frowned. “I’ll need to speak with my lawyer, and it would be best to handle that in the morning. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help right now, but I am exhausted.”
Meyers held up a finger. “Just a few more things.”
Victoria sighed. “Quickly, please, it’s cold.”
X wanted her gone. Victoria had to play along to get that done without raising suspicion.
“The night of the Gala. Did anything seem out of the ordinary?”
“Everything was out of the ordinary, Detective Meyers. It was the Gala. Not your run-of-the-mill night. We’ve been over this. You have my report.”
“Give me a break. Just walk me through the party one more time. You said you got ready with your sister?”
“Yes, Teagan and I got ready and drove over together. It was easier for her to leave her car here, and Warren was going straight to the Mansion from Livingston. We chose our masks then split up so I could find Warren. I stopped at the bar, had a quick drink, then got in line to greet Margaret and Barnaby.”
“Where you spoke to the jester.”
Ding. NOW.
Where are you? she tapped. Then to Meyers, “Yes. No, I mean, we didn’t speak in the sense that you’re implying. I wasn’t having a chat with my good friend or paramour, or whatever unsavory label you tried sticking to him before.”
Meyers agreed halfheartedly. “Do you need to take that?”
“Sorry. Work stuff. You know how it goes.”
“Damn, that’s some dedicated customer service. I can’t even get my bank on the phone during regular business hours.”
Do not take the bait, she told herself. “I have a lot of catching up to do.”
Her phone buzzed again. Closer than you think. You really want to find out what happens if you don’t listen?
“Maybe it’s best if we do finish this inside.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Victoria shoved the phone in her pocket.
“What time were you in the greeting line?”
“I have no idea.”
“Did you chat with anyone else while you waited?”
Victoria huffed. “Yes? I’m not rude. If you’d ever been to one of these events, then you’d know that it’s impossible to go more than six feet without being reeled into a conversation.”
Meyers sucked her teeth. “Alas, my invitation seems to get lost in the mail every year. C’est la vie. Can anyone vouch for your whereabouts?”
“At the Gala? Where I was photographed repeatedly and, as I just told you, spoke with several people over the course of the night?”
“From the time you left the Connors until you were notified about Warren.”
“Are you asking for an alibi?”
Meyers held up her hands in defense. “Getting a little ahead of me.”
Victoria pushed the door open a crack. Notes of ginger and cinnamon hit her full force, but there was something else beneath it. Like wet pavement after a heavy rainstorm. “I have been incredibly cooperative with your investigation, Detective Meyers. You have my statement, witness reports. I have nothing to hide.”
Meyers wrote something else down in her notepad. How could she have so much to write? Was it deliberate? A calculated tactic to make Victoria nervous?
Another noise, somewhere between a hm and an ah. The ambiguity was really starting to get on Victoria’s nerves.
“One last question then, Victoria, and we’ll call it a night.”
Fine. “Go ahead.”
“What happened in the red room?”
She paused. “Red room?”
“Yes.”
Victoria answered tentatively. “I wasn’t there very long.”
“You were alone.”
“Who was with you?”
“That’s where I found Warren.”
“Had you seen Betty or Dave Knottier at that point?” she asked.
I was a tad preoccupied planning Warren’s murder, Victoria thought. “No. I don’t remember seeing Dave at all, actually. I’m not sure he was there. Betty gave me the bandage in the lobby before I left.”
The notepad shut with a clap and an easy smile. “Okay. That’s all I need from you for now. Thank you for your continued cooperation.”
“Are you going to explain what this was about at least?”
“Better get inside before you catch cold,” Meyers said, jogging to where a blue sedan was parked a few houses down the street. No wonder she hadn’t seen it when she pulled in.
Victoria waited until the taillights disappeared around the corner before going inside. The visit wasn’t an automatic call for alarm, but she didn’t like it.
She didn’t like it at all.