AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 88
I carefully watchedRhea Wellmy-Steinberg’s face as Stephanie Holly read her constitutional rights from a card. The emotionless mannequin I’d spoken to days earlier displayed a gamut of feelings, from annoyance that we were bothering her to anger that we weren’t leaving her alone. That switched to shock as she understood why we were there.
Rhea sat quietly for a moment. We gave her the time to process her shock, which then seemed to slip toward inattentive exhaustion. Like all the years of living in the fast lane had finally caught up with her.
Detective Holly said, “Ms. Wellmy-Steinberg, do you understand the rights that I just read to you?”
Finally, Rhea collected herself. She looked at Detective Holly and said, “Yes, yes, of course I do.”
Carefully, Detective Holly continued to talk and engage with Rhea. Then she said, “Will you speak with us?”
“Why?” There was no arrogance in the question.
Detective Holly said, “We’ll listen to explanations. Perhaps it was self-defense. Maybe we can work something out. Things might go easier for you.”
“Nothing is ever easy. Nothing.” There was a disturbing finality in her voice. Rhea didn’t fidget or show any nervousness. If anything, she was withdrawn. I had the distinct feeling she had been expecting this to happen at some point.
Detective Holly gently prodded her. “I have a few questions. Will you talk with us?”
She didn’t ask for an attorney and kept talking. That’s all an investigator could hope for.
I was on edge, anticipating Rhea’s refusal to talk. I expected Detective Holly felt the frustration every detective experiences at a slow-to-start interview.
Rhea’s usual arrogance could work in our favor. She viewed us as uninteresting drones who couldn’t trick her into revealing information. That was fine with me.
The waitress walked over toward us, but Rhea waved her off.
I’ve often found that the most powerful people have the fewest friends. She looked lost, lonely. My guess was she didn’t have anyone to confide in. Rhea Wellmy-Steinberg looked like someone without a friend in the world.
Then she started to cry. It sounds horrible, but I had been waiting for this moment of vulnerability, when her guard fell. She used a napkin to blow her nose. Her eyes were watery and red.
I leaned on the table a little and said, “Are you okay?”
After another mild honk into the napkin, Rhea nodded.
I had to keep going. If Rhea didn’t talk, I had nowhere else to look. At least not before I got sent home to New York. I felt my stomach tighten with anxiety as I looked into Rhea’s face. I honestly couldn’t tell if she was going to break or not.
I said, “I know you were close with Emily Parker. You and your husband both. Was it the same way with Michelle?”
I didn’t know exactly what cord that hit, but it hit hard. Rhea sucked in some air and stared at me like I had slapped her across the face.
Then she started to sob.
