Sullivan pivoted again.His voice remained even, almost casual."Ms.Stewart, as part of the estate review, we've also been looking at financial records.We've noticed some deposits in accounts associated with individuals connected to the estate.Can you tell us about any additional income you had during the time you were caring for Celia Ann?"
The question landed like a stone in still water.Barrett saw the ripple move through Olivia's body.Her shoulders drew up.Her breath caught, audible in the quiet room.Her eyes went wide for a fraction of a second.
"What money?"she said."I don't know what you're talking about."
Sullivan did not react.He held his pen over the notepad and waited, as though the question was still open, and he expected a more complete answer.
Olivia's face was damp now.A fine sheen of perspiration had appeared along her hairline and across the bridge of her nose.Her voice climbed half an octave."My only income was my salary from caring for Celia Ann.That's it.I don't know what deposits you're referring to."
Barrett observed the response with the same clinical detachment he brought to every interrogation."What money?"was a revealing answer.Sullivan had not mentioned an amount or a source.An innocent person with nothing to hide would have asked which deposits, or offered to explain their bank activity, or simply said they could provide records."What money?"was the response of a person who knew precisely what money was in question and was terrified that it had been found.
Sullivan made another note."All right," he said."We may follow up on that, but for now, I think we have what we need."He closed the file folder and set his pen down."Thank you for coming in, Ms.Stewart.We appreciate your cooperation."
Olivia nodded.She uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on the table, and Barrett noticed that her fingers were trembling.She tried to stand and her chair scraped against the floor.She steadied herself with one hand on the table's edge.
"If you have any other questions, you know how to reach me," she said, her voice wavering.
Sullivan stood and opened the door for her."We'll be in touch."
Barrett watched her walk out of the interview room.
Sullivan closed the interview room door and turned to Barrett.Neither of them spoke until they were back in Sullivan's office with the door shut.
"She's lying," Sullivan said.
"About the medications and the money," Barrett said."The story she told about Celia Ann refusing pills and being confused contradicts what she said at her apartment.She described herself as meticulous the first time we met.Now Celia Ann was confused and stubborn.She can't have it both ways."
Sullivan sat behind his desk and opened his laptop."The pharmacy records don't lie.The blood pressure medication lasted too long between refills, which means the patient wasn't getting it.The heart medication ran out too fast, which means it's likely that Olivia was administering more than prescribed."
"And she can't explain either pattern without admitting what she did," Barrett said.
Sullivan pulled up a screen and turned the monitor so Barrett could see it."Now we wait."
The screen displayed an audio feed from the phone monitoring system.The tap on Olivia's phone had been authorized with the warrant that also produced the text message transcripts.Sullivan had kept it active, anticipating this moment.When Olivia felt pressure, she would probably reach out to the one person she believed could reassure her.
Barrett settled into the chair across from the desk and waited.He had learned the art of patience.It was inadvisable to rush an operation.It was better to let events develop at their own pace and stay alert for the moment that mattered.
It took less than ten minutes.
When the audio feed activated, Sullivan turned up the volume, and Olivia's voice filled the small office.She was breathing hard, as though she had been walking fast.The sound of a car engine hummed in the background.She had not even made it home before calling.
"They're asking questions."Olivia's voice was tight and thin, stripped of the composure she had tried to maintain in the interview room."About medications.About money."
Kal's voice came through on the other end.His tone was cold, and he acted untroubled."Don't panic.Stick to the story.You cared for her.She died of natural causes."
"What if they find out?"Olivia said.The words came fast, tumbling over each other."What if they know?"
"They don't know anything," Kal said."Stop being paranoid."
A pause.Barrett heard Olivia take a shaky breath.When she spoke again, her voice had changed.The fear was still there, but there was a note of desperation.
"When this is over, we'll be together like you promised, right?"
Barrett looked at Sullivan, whose eyes were fixed on the monitor.
Kal's answer came after a beat of silence that lasted just long enough to carry its own meaning."Sure," he said."Just hold it together."
The call ended.
