Chapter 26
After a quick lunch, Emma was back in her office at RRE, in the middle of reviewing the maintenance plan for turbine group D, when Lily, one of the receptionists, called her.
Not taking her eyes off her computer screen, Emma tapped the speaker button. “Yes?”
“Dr. Perez, someone is here to see you.”
“Who?”
“They, um, say they’re from the police.”
It took Emma a moment to remember what Ronan had told her. “I’m a little busy right now. Can they come back later?”
Lily relayed the message, then said to Emma, “They would prefer to talk now.”
Emma sighed. “All right. Bring them back.”
As she hung up, Ari stirred on his dog bed, annoyed at being woken. She reached down and petted his head before returning her attention to her screen.
She’d almost forgotten about her visitors when there was a knock on her open door.
Ari sat up, instantly alert.
“Dr. Perez?” Lily said from just outside Emma’s office.
Behind her were two men—the younger one fit with cropped hair, and the older carrying a few extra pounds and wearing a smirk that Emma had no idea how to interpret.
Lily gestured to them. “Detectives Wilson and Jensen.”
“It’s Captain Wilson,” the older man said.
“Sorry,” Lily said. “Captain Wilson.”
“Come in,” Emma said. “I apologize. I don’t have enough chairs for both of you. Lily, maybe you can grab one for us?”
“That’s not necessary,” Wilson said. “We won’t be staying long.”
“As you wish,” Emma said. “Thank you, Lily.”
The woman nodded and left, and the men entered the office.
“Detective Jensen,” the younger man said, holding out a hand.
Emma stood and shook it. “Emma Perez.”
“This is my boss, Captain Wilson.”
Instead of offering his hand, Wilson motioned at the door and said, “Do you mind if we close this?”
Ari moved to the end of the desk and let out a low growl.
“It’s okay, boy,” Emma said to him.
Wilson’s eyes narrowed, concerned. “Is he dangerous?”
“Only protective.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Do you mean to do me harm?”
“Of course not.”
“Then there shouldn’t be any problems.”
Wilson considered the situation for a moment, then rejoined his colleague, without closing the door.
Emma retook her seat. “I have a very busy afternoon, gentlemen, so if we could make this quick, I’d appreciate it.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Jensen said. “We only have a few questions. We understand you attended a party at Damian Leon’s house on Saturday night. Is that correct?”
“Only because Ronan forced me to go.”
Jensen pulled out a notepad and whipped through a few pages. “That would be Ronan Davis?”
“Yes.”
“And how do you know him?”
“He’s my best friend.”
“How long have you known each other?”
“Since we were kids.”
“I see. At what time did you—”
“Miss Perez,” Wilson cut in. “I—”
“Dr. Perez,” she corrected him.
“Oh, that’s right. Sorry about that. Dr. Perez, can I assume you are aware of the body found in Mr. Leon’s pool last night?”
“Ronan told me.”
“Interesting. Did your friend also tell you the dead woman was the same person you shoved into that pool during Saturday’s party?”
“That’s not true.”
“You’re saying it wasn’t the same person?”
“I’m saying I didn’t shove anyone in. Katy shoved me.”
“So, it was the same person.”
He didn’t ask a question, so Emma saw no reason to respond.
“Where were you yesterday morning between seven and nine a.m.?” he asked.
“Sir, I think you mean eight and eleven,” Jensen said.
“You told me seven and nine,” Wilson said, not pleased.
Jensen knew exactly what he and Sanchez had told their boss, but it wasn’t worth fighting over. “Apologies for the misunderstanding. The time frame is eight to eleven.”
“Okay, fine.” Wilson looked back at Emma. “Eight and eleven, then.”
“I was on a hike,” she said. “Why?”
“A hike where?”
“In the mountains. We did the Lookout Mountain Trail.”
“Alone or did someone go with you?”
“Ari did,” she said, glancing at her dog.
“Any person, I mean.”
“No.”
“Is there anyone who can confirm your story?”
“It’s not a story, it’s what I was doing.”
“Please answer the question.”
“Someone may have seen us. I don’t remember.”
“That’s too bad.”
“What happened between eight and eleven?” she asked.
When Wilson didn’t answer, Jensen said, “That’s Miss Lane’s estimated time of death.”
“I see. So you’re asking where I was because you think I killed her?”
“We’re merely investigating events surrounding—”
“Dr. Perez,” Wilson interrupted. “I think it would be best if we continued this conversation at the station.”
Jensen frowned. “I’m not sure if that’s nec—”
Wilson silenced him with a glare.
“If that’s what it takes to get you to leave me alone, fine,” Emma said, exasperated. “I’ll come by after work.”
“Now would be best,” Wilson countered. “Unless you want to appear uncooperative.”
Jensen cleared his throat. “Captain, she is volunteering to come in this evening.”
“Or she’s buying time so she can get as far away from here as possible before we realize she’s gone.”
“I don’t think she’s a flight risk.”
“Noted, Detective. And I disagree.”
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Emma said. “If you want me to come now, I’ll come now. Just give me fifteen minutes to tie up a few things here, and I’ll meet you there.”
“Or you could accompany us now,” Wilson said. “We’ll even give you a ride.”
Realizing this was not an argument she was going to win, she decided the best course was to get it over with.
She stood. “Let’s go then.”
“The Palm Springs Police Department appreciates your cooperation.”
