Serpent's Tooth

Author:Faye Kellerman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins

22

Choosing and discarding a number of outfits. Among the rejects: the brown “no-nonsense business” suit, the red “foxy lady” dress, and the “Bohemian” flowered ankle-length sarong skirt. In the end, Rina decided to be true to herself. A black long-sleeve sweater over a black A-line skirt, the hem falling below her kneecaps. She tucked her ebony waist-length hair into a large black net that stretched to the tips of her shoulders. Attached to the net was a black silk scarf adorned with gold trim. The scarf covered her scalp, the gold band running across the crown of her head like a tiara. Her makeup was light, her earlobes highlighted by pearl studs.

Walking into the station house, into the interview room. A conference table and lots of folding chairs. All eyes upon her. A nod to Peter. He nodded back. Three other men, all of them in dark suits. She recognized Strapp, nodded to him as well. There was one woman. She had short dark hair, focused brown eyes that scanned her intensely. Disapproving eyes, Rina thought. Her impulse was to look away. Instead, she met the stare and smiled. Habit made the woman smile back. Only half a smile actually, before she caught herself.

Strapp invited her to sit, introduced her. First to Jack Nickerson—a defense rep from the Police Protection League. Peter’s lawyer, so to speak. He was in his forties, solidly built. Square face, big shoulders, and a gut. He wore his jacket open, displaying a tie too short for his stomach. A football player past his prime.

The younger suit as well as the woman were from the IAD: James Hayden and Catherine Bell. Both looked to be in their thirties and were more stylishly dressed. The man had on a double-vented, three-button wool crepe suit. The woman wore a double-breasted jacket and her pants had been tailored—straight leg and vented at the ankle.

Rina sat away from the others, at the far end of the conference table. She lowered her purse onto the ground, kept her hands loose but in her lap. Her posture was straight, but not stiff. Her eyes remained alert, taking in everything.

Peter, Nickerson, and Strapp were seated toward the middle of the table. But Hayden and Bell stood. Hayden was positioned behind Decker, Catherine in front of him, on the opposite side of the table. Strapp spoke first, telling the others that it had been his idea to invite Rina. Were there any objections?

There were none. So they went forward.

Turning on a video camera, the lens pointed at Peter’s face. Preliminary identification statements akin to name, rank, and serial number. What this inquiry was all about. That all parties questioned were under oath. Then Hayden read from the “sheet.” The charges made by Jeanine. He and the woman, Catherine, had some questions to ask Decker. At that point, Nickerson spoke up.

“My client claims the Fifth Amendment, reserves the right to refuse to speak on grounds that he may incriminate himself.”

In a calm voice, Strapp said,

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