Gardiner suddenly looked animated. “Wait, I know the owner of the restaurant. She could verify it. We had a private room and we paid with a credit card. You can check the receipt.”
“That works.”
Lancaster pulled out a notebook and took this information down.
“Is that all?” asked Gardiner, still clearly distracted.
“You need to tell us where you were when your father was killed.”
“My father? Now you’re accusing me of murdering my own father?”
“Again, I’m not accusing you of anything. I’m eliminating suspects, like we did for you just now with Susan Richards’s death.”
She looked at her calendar after Decker told her the time parameters. “I was home with my family. In fact, I was probably asleep at that hour. Like most people,” she added.
“And your husband can corroborate that?”
“If necessary,” she said between clenched teeth. “Is that all?”
“There’s another discrepancy,” said Decker. “But I’m sure you can clear it up.”
Gardiner looked wearily at him. “I remember that you never seemed to stop asking questions all those years ago.”
“And I’m afraid I haven’t changed. It just comes with the territory.”
“What discrepancy?”
“You said you’d never been in your father’s closet.”
Gardiner seemed instantly on the defensive. “Who told you that?”
“Actually, you did. The first time I was here to question you.”
“Oh, okay. But I don’t understand the discrepancy.”
“The police report indicates that you were the one to show the forensic techs the panel in the closet.”
Gardiner frowned. “I don’t remember doing that.”
“It was in the report.”
“Then the report is wrong. It can be, can’t it?”
Decker said, “So you’re saying you didn’t show them the panel?”
“I’m telling you I don’t remember doing that.”
“Okay. So they might have been searching and found it on their own.”
“I guess.”
“But why would they say that you told them about it?” asked Lancaster.
Gardiner was very pale now. “I…I don’t know. Maybe I did. I might have been helping them look or something. It’s possible. It was a long time ago. And I was not in a good frame of mind. I didn’t remember things very well.”
Decker said, “Understood. Well, thanks for your time.”
He stood. Lancaster quickly did as well, looking surprised that Decker was already done.
“That’s…that’s it?” said Gardiner, looking as surprised as Lancaster.
“For now, yes.” Decker slid the photo of her as a child toward her.
“I told you I didn’t want it.”
“I know. But sometimes people change their minds, don’t they?”
Gardiner made no move to pick up the photo.
Decker said, “We’ll find our own way out.”
* * *
As they got into their car Lancaster said, “Okay, I approve of your new ‘subtle’ nature, Decker. But you really closed out the interview fast. I thought it was just getting good.”
“It was just getting good. But you can also push someone too far.”
“She’s scared.”
“She is scared. Because she knows more than she’s telling us. And she’s very concerned that someone else will realize that too.”
“Are you saying she might be in danger?”
“Everyone connected with this case might be in danger, including you and me.”
“We’re cops, we signed up for that. Mitzi Gardiner didn’t.”
“Didn’t she?” said Decker as he put the car in drive.
Chapter 49
POSH.
That was the word that occurred to Mars as he pulled to a stop in the parking lot of the Silver Oak Grill. He didn’t know what it used to be, but its old bones had been given new life. He looked around at the other cars parked there and saw a sprinkling of late-model expensive rides. There was even a Maserati convertible parked near the awninged entrance.
He walked in and looked around. The buildout here had definitely been expensive. Mars had learned about construction costs from investing in real estate in the D.C. market. Old beams, pricey stone flooring, an elaborately carved bar, expensive wallpaper, coexisting with contemporary seating.
The place was nearly full with folks having lunch, and there were three people ahead of Mars waiting to be seated.
“Melvin?”
He looked to his right and saw Rachel Katz waving to him from a table in the corner. He walked over and joined her.
She stood and had to rise up on her toes to give him a hug and a peck on the cheek. Then she took a moment to appraise his attire. Gray jacket, black turtleneck, charcoal slacks, and black loafers.
“Terrific outfit.”
“Thank you. You’re looking quite sharp yourself,” he said, noting her slacks, blouse, jacket, and flats.
“Well, I came straight from work.”
As they sat, he saw that she had nearly finished her cocktail.
“Drink?” she said.
He eyed the almost empty glass. “What are you having?”
“Dewar’s and water. I’m ready for a refill.”
“Hitting the hard stuff in the afternoon, are we?”
“We are.”
He grinned. “Sounds good to me.”
They ordered their drinks and sat back.
“When you called, I was surprised you wanted to see me again,” she said.
“Why’s that?”
“Well, we left things a little, I don’t know, flat.”
“I’m into long-range forecasting. Date to date doesn’t mean much.”
“I’m flattered you referred to it as a date.”
Their drinks arrived, and they tapped glasses.
Katz took a sip and said, “And I guess I’m also surprised that Decker is letting you see me. I mean, he is investigating, and despite all the facts to the contrary, I guess I remain a person of interest or something like that.”
“You know the lingo,” he said, grinning.
“I watch crime shows, what can I say?”
“Surprised you have the time what with work and all your other projects.”
She leaned forward. “What would you say if I told you that most nights, I go home, change into my PJs, eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with chips on top, and watch old movies?”
He studied her. “I would believe that.” He quickly added, “Not because you don’t have options. I imagine you could have your pick of guys around here.”
She made a face. “Thing is, I don’t want the guys around here.”
“Which raises the question of why you don’t just move somewhere else. Chicago’s not that far away.”
“David and I were thinking of moving there. And then he died.”
“So you feel tied to this place?”
“In a way, I guess. He’s buried here. What he started to build is here.”