—
Marty sucked on his iced caramel macchiato and nodded to the RRE receptionists as he crossed the lobby. They had their heads together, deep in conversation, and didn’t seem to notice him.
Not liking being ignored, he asked, “What are you two talking about?”
Both women looked at him, startled. He’d been told their names numerous times but could never remember them.
“Welcome back, Mr. Lundstrom,” the brown-haired one said.
He stopped at the counter and leaned on it. “You guys looked like you were sharing a secret. Something juicy?”
“Um, no secret,” the blond one said.
“Come on. You can tell me.”
“She’s not lying,” the other one said. “It’s just…”
“Just what?”
She lowered her voice to a near whisper. “The police are here, talking to Dr. Perez.”
He frowned, caught off guard. “Why?”
“They didn’t tell us anything.”
“They’re with her right now?”
Both women nodded.
Trying to act nonchalant, he said, “I’m sure it’s nothing important. But I’ll go check, just to be sure.”
“Let us know what you find out,” the blonde said.
“You got it.”
He headed into the main part of the office, trying very hard to keep a smile from spreading across his face.
He had no clue as to why the police would be interested in Emma, but whatever the reason, her misfortune could only benefit him.
He’d barely entered the large cubicle area where his desk was located, when Emma strode out of the executive hallway in the company of two men in suits.
They had to be the cops, Marty guessed.
The trio barely made it a handful of steps into the room when Emma’s mutt rushed out of the hallway and stopped in front of the older cop, growling.
The man immediately began backpedaling, nearly tripping over his own feet. “Get that thing away from me!” he demanded.
Emma crouched beside the dog and slipped several fingers under his collar. “It’s okay, Ari.”
The dog continued to growl, its eyes still riveted on the cop.
“Relax, boy,” Emma said. “Everything’s fine.”
When the dog didn’t calm down, Emma looked around the room until her eyes landed on Marty.
“Come here,” she said. “I need your help.”
Surely she must be talking to someone else. He glanced around, but there was no one behind him. He pointed at himself. “Are you talking to me?”
“Yes, you!”
As much as he’d rather go anywhere else, he walked over to her.
“I need you to put Ari in my office and shut the door.”
The dog was still glaring at the cops.
“I’m not sure locking him away is going to calm him down,” Marty said.
“Doesn’t matter. After you do that, call my friend Ronan and ask him to pick up Ari. Tell him I’ll come get him as soon as I can.”
Marty was about to try another excuse, when he realized the opportunity he was being given. “Sure, sure. I can do that. I don’t have his number, though.”
“I’ll leave it with Lily,” Emma said.
“Lily?” he said.
“The receptionist.”
“Dr. Perez,” the older cop said, his gaze flicking between her and the dog. “Let’s not waste more time.”
“You’ll have to take him by the collar,” Emma said to Marty.
Once Marty had a hold of it, she released her grip, then gave the dog a hug and stood.
“Can we go now?” the older cop asked.
She headed to the front lobby without a word, the cops hurrying to follow.
Once they left the room, the dog’s growls turned to whines.
Marty pulled on the collar. “Come on—” He paused, trying to remember the dog’s name but failing. “Come on, dog.”
The mutt fought him all the way back to Emma’s office. Instead of leaving him there, though, Marty shut himself inside with the dog and used Emma’s desk phone to call the front desk.
“It’s Marty,” he said. “I believe Emma left a phone number for me.”
—
Vladimir was across the street from RRE, keeping tabs on the building’s entrance, when a pair of news vans pulled into the parking lot. A reporter exited each and set up cameras on the sidewalk near the front doors.
Within a few minutes, several other vehicles arrived, disgorging more people with cameras. They appeared to be mainly vloggers and photographers.
Vladimir called his boss.
“Something’s going down at RRE.”
“Explain,” Popov said.
Vladimir told him what he’d seen.
“No indication as to why?” Popov asked.
“There were two men who arrived a few minutes before the reporters. I don’t know if they went to RRE or not, but one of them looked familiar.”
“Familiar how?”
“Like the guy from the police who was on the news last night. The one who talked to the press outside Mr. Leon’s house.”
“Hold on,” Popov said.
A few seconds later, Vladimir’s phone pinged with the arrival of a text.
“I just sent you a picture,” Popov said. “Do you mean him?”
Vladimir looked at the photo, then put the phone back to his ear. “Yes.”
Popov snorted. “That’s Wilson, the head of detectives.”
At the building, the waiting camera crews began shuffling around and aiming their cameras at the door.
“Something’s happening,” Vladimir said.
The younger man who’d arrived with the head of detectives exited the building, followed by Emma Perez, then Wilson.
The press crowded around them, forcing the cop in front to push people aside so he and the other two could get through. Questions were shouted, but Vladimir was too far away to understand them.
When the trio reached the sedan the two men had arrived in, Wilson turned to the crowd and held up a hand.
After the shouts died down, he appeared to give a statement. As this was going on, Perez and the younger cop climbed into the car. When Wilson finished, he gave the crowd a wave and got in beside Perez.
Vladimir described what he’d seen as the vehicle drove away.
“Was she under arrest?” Popov asked.
“Unsure. But she wasn’t handcuffed.”
“Maybe they’re waiting until they get her to the station.”
“Do you want me to follow them?” Vladimir asked.
“No. We know where she’s going. You stay on Lundstrom.”