Justice (20 page)

“
Lt. Harold O’Hara,
”
Justin says, shaking his hand.
“
We met at the policeman’s charity ball two years ago.
”
Justin shakes Cam’s hand.
“
Det. Cameron.
”

“
Mr. Pendergast.
”

We sit on our opposite couches. Us versus them. Harry clears his throat.
“
Um, Joanna, I think it would be best if we questioned Mr. Pendergast alone.
”

“
I’d like her to stay,
”
Justin says before I can protest.
“
If you don’t mind.
”

Harry’s mouth twitches, but quickly becomes a small smile.
“
Fine,
”
Harry says.
“
Mr. Pendergast, let me just first say how sorry we are for your loss. We’ll try and make this as quick as possible.
”

“
I appreciate that.
”

He pauses.
“
When did you last see Dr. Thornton?
”
Harry asks.

“
Around midnight last night. The limo dropped her and her mother off, and then drove me back here. My plane took off an hour and a half later.
”

“
Did you notice anyone following you last night?
”
Cam asks.

“
No, but I wasn’t looking. Have you spoken to Kim Liu? She’s, I’m sorry,
was
Daisy’s nanny. She was watching Daisy last night.
”

“
We have. She didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary in the past week,
”
Cam says.

“
Did Dr. Thornton or her mother mention any strange people or cars hanging around? Any hang-up phone calls?
”
Harry asks.

“
No. Nothing.
”
Justin turns to me.
“
What about you?
”

“
No. Sorry,
”
I say.

“
Did Dr. Thornton and her daughter spend the majority of their nights at their home?
”
Cam asks.

“
Yes, but I would normally stop by after work and spend the night. It was easier for Daisy that way.
”

“
How many nights a week, on average, would you spend there?
”
Harry asks.

“
Three to five, and usually once a week they would stay here. It depended on Rebecca’s work schedule.
”

“
So typically you would be with them,
”
Harry says.
“
Who knew you would be out of town?
”

“
My immediate staff, and I told a few friends last night. But anyone could call and get my schedule if they wanted to make an appointment to see me.
”

“
This was a planned trip?
”
Cam asks.

“
No. The arrangements were made yesterday, mid-morning. I was supposed to be gone until tomorrow evening.
”

“
Would it be possible to get a list of all the people who knew about this trip? The people you told at the party last night too?
”
Cam asks.

“
Of course.
”

“
Now, about last night,
”
Harry says,
“
did you see anything odd? A person or persons hanging around you for most of the night?
”

“
No. Why?
”

Cam glances at me, but I keep my poker face.
“
We have reason to believe that Alkaline was at your party last night.
”

“
What?
”

“
An eyewitness believes she saw Alkaline there last night,
”
Cam says.

“
What?
”
Justin asks, flabbergasted.
“
Why the hell didn’t she report it?
”

“
She wasn’t sure it was him at the time,
”
Cam says.

Harry decides to save me.
“
I’m sorry, we have to ask. Can you verify your whereabouts this morning between six and seven?
”

My eyes narrow.
“
Is that really necessary?
”

“
It’s okay, Jo.
”
He nods at the men.
“
My assistant Shannon and I were in New Urbana. My pilot and colleagues were with me at the time. Shannon can give you their contact information.
”

“
Did Dr. Thornton have any enemies? I understand her ex-husband is in prison,
”
Cam says.

“
He didn’t know where they were living, and he certainly had no contact with Alkaline.
”

“
What about you?
”
Harry asks.
“
Is there any reason why James Ryder would want to hurt you?
”

For the first time Justin looks away, the strong façade momentarily crumbling. I’m surprised it took this long. I jump in.
“
His only connection to that monster is through Grace Pickering and me. That’s it. Right, Justin?
”

“
Yes.
”
He recovers, meeting Harry’s eyes again.
“
I’ve never met or had dealings with the man. I have no idea why he’d target Rebecca or me.
”

“
Just to err on the side of caution, I’m going to have a patrol car parked out front and another to escort you and your,
”
Harry glances at me, adjusting his glasses nervously,
“
um, loved ones when you leave. I’d also recommend hiring private security. Just a precaution.
”

“
Is there reason for concern?
”
Justin asks.

Harry and Cam glance at me, but I narrow my eyes to warn them off. Harry clears his throat.
“
As I said, just a precaution.
”

“
Lieutenant, why do I get the feeling that there is a lot you are not telling me?
”

“
Mr. Pendergast—
”

“
Lt. O’Hara, I am friends with both the mayor and commissioner. Do not make me go over your head.
”

I touch his hand.
“
Justin…
”

Harry sighs, and I yank my hand away.
“
Mr. Pendergast,
”
Harry says, but I shoot him a pleading look,
“
I, um…
”

“
At the crime scene,
”
Cam interjects,
“
there was a threat. Alkaline left a burnt picture of Jo tacked onto the front door.
”

Justin’s gaze whips to me.
“
What? Why the hell didn’t you tell me?
”

I glare at the defiant Cam before turning to Justin.
“
I didn’t want you to worry about me. We don’t know it’s a threat. It could just be a ploy to get us all worked up, make mistakes.
”
Or it’s a message. To me.

