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“You have exercised your right to counsel and understand your additional rights and responsibilities?”

“That’s correct.”

“Mr. Foxx, you gave an earlier statement regarding your activities on the night of Mr. Fitzhugh’s death. Do you wish to view a replay of that statement?”

“It’s not necessary. I told you what happened. I don’t know what else you expect me to tell you.”

“To begin, tell me where you were between twenty-two thirty and twenty-three hundred on the night of the incident.”

“I’ve already told you. We had dinner. We watched a comedy, we went to bed and caught a bit of the late news.”

“You remained at home all evening?”

“That’s what I’ve said.”

“Yes, Mr. Foxx, that’s what you’ve said, on record. But that’s not what you did.”

“Lieutenant, my client is here voluntarily. I see no—”

“Save it,” she suggested. “You left the building at approximately ten thirty P.M. and returned some thirty minutes later. Where did you go?”

“I—” Foxx tugged at the silver string of his tie. “I stepped out for a few minutes. I’d forgotten.”

“You’d forgotten.”

“My mind was confused. I was in shock.” His tie made wispy sounds as his fingers worked over it. “I didn’t remember something as unimportant as taking a quick walk.”

“But you remember now? Where did you go?”

“Just for a walk. Around the block a few times.”

“You returned with a parcel. What was in it?”

She saw the moment he realized the security cameras had nailed him. His gaze shifted past her and the fingers on his tie became busier. “I stopped into a 24/7, picked up a few things. Veggie-Smokes. I have the urge for one occasionally.”

“It’s a simple matter to check with the 24/7 and determine exactly what you purchased.”

“Some tranqs,” he spit out. “I wanted to tranq out for the night. I wanted a smoke. There’s no law against it.”

“No, but there is a law against giving false statements in

a police investigation.”

“Lieutenant Dallas.” The lawyer’s voice was still smooth but a bit frayed around the edges with annoyance. It gave Eve the clue that Foxx had been no more forthcoming with his representative than he had with the police. “The fact that Mr. Foxx left the premises for a short time is hardly germane to your investigation. And discovering a loved one’s body is a more than reasonable excuse for neglecting to remember a minor detail.”

“One minor detail, maybe. You didn’t mention, Mr. Foxx, that you and Mr. Fitzhugh had a visitor on the evening of his death.”

“Leanore is hardly a visitor,” Foxx said stiffly. “She is—was Fitz’s partner. I believe they had some business to discuss, which is another reason I went for a walk. I wanted to give them a few moments of privacy to discuss the case.” He took a shallow breath. “I generally found that more convenient for everyone.”

“I see. So now your statement is that you left the apartment in order to provide your spouse and his partner with privacy. Why didn’t you mention Ms. Bastwick’s visit in your earlier statement?”

“I didn’t think of it.”

“You didn’t think of it. You stated that you ate dinner, watched a comedy, and went to bed, but you neglected to add in these other events. What other events have you neglected to tell me, Mr. Foxx?”

“I have nothing more to say.”

“Why were you angry when you left the building, Mr. Foxx? Did it annoy you to have a beautiful woman, a woman with whom Mr. Fitzhugh works closely, drop by your home so late in the evening?”


Tags: J.D. Robb In Death Mystery