Page 54 of What They'll Say About Us

"He's also more likely to lie to you because you don't know as much as I do. With both of us there, he's more likely to slip up." I paused at the bottom landing. "Do you really think I'm wrong?"

"I wish I did," he grumbled. "Let's do this before I change my mind."

We walked down the breezeway and around the corner to his car, which was a black Jeep and not a standardized police vehicle. Apparently, this was not official business, and I was fine with that. Procedure and protocol would only get in the way, and I was both surprised and happy that I'd talked Detective Barclay into letting me go on this trip.

As he started the engine and pulled away from the curb, he said, "Vincent Cabot was a good detective. He solved a lot of crimes, put many horrific criminals behind bars. You need to understand that this was one case in more than twenty-five years of service."

"I do understand that. And maybe he was great on other investigations, but I don't believe he pushed hard on this one, and since that's contrary to who he was, we need to know why."

He shook his head. "You're asking me to believe Vincent compromised a potential homicide investigation because of a friendship. I don't buy it."

"You might not be completely convinced, but you've heard enough to have questions. That's why we're talking to him. Maybe he'll have good answers, and then we can both move on."

"You should have been a lawyer. You know how to make a persuasive argument."

"My argument is persuasive because I have facts and questions that you need to have answered. Where does Detective Cabot live?"

"Skokie," he said. "About ten minutes from here."

"Is he married?"

"Divorced years ago. His wife didn't like his job or his hours."

"Are you married?"

"No."

"Do you live in Evanston?"

"Why do you care?" he challenged.

"Just making conversation. You don't have to answer."

"I live in Rogers Park," he answered, referring to an unpretentious neighborhood at the northernmost end of Chicago bordering Evanston.

"Are you a Chicago native?"

"I was born in Cleveland, but mom moved us here when I was three. I've never really lived anywhere else. What about you?"

"Born in New York, moved to California when I was twelve, came to Chicago to go to Northwestern, and now I'm back in New York. Full circle."

"Your aunt is Vivienne Fox?"

"Yes. She runs the Cornerstone Theater now, but she was an actress. She has a lot of film and stage credits."

"And she sublets the apartment you're currently staying in."

"You did some research, too."

"I like to know who I'm talking to. Were you an actress in New York before becoming a podcaster?"

"For a few years. That didn't work out. Let's talk about Detective Cabot. What can you tell me about him besides the fact that he was a great cop?"

Barclay thought for a moment. "He's a good man. He has mentored a lot of officers over the years, including myself. He likes basketball, working with kids, doing puzzles, and playing games."

"Including chess."

"Yeah," he muttered. "He used to go down to the Lincoln Park Chess Pavilion to play chess on the weekends. And he enjoyed the tournaments, too. He always wanted me to learn how to play, but I wasn't interested. He said chess kept his mind sharp. Kept him one step ahead of the criminals."