Hide (Detective Harriet Foster #1)(97)

“So we let Morgan sit in there for a while and think,” Lonergan said. “Maybe we tell him his sister’s in trouble. See if he tries to do somethin’ about it. Least that’s how we used to do it before cops went all soft.”

You could have heard a pin drop in the room. Finally, Kelley spoke. “You know, I don’t see anything wrong with that plan.”

Bigelow gave Lonergan a thumbs-up. “Score one for Lonergan-Bigelow.”

“I’m going to follow up with Naperville PD,” Li said.

“I’ll start with Priscilla,” Foster said.

“What about Davies?” Symansky asked. “We’re not going to beat the bushes for her?”

“Her brother’s had his phone calls,” Foster said. “I think she’ll come to us.”





CHAPTER 71


There was only a brief moment of anxiety as Amelia Davies walked into the police station hours later with the lawyer she’d hired for Bodie and, if things went sideways, herself too. When she’d gotten back to her phone after meeting with her father, there had been five frantic messages from Bodie telling her where he was and what had happened. He had no idea she’d attacked Silva, and she didn’t tell him, but he knew other things, things she didn’t want the police getting out of him. She wondered the entire way there how difficult it would be to sneak into the ICU to finish what she’d started.

But the immediate problem now was Bodie. Again. Amelia didn’t fear the police. She’d plunged that knife pretty deep. Silva couldn’t possibly last too much longer, and Amelia doubted she was in any condition to talk to anyone, let alone Detectives Foster and Li. She got strange looks from the police when she announced herself at the desk and she and the lawyer she’d hired for Bodie, Edwin Bishop, were shown into the small interview room, but she did her best to ignore the stares. It was confidence she wished to convey.

“Remember, let me do the talking,” Bishop said. “Follow my lead.”

Amelia sat calmly at the table. She wasn’t worried or tense, not anymore. She knew she was smarter than any detective. “I understand.”

She liked that Bishop sat beside her in a ridiculously expensive-looking suit, graying at the temples, his face expertly shaved. He looked every bit the part of a high-priced attorney, which was what she’d needed. She wanted to make an impression, to strike fear into the detectives’ hearts so they would know they were not going to have an easy time with Bodie.

The door opened, and Foster and Li walked in and sat at the table. Bishop spoke first. “Ms. Davies has retained counsel on behalf of her brother, Bodie Morgan. What are the charges, and when can I confer with him?”

“We let Mr. Morgan go about five minutes ago,” Foster said. A cell phone rang. It wasn’t hers or Li’s or Bishop’s. “That’s probably him calling now to tell you all about it.”

Amelia ignored the ringing. They’d made a move she hadn’t anticipated.

Bishop looked confused. “What’s happening?”

Li folded her hands on top of a file on the table but didn’t answer. Foster cleared her throat. “Bodie Morgan’s psychiatrist was attacked last night. We’d like to talk to Ms. Davies about that. Would you mind telling us, Ms. Davies, where you were around midnight last night?”

Amelia almost laughed. “You can’t be serious.”

“Are you accusing her of attacking this person?” Bishop asked.

“We’re not accusing her of anything,” Foster said. “We’re just having a conversation.”

Bishop started to get up. “Like hell you are. It’s a fishing expedition.”

“Not quite,” Li said. “Silva ID’d Ms. Davies as being the woman who attacked her.”

Bishop glared at them. “Physical evidence? Witnesses? No, or she’d be in cuffs already. Amelia, let’s go.”

Amelia cocked her head and studied Foster. She was the one Amelia was up against. Her father had always taught her that outthinking an adversary was only a victory if the adversary was a worthy opponent, that you could take no pride in besting an inferior. Foster had set a trap for her, and she’d taken the bait. Well played.

“Not yet.” Amelia smiled sweetