“Detective Gold, do you have any idea who that man is?”
“The one I brought in for questioning?”
“Yes.”
“George Albrecht. He’s an investor with Fulton and Donner Enterprises. He’s also one of the primary heads of the investment projects that are helping to finance the construction of the Chrysler Building.”
“It’s nice that you know who he is, but it makesabsolutelyno sense that you would have him here, handcuffed in an interrogation room.”
“He took a swing at me and refused to answer questions pertaining to a potential murder investigation,” Ava said.
This clearly shocked him, and Miller spent several more minutes trying to find the right words to use next. “Why did he take a swing at you?”
“I don’t know. If I had to guess, it’s because a female was daring to ask him questions.”
“Wait…back up, though. Why were you even trying to ask him questions?”
Once again, Ava showed the letter she’d found in Perkins’s office. Miller read over it and then set it down on his desk. He rubbed at his chin in a thoughtful sort of gesture and then shook his head.
Before he could say anything, Ava pressed on. “There was also a bit of evidence at the scene of the so-called suicide of Alfred Perkins. A series of prints in the dust and debris that even the foreman said was very likely not that of a construction worker. And there’s also the added fact that Albrecht himself has admitted to being at the Chrysler Building on the night of Perkins’s death.”
“All of that may be true,” Miller said. “But it’s a very flimsy trail at best. Not only that, but George Albrecht isn’t just any old Joe off the street. Not only is he exceptionally wealthy, but he also happens to be friends with Walter Chrysler.”
“So because of his friends and influence, he’s made exempt from any criminal investigations, including murder?”
“Not all of them…but certainly ones where all signs clearly to point to a death being a suicide.” He sighed and then looked her in the eyes. She was relieved to see what she thought was something like understanding He knew she was only doing her job, but she had not let power and influence blind her. To her, a man with wealth and power held no additional privileges than anyone else. “Has he asked for his lawyer?” Miller asked.
“Yes.”
“And have any of these clues or links you’ve found concretely and without a doubt link him to Perkins’s death?”
It was a good question—and one laced with many traps if she didn’t answer it succinctly. “No, sir. They all seem to point to his involvement, but nothing nails him to the death without fail.”
“Then I want you to walk back in there in about five minutes and let him go.”
“But, sir, you can’t let—”
“Officer Burke is currently making sure he won’t press charges. After that, youwillapologize to him and then release him.”
Disappointment welled up inside of her and she had to bite back several arguments. At the base of it all, though, she knew why Miller was going this route. She didn’t agree with it at all, but she did understand it. She also knew that this situation would be no different back at her old precinct. Minard would have reacted the same way. And as for Frank…well, Frank would have probably stopped her from bringing Albrecht in at all. Or, rather, he would have tried as hard as he could have.
“Look, Detective Gold, I knew this was a risk we’d take having you here. Captain Minard had expressed some concerns that you sometimes rub people the wrong way…sort of roll right over people if you feel strongly about something. And while you’ve not rolled over anyone in this situation—not exactly—you do need to keep behind a certain line when it comes to men like George Albrecht.”
“Is that a line that says wealthy men are above the law?” Ava asked.
“As a detective in New York City, you know that’s not the case,” Miller said. “But you also know that it’s a fine line.”
She nodded firmly, not trusting herself to say anything else. But as she picked the letter back up from Miller’s desk, she couldn’t help but sneak in one last comment. She held the letter up with one hand and tapped at it with the other.
“Fine,” she said. “But I want you to remember this letter. I want you to remember that I tried actually digging deeper into a case when everyone else was willing to look away and rule it a suicide.”
She crammed the letter back into her pocket and left his office. This time, it seemed that hardly anyone was watching her. She couldn’t help but wonder if everyone was doing their bestnotto look now that Miller had gotten directly involved. Whatever the case, she marched back to the interrogation room. The door opened and Officer Burke stepped out moments beforeAva approached. He said nothing to her, just gave a sympathetic little nod, and hurried off on his way.
Ava waited by the door. She wondered what Frank would tell her in a moment like this. As she reached for the doorknob, she found herself missing him terribly. She felt it like a quick stab to the heart and then it was gone—only to be replaced by the embarrassment and anger she felt as she stepped into the interrogation room to let George Albrecht go.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The release of George Albrecht went much smoother than Ava expected. Not another cross word was spoken by the man during the entire process. It went so easily that as she watched him walk through the front doors, Ava couldn’t help but wonder how this entire ordeal might come back to bite her.