“Of course, no problem. I was the only staff there.”
“Did you leave the theater at any time during the meeting?”
“No. I was there from seven-thirty to eight-fifteen. Actually, a little before seven-thirty as I set up the vid, and probably a few minutes after eight-fifteen as I broke them down. I didn’t hear about Reed until I was back in my classroom.”
“You knew Williams had been arrested yesterday.”
“Everyone knew.” She lifted a shoulder. “I can’t say I was surprised, and maybe—I probably shouldn’t say this, but maybe a little pleased. Comeuppance, you know? But this? Drowning the way he did, that’s horrible. I just don’t know how it could’ve happened.”
We’re going to chat with the fragile and lovely Mrs. Straffo.” Eve got behind the wheel. “I wonder how she handled the irony of having her husband defending the guy she dicked around on him with. And what she was doing in the building for forty-five minutes.”
“Straffo wasn’t on Hallywell’s memory list of parents in the theater during the meeting.” Peabody shifted a little, kept looking straight out the windshield. “So, how are things?”
“What things?”
“I, ah, happened to have the screen on this morning when I was grabbing a bagel. Caught that stupid bit about that blonde and Roarke. Anybody could see it was bullcrap.”
“Then why do you bring it up?”
“Sorry.”
“No,” Eve said after a minute. “No, no point in slapping at you for it. It’s outside the box right now, that’s all. And it’s staying outside the box because it’s not part of the job. Clear?”
“Sure.”
“I can’t let it in right now,” Eve said after another moment of screaming silence. “I can’t think about it right now.”
“Okay. I’m just going to say this one thing, then lock the lid. Bullcrap.”
“Thanks. Okay, why did Mrs. Straffo take the kid to school today. Why not the babysitter?”
“That would be the au pair on their level. Good question.”
Eve pulled up in front of the apartment building. “Then let’s ask it.”
She had to cut through the doorman who tried to block them. “Mrs. Straffo has her penthouse on privacy mode. Door and ’links. She doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
“Pal, I don’t know what kind of Christmas bonus you get from the Straffos, but now’s the time to ask yourself if it’s worth you getting hauled into Central and held for obstruction of justice. This is a badge. Read it and weep. Now step back, or you’re going to be sitting in holding for the next several hours.”
“I’m just doing my job.”
“Aren’t we all.” Eve moved by him, then paused. “Have you seen the au pair this morning?”
“Cora? She went out about nine. Errands. She said Mrs. Straffo wasn’t feeling very well, and activated the privacy mode. She hasn’t come back yet.”
“What about Mrs. Straffo? What time did she get back this morning?”
“About eight-thirty, maybe a little later. Didn’t look well either.”
“On foot, or by car?”
“Walking. Walked the kid to school. It’s about ten minutes away. They were scooting some. The kid said she’d be late for her meeting if they didn’t hurry.”
“Doesn’t the au pair usually take the kid in, pick her up?” Peabody wondered.
“Most of the time, sure,” the doorman confirmed. “One of the Straffos takes her now and then.”
Riding up to the penthouse, Eve worked on the timing. Leaves the school, walks home. Takes a good fifteen minutes to do it. Not hurrying then. Goes upstairs, gives the au pair errands to run. Shuts down.