“Yes.” Julia could tell he recognized the name. “Can I see Courtney?”
“No. Only immediate family until she’s in prison and submits a visitors’ list.”
“Did you interview her?”
“Not yet. She’s still in Booking.”
“Do you interview her even if her lawyer said she shouldn’t talk?”
“Yes. We need to hear that from her. If she tells us she doesn’t want to talk to us, we end the interview.”
“I wish I could be there when you do.” Julia remembered Bennie’s advice. “She’s upset, and this is so hard for her. She didn’t do anything wrong, and she was arrested at her grandmother’s funeral, for God’s sake. Her husband isn’t even here.”
Detective Kowalski said nothing.
“I’ve known her all my life, and I knew her grandmother. I probably have a lot of information you could use, if you want to interview me.”
Detective Kowalski’s eyebrows lifted. “Fine.”
“But I don’t want you to interview me without her, and I don’t want you to interview her without me.”
Detective Kowalski pressed his thin lips together. “For your information, we can interview you anytime we want.”
Gulp.“Don’t you need a subpoena or a warrant?” Julia asked, trying to remember any criminal law from before.
“No. We need neither for an interview that’s noncustodial.”
“But I could say no, couldn’t I?”
“Yes.”
Julia saw an opening. “Well, I would say yes if I could be there when you interview Courtney. Together, maybe we could hash it out, even with her not talking. I know a lot about her grandmother’s murder.”
Detective Kowalski blinked.
The interview room held a metal table and a few blue bucket chairs. Blank waiver forms sat on the table, along with a chewed-up pen. There was nothing on the walls except an embedded mirror. A videocamera was mounted near the ceiling. The fluorescent lighting was harsh, and the air smelled like stale cigarettes.
Julia sat next to Courtney, trying to stay in control. She’d tried not to cry when she first saw Courtney, but it wasn’t easy. Courtney’s eyes were bloodshot and puffy. Her hands were handcuffed in front of her, so she had to bend over to scratch her face. Her black suit was wrinkled, and the bow of her blouse was undone again.
Detective William Kowalski sat erect, with a legal pad in front of him. Detective Brennan slid a stenographer’s pad and a Cross pen from the pocket of his navy sportjacket as the interview began.
“I don’t understand why I’m here,” Courtney blurted out, her lower lip trembling. “You really think I killed mygrandmother? My grandmother who Ilove?”
Julia touched her arm. “Courtney, the lawyer told me to tell you not to say anything.” She turned to Detective Kowalski. “I told you, she’s not going to speak.”
Detective William Kowalski nodded. “Ms. Horan, are you exercising your right against self-incrimination?”
“Yes,” Courtney answered, nodding shakily.
“Fine, but I believe in laying my cards on the table.” Detective Kowalski kept his gaze on Courtney and opened his palms. “I can explain your situation, and you might understand why it would be in your best interest to cooperate with us.”
“Okay.” Julia answered for Courtney, preparing herself to remember everything he said. “But talk to me, not her.”
Detective Kowalski ignored Julia, eyeing Courtney. “This morning, we conducted a search of your motel room. We discovered what we believe to be the weapon used to kill your grandmother.”
Courtney gasped. “That’s not possible!”
Oh my God.Julia shot Courtney a warning glance. “I don’t understand. The state police found the murder weapon in the field. It was a ghost gun.”
