“Mommy, are you… okay?” Leni’s lower lip quivered, and her chest heaved in her flowered dress.
“Of course, I’m fine!” Julia put on a grin, but behind her, a fleet of cruisers zoomed from the parking lot, their sirens bursting into ear-splitting sound.
“Mommy!” Leni cried harder, since even a toddler knew sirens meant danger.
“I’m fine, Leni!” Julia shouted over the sirens. “Gianluca, I’m sorry, I’m at the police station.”
“I hear,” Gianluca shot back, coming onscreen. “What are you doing there?”
“Courtney’s been arrested for her grandmother’s murder.”
“What?” Gianluca’s mouth dropped open. “How can thathappen?”
“I think the police are—” Julia stopped herself. “I think the police are crazy.”
“They must be! Poor Courtney! How is she feeling?”
“I’m waiting to speak with her. She’s upset, I’m sure.”
“How horrible, after the death of her grandmother.”
Julia could hear Leni crying louder. “You should probably go.”
“I should. Call me later?”
“Of course, yes, goodbye. Love you.”
“Goodbye.”
Leni cried, “Mommy, come home!”
“Love you,” Julia said, but Gianluca had already ended the call. She stood for a moment, trying to absorb everything that was going on. The sirens receded into the distance, and uniformed cops hustled in and out of the station, puffy in their insulated jackets and bulletproof vests.
Suddenly her phone rang, and she didn’t recognize the number, but she picked up. “Hello?”
“Julia, it’s Susan. Is Courtney okay? I can’t believe theyarrestedher!”
“I can’t, either. I haven’t seen her yet.”
“Why do they thinkshekilled Kay? Have they lost their minds?”
“I know, it’s awful. We got her a good lawyer though.”
“Well done. Listen, I’m calling about the funeral. Everyone is still here, and they will stay if we’re going to hold it. Mel doesn’t want to go forward without Courtney’s permission. I think it should be her decision, too. That’s what Kay would want.”
“I agree. Can we postpone until I speak with her? I’m hoping to within the hour.”
“Yes, I’ll tell him.” Susan clucked. “My Lord, what are the police thinking?”
“I don’t know.” Julia noticed through the window in the door that two men in suits were approaching. “But I’m about to find out.”
28
Detective William Kowalski turned out to be a tall, taciturn man in his fifties with sharp blue eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses and salt-and-pepper hair in a neat cut. He had on a gray suit with a patterned tie, making a trimly professional appearance. He retrieved Julia from the waiting room, escorted her through another door that readOFFICIAL PERSONNEL ONLY, and took her aside. He introduced her to his partner, Detective Joe Brennan, who was stocky with hazel eyes set close together, big freckles on fair skin, and shaggy brown hair. His nose was gouged at the tip, as if he’d had something removed.
“Thank you for seeing me.” Julia acted braver than she felt. “I’m Courtney’s best friend, and she’s being represented by Bennie Rosato, who should be here later tonight.”
“Rosato?” Detective Kowalski frowned slightly. “Out of Philly?”