“
Bullshit, Jo!
”
Justin says.
“
You lied to me! That’s why the cruiser was following us.
”

“
We’re worried about everyone’s safety, Mr. Pendergast,
”
Harry says.
“
That’s why I suggest you hire additional security for yourself, your aunt, and…Joanna.
”

“
That’s it? Security? Two police cruisers? Why isn’t she in protective custody? Don’t you people take care of your own?
”

“
We offered, she declined, Mr. Pendergast,
”
Harry says with a hard edge.

“
You’re her commanding officer. Order her to!
”

“
Nobody makes Jo do anything she doesn’t want to. You should know that better than any of us, Mr. Pendergast,
”
Harry says.

Justin glares at Harry, who glares back.
“
She also doesn’t have a death wish,
”
Justin says. He remembers that I’m in the room, and the glare gets focused on me.
“
I’m sending you and Lucy to the house in Paris until he’s captured.
”

“
I’m not—
”

“
I think that’s an excellent idea,
”
Harry says.

“
Excuse me!
”
I shout.
“
Stop deciding my life for me without my input. Justin, you and Lucy should go to Paris, no question. I’m not running. I am not giving him that satisfaction.
”

“
It wasn’t my face burnt off a picture, Jo,
”
Justin counters.

“
And I’ve had combat training. I spend three hours a week at the shooting range. I am a police officer. You aren’t.
”

“
You’re going to use yourself as bait, aren’t you?
”

“
If I have to.
”

Justin leaps up.
“
You’re so fucking stubborn sometimes, you know that?
”
He storms out, probably before he can smack me. I always have that effect on people.

“
Justin!
”
I say as I follow him out.

He’s pacing the hall, running both hands through his blonde hair. He comes out of his own head when I step in.
“
You’re a fucking idiot, you know that?
”

“
I’ve been told.
”

“
Jo, in twenty years I’ve never asked you for anything. Not a damn thing. But I am asking this. I’m
begging
this. Please go. I just lost the love of my life. I couldn’t survive losing you.
”

“
I’ll go if you go.
”

“
I…I can’t. I have a business. I have to plan my fiancée’s funeral. I can’t go.
”

I knew he wouldn’t agree. Neither of us has ever backed down from anything.
“
Then neither can I. I am not running away. And I am sure as hell not leaving everyone I care about unprotected in this city. If something happened, I would never forgive myself.
Ever
. I won’t risk that.
”

Justin sighs angrily, and turns away from me.
“
There is nothing I can say or do to change your mind, is there?
”

“
No. Sorry.
”

He doesn’t talk for a few seconds, but judging from his tense shoulders he is not happy. They slump and he hangs his head.
“
I’m so tired, Jo. I don’t…I don’t have any fight left in me. Do whatever you want,
”
he says walking away.

“
Where are you going?
”
I call.

“
I haven’t slept in over thirty-six hours. I’m calling Pelham Security to get round-the-clock guards for us and your family, and then I’m taking a sleeping pill and passing out for as long as I can so I can start planning a triple funeral. Okay?
”

I rankle at this one.
“
Fine,
”
I say, not meaning it.
“
I’ll be here if you need me.
”

“
I know.
”
He slowly walks down the hall like a man on his way to the execution chamber. I shake my head, rolling my eyes. He’s never spoken to me like that. I know it’s the grief and anger, but it still hurts. I don’t do hurt well.

Cam and Harry remain seated but stand when I come in.
“
You just couldn’t keep your fucking mouth shut, could you?
”
I ask, not hiding my fury.

“
He has a right to know, Jo,
”
Cam says.

“
Is he coming back?
”
Harry asks all business.
“
We have more questions.
”

“
Well, they’ll just have to wait, won’t they?
”

Harry looks into my eyes, challenging me, but I’m never one to back down. It only lasts a few seconds before he looks away.
“
Fine. Then I guess we have everything we need here. When Mr. Pendergast is up to it, have him call us.
”

They move toward the door, Cam squeezing my shoulder as he passes. Harry refuses to look at me. Knife to the heart. When they step out, I hug myself and pace around the room like a mad woman. God, I’ve ruined everything. Everything. I’ve hurt everyone I care about. Too much. This is too much. I can’t…I see something pink in the corner behind the grand piano. I kneel down and reach for it. It’s a fluffy pink bunny with a white nose. Daisy loved this thing. She carried it around in the crook of her small arm and chattered away to it like it was an old friend. She must have left it the last time she was here. She would have been devastated without him. Scared without her security blanket. I’m suddenly sick to my stomach and throw Fluffy Bunny back where I found it. I have to get out of here. I can’t stay in this house.

I catch up to the men outside just as they’re about to pull out. Cam rolls down his window as the press goes nuts.
“
Wait. I’m coming with you,
”
I say as I jump into the backseat.

“
I don’t think that’s a good idea,
”
Harry says.

“
You guys keep harping on my safety. Where’s safer than a police station?
”
Harry opens his mouth to protest, but I talk before he can.
“
Look, I’m sorry for what I said back there. I know you were just looking out for me, but I can’t stay here. I’ll go nuts. I know I’m not on the case, but I can help in other ways. I’ll man the tip line. I’ll fetch you coffee, whatever. I just need to keep busy. Be productive. Please.
”