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Including Sam. The thought rankled and Kit hoped the psychologist stuck close to Detective Goddard when they were asking about Mr. Dreyfus’s collection.
Together, they walked to the front door and Kit knocked. After a minute the door opened, revealing the woman pictured on Mary Adler’s Facebook page. In her late forties, the woman was tanned and healthy looking. She wore a pristinely white tennis dress, and a diamond dangled from a tennis bracelet. She held a racket in one hand and an athletic bag in the other.
She eyed them with open suspicion. “If you’re selling something, that’s illegal here.”
“No, ma’am,” Kit said, showing her badge. “I’m Detective McKittrick and this is my partner, Detective Robinson. We’d like to speak to your son in relation to a case we’re working.”
Mary’s suspicion became obvious hostility. “Why? My son’s done nothing wrong.”
“A man was murdered in the retirement facility your son works in,” Connor said. “Your son manages the computer servers and we’ve been trying to reach him to ask for help deciphering some of the security outages that led to the victim’s death. He’s the only one that seems to know how things work around there,” he finished with a self-deprecating smile.
Mary puffed up with pride. “My Archie is a good man. And a smart one. He’s been telling them that they need a security upgrade, but nobody ever listens until it’s too late.”
That’s interesting, Kit thought. Especially since the facility had just installed a complicated new security system.
“Do you know where we can find your son, Mrs. Adler?” Kit asked. “We’ve checked his apartment, but he’s not there.”
“Oh, he’ll be at the college. He’s a grad student, you see.” More pride that seemed sincere. “Archie’s a hard worker. He goes to school during the daytime and works for the retirement center at night.” Mary smiled. “And he still finds time for his mama.”
Kit made herself smile back because the woman seemed to expect it. “That’s really nice, Mrs. Adler. Do you know where we should look for him at the college? It’s a big place. Does he have an office?”
“Oh yes. Look in the computer science building. His office is on the fourth floor.” She glanced at her watch. “Are we finished, Detectives? I have a tennis date and I don’t want to be late.” With a smile, she stepped outside and closed her front door, edging past them to go to her car. Waving, she drove away.
Connor’s brows rose. “I think we’ve been dismissed.”
“I think you’re right. I also don’t think we’re going to find Archie at the college.”
“Then we’ll drop by the Beachside Athletic Club afterward,” Connor said. “We can kick up a public fuss, which will hopefully embarrass her into cooperating. She’s new money. She won’t want to be disrespected by the old-money members.”
“I’m so glad you know all this classist shit,” Kit said. “How do you know which club she belongs to?”
“It was discreetly embroidered on the bag she was holding. It’s a ritzy place. Hefty price tag and there’s usually a waiting list to get in.”
Kit looked over her shoulder at him as they headed back to the department sedan. “You’re a member, aren’t you?”
He shrugged. “Legacy through my parents. I play squash there.”
She sighed as they got into the car. Sometimes she went whole days forgetting that Connor came from wealth. “Of course you do.”
“Hey, don’t knock it,” he said lightly. “It’s good exercise.”
She belted herself into the passenger seat. “You any good?”
“Eh. Not bad. But it draws the ladies.”
“Even CeCe?”
He smiled, his expression softening. “No, she’s more into farmers markets and antiquing in places my folks wouldn’t be caught dead in. I’m not telling my mom, but the gift CeCe gave her for her birthday came from a thrift store. Mom loved it and CeCe chuckled for days, so everyone won.”
“I like CeCe. She’s good for you.”
He cast her a sideways glance as he started the car. “I like Sam.”
“Connor.” But she felt her cheeks heat. “Stop.”
His lips twitched. “Okay. But you called him Sam during the meeting. Everyone else called him Dr. Reeves.”
Kit blinked. She had. Shit. Had anyone else noticed? Had Sam noticed? “Just drive to the college, okay?”
