Crime School by Carol O'Connell

Author:Carol O'Connell [O'Connell, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: Mystery
ISBN: 9780099441403
Publisher: Arrow
Published: 2003-02-14T13:00:00+00:00

*

Mallory watched Charles’s Mercedes drive off as her partner slid into the front seat of her tan sedan.

‘It’s that one.’ She nodded toward the building directly across the street. Natalie Homer’s sister lived in an area of Brooklyn prized for views of Prospect Park. Apparently Susan Qualen was doing well in the world. ‘It’s better if we catch her outside.’ Then the cop hater would have no door to slam in their faces. ‘The neighbors say she runs in the park – same time every day.’

‘Must be a health fanatic’ Riker wiped the sweat from his brow. ‘She’s gonna kill herself in this heat.’

The front door opened and a trim woman in shorts and a T-shirt appeared at the top of a short flight of stairs. Natalie’s sister was tall and blond with a familial face. Before the woman could descend to the sidewalk, the two detectives were out of the car and moving toward her, each holding up a leather folder with identification and a gold shield.

‘Miss Qualen? I’m Detective Mallory, and this is – ’

The woman’s face turned angry and hard. ‘Go away!’

Riker stood at the bottom of the stairs. ‘Ma’am? We’d rather do this at your convenience, but you – ’

‘I read about your last hanging in the papers,’ said Susan Qualen. ‘You bastards couldn’t cover up that one. Not so easy this time, was it?’

‘Ma’am,’ said Riker. ‘We don’t work that way. Sometimes we have to withhold details so we can – ’

‘I’ve heard that one before. Twenty years ago, the cops told the reporters my sister was a suicide.’

‘The cops didn’t tell you much, did they?’ Mallory moved up the staircase, advancing on the woman slowly. ‘They told you it was murder, and you knew about the rope.’ But no cop would have revealed the details of the hacked-off hair jammed in Natalie Homer’s mouth.

Mallory was one step away – touching distance. Nervous, Susan? ‘So how did you make the connection between your sister and a hanged hooker?’

‘I read the story in the damn papers.’

Mallory shook her head. ‘No, you’re lying. The link had to be more than rope. All those details in the paper – why did you connect them with – ’

‘I’m done with you.’ Susan Qualen started down the staircase.

‘Hold it.’ Mallory blocked her way. ‘Where did you get the – ’

‘My lawyer says I don’t have to talk to you.’

‘No,’ said Mallory. ‘That’s what people say when they haven’t talked to a lawyer. Your sister’s murder is still an open case, and you will talk to us.’

Riker climbed a step closer to the woman. His voice was more reasonable and friendly. ‘We turned up some inconsistencies in Natalie’s murder. We think her son might be able to straighten it out. So where’s the kid now?’

‘I don’t know where he is,’ said Susan Qualen.

‘I read a follow-up interview with the boy’s stepmother,’ said Mallory. ‘She claims you took the boy after his father died.’

And Riker added, ‘That would’ve been a year after Natalie’s murder.

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