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His silence held a beat, then two. “Life is to be lived. I consider myself fortunate to have known them, fortunate to be in a position, to have work I love that allows me to know so many talented people. I suppose when a man has worked over half his life in an industry peopled with so much talent—along with the egos, the fragilities, the pressures—loss is inevitable.”
“Loss, yes. But murder? Let’s hope murder isn’t an inevitability.”
“I certainly didn’t mean to imply it was, but it is, unfortunately, a reality in our society—in our world.”
“And fodder for our entertainment, as K.T.’s role as then Officer Peabody in the screen adaptation of the infamous Icove case is what brought her, and you, to New York at this time. Lieutenant Eve Dallas, along with Peabody and the resources of the NYPSD, broke that case. Dallas is also heading the investigation into K.T.’s murder. Today she announced they’ve uncovered new information. She claims she believes they’re close to making an arrest. What do you think about that?”
“I hope it’s not theater.”
“Theater?”
“I understand the pressure, from her superiors and the media, has been intense. I hope the investigators are, indeed, close to learning who killed K.T. It will never make up for the loss, but it may give us all a sense of closure.”
“And relief?” Nadine said w
ith a hint of a smile. “As one of the select group in attendance at the Roundtree/Burkette home that night, you’re a suspect.”
“As are you,” he shot back.
“Not guilty,” Nadine said, raising her right hand. “I know I’ll be relieved when Lieutenant Dallas makes an arrest. It’s disconcerting, don’t you find, Joel, to be under suspicion—and to have friends and colleagues on that same list?”
“I can’t and won’t believe any of us killed K.T.—our sister, our daughter, our friend. I suspect this ‘new information’ deals with an outsider.”
“An outsider?”
“Someone who gained entry by posing as catering staff, or valet, or what have you. A disturbed fan, perhaps. So, yes, I’ll be relieved when this is cleared up, the questions answered, and our lives returned to normal. I understand Lieutenant Dallas is doing her job, but to focus on us? Absurd. After all, we were all gathered together in one place at the time K.T. was killed. You were there yourself. I have to believe someone else followed K.T. up to the roof, and tragedy followed that. If—off the record.”
Nadine eased back, nodded to her camera. But said nothing as she knew the wire she wore would keep things very much on the record.
“I’m not going to cast suspicion or aspersions on my friends and colleagues on-screen.”
“I understand.”
“It’s bad for business,” he said flatly. “I’m sticking to it being an outsider—on the record. But I’m worried, I’m very worried something happened that night between K.T. and … one of us.”
“You suspect someone.” Nadine widened her eyes. “Joel!”
“I’m not going to discuss that, even off the record. It’s probably just the nerves of dealing with all this. The fact is, if she hadn’t gone up to indulge in the filthy habit of smoking, she might still be alive.”
“They do say even the herbals are bad for our health.”
“Worse yet when it’s one after the other mixed in with sense-dulling illegals like zoner.” He waved a hand in front of his face. “The combination reeks. I’m sorry. I’m upset—tired. I don’t want to speak ill of the dead and you don’t want that either. It’s bad for business as well.”
“Joel, I was there, too.” To enhance that connection, she leaned forward to lay a hand over his. Solidarity.
“I’m part of this. If you have reason to believe … If you think you know who killed her, tell me. I won’t go public.”
“I don’t feel right about it. Give me a day or two.” He turned his hand over, gave hers a pat and squeeze. “I need to think it through. I’m probably making too much of things. Now, Nadine, I really need you to wrap this up. It’s been a very long day.”
“Of course.” She settled back, signaled the camera again. She lobbed a couple of easy ones, to reset the tone, put him at ease.
And decided straight interview or undercover, it was going to play very well.
“Again, thank you so much for doing this. I know it’s a terrible time for everyone.”
“Life—and work—go on. I’ll walk you out.”
“You don’t need to bother.”
