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Chapter 98
I spotted Bobbyhustling across the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool about two minutes before his time was up. That meant he had hauled ass. His usual confidence was nowhere in sight as he quick-stepped toward the memorial.
He wasn’t wearing a suit today. Just slacks and a nice dress shirt. I knew he had his gun concealed under his shirt somewhere.
I gave Bobby a little wave when he paused at the foot of the stairs, looked up, and noticed me. The look of shock on his face told me I was not one of the suspects he’d had in mind when he received the text. His head swiveled in both directions, looking to see if I had anyone helping me.
He stared at me in silence for a few seconds. Then he took each step deliberately until he plopped down on the stair next to me. He tried to recline and let his legs sprawl to another stair. His effort to look casual came off as awkward. It exposed how freaked-out he was.
Bobby continued to act cool. The sweat on his forehead and the growing spots under his arms told me otherwise. He swiveled his head in every direction.
I said, “It’s just us, Bobby. If there are any other cops around the memorial, they’ve got nothing to do with me.”
Bobby said, “I checked over at the Office of the Inspector General and I know your girlfriend is testifying before the Senate all day. I believe that you’re really on your own. What I can’t believe is that you would break into my apartment.”
“Really? That’s the behavior that’s over the line?”
“I don’t know what else you’ve done.”
“I guess we’re in the same boat. I’m only sure about one murder you committed. You have any others?”
That got under his skin. He glared at me.
Bobby then forced a smile. “How are you going to explain where you found the phone? I can explain why I have it.”
“Go ahead.”
“I don’t have to explain anything to you. I mean if someone asks me from the Bureau why I have it.”
“So this is the game you’re going to play? Just deny shit? Not very original. Neither is strangling a woman. Unfortunately, it’s all too common for men to strangle women they know.”
Bobby stayed silent. With his brooding expression, I was not sure if he was trying to figure out how to get away or how to eliminate me. Either way, it meant I had him for Emily’s murder.
Bobby wasn’t budging. I guess I had thought he might confess once I showed him the phone. I was waiting on the help I’d called for. So far, I had nothing.
Bobby said, “You’re wasting my time, Detective Bennett.” The way he had used the title Detective told me he planned to play hardball. “I’ve got a lot to do. I can’t keep you company while you go senile. If you had enough, you’d turn it over to the FBI.” That was all he was going to say. And it was enough. He was disrespecting me with efficient answers. I couldn’t even bitch about it.
Then I felt my own phone vibrate. I pulled it out and looked at the text quickly. I did everything I could to keep the smile from my face. I memorized the text and slipped my phone back into my pocket.
I took a moment so it didn’t seem like I was rushing. Then I casually looked over at Bobby and said, “I’ve got more than you might think. For instance, I know you bought that fancy Montblanc pen at a shop over in Arlington.”
He couldn’t keep his eyes from popping open a little. I managed to still suppress a smile.
“You paid for it with your Mastercard. The engraving took four days.” I paused, then decided to go out on a limb. “But when you gave it to Emily, she didn’t see it for what it was.” I gave Bobby a chance to respond. He chose to remain a statue.
“She took it as a gift from a friend. But only a friend. That had to eat at you.”
You didn’t have to be a seasoned investigator to see how my analysis was hitting Bobby hard.
Now I was starting to worry that he would do something violent. No one wanted to see a gunfight outside the Lincoln Memorial.
Bobby just stared at me. But he wasn’t getting up to leave. I was going to ride this out.
