“Then we’d like to speak with you,” Ava said. “And before you tried running off on us, the questions would have likely been fairly easy.”
“Well, I can tell you this: I’ve done nothing as to need cuffing…and out in public, of all things!”
Ava helped the woman to her feet and was fully prepared to flag down a cab to take Branson back to the office. But just before she could start looking, Pawlowski stepped up directly beside her and whispered into her ear.
“We shouldn’t take her back unless we know for absolutely certain she knows something that can help with the case. We take her in and she’s innocent all around, Captain Miller will close this thing right away.”
Ava knew that she was right. She’d gotten so caught up and overcome with energy and adrenaline from the footrace that she hadn’t even thought of that. She glanced around and saw a small bench sitting in front of one of the entrances to Morningside Park. There were a few people passing by, in the process of visits or daily errands, but nothing too busy. And in this part of the city, it wasn’t as if they were going to find a quiet, private place anyway.
“We’re going to head over to that bench,” Ava said. “Once we’re seated, I’ll remove the cuffs. If you try to run again, I’ll simply catch you again and then youwillgo to jail for a few days. Understood?”
“Yes! Just get me out of these damned cuffs!”
As Ava and Pawlowski escorted Kathleen across the street to the bench, Ava thought she understood why being handcuffed was such a trigger for Kathleen. If her hunch was correct, Kathleen had enjoyed having a man pamper her with money and extravagances. To go from that to having to live in a place like the Norman Hotel must be humiliating. Getting handcuffed in public probably felt like a cheap shot, the final kick to the head while she was already down.
The three women made it across the street and sat down on the bench, with Kathleen between both officers. Ava did her best to seem somewhat subtle about unlocking the cuffs. When Kathleen’s arms were free, she brought them to her lap and started massaging them. She made no attempt to run though; she was still trying to catch her breath from the chase.
“I’m going to ask you a series of questions,” Ava said, “and after those questions, I’m going to need you to tell me why you ran when you heard there were police looking for you.”
“Oh, I can tell you that right now. It’s embarrassing, but not worth getting in more trouble over. Two nights ago, I left a hotel without paying. Is that what this is about? Was that worth the run-down?”
“That isnotwhat this about,” Ava said. “We need to ask you some questions about a man named Alfred Perkins.” She waited a moment to read Kathleen’s face. The woman’s expression told her all she needed to know. There was a flash of anger, followed by a residual disappointment that settled on her face in the form of a frown.
“Looks like the name rings a bell,” Pawlowski said.
“Tell us how you know him,” Ava ordered.
“Just a guy…you know? We fancied each other and were sort of dating.”
“Did you know he was married?”
Kathleen nodded. She looked slightly ashamed for a moment but then did her best to try holding her head up high. “And we honestly didn’t…well, you know…we didn’t do anything that often. Just slept together a few times, and he really did neat himself up over it. I think it’s why he…”
“Do you think it’s why he was funneling money to you?” Ava asked. “Do you feel like his guilt over what he was doing caused him to pay you money?”
“Sometimes, yes. I’ll admit it. But Alfred is just…he’s a kind, giving person, anyway. The sort of man that likes to give gifts.”
“But he stopped giving you money, right?” Ava asked. “We’ve been to the apartment you were staying in. The landlord says you got out of there…that he kicked you out.”
“He did…and yes, it was because I couldn’t afford it without Alfred helping. I don’t even know where he is now. I assume he’sstill working at that job even though he’s told me time and time again that the market is just pitiful. He had to make cuts here and there. He told me the last time I saw him that in a few weeks, he’d barely even be able to pay his own bills or take care of his wife.”
“So he had to make a choice,” Pawlowski said.
“Yes.”
“One thing, though,” Ava said. “You just told us that you don’t know where he is right now…or what he’s up to. When was the last time you saw him?”
Kathleen took a moment to think about it, looking down to her wrists as she continued to rub at them. “Two weeks? Maybe closer to three. He came by the apartment just to check on me. He…well, I was so mad at him because he’d promised I’d never want for anything. He really did feel bad there just before I called it off.”
“So you ended things with him?” Ava asked.
“Yeah. I’m not a heartless wretch, you know. I didn’t want him to abandon his wife. I mean, I wouldn’t have argued if that’s the choice he made, but I understood it. And when he left that last time, I knew that was it. And now…well, here I am. You saw where I was staying. I was having to share a room with Elizabeth because neither of us could afford our own.” She shrugged and added: “The clerk didn’t know, though.”
Ava wasn’t sure if she bought the story. It didn’tseemlike she was lying, but Ava knew how dangerous it could be to trust a person at their word.
“Kathleen, where were you two nights ago?”
“At that same lousy hotel. I was with Elizabeth for a bit, but I had my own room that night. It’s a good thing, too, because she was…well, she wasworkingin her room.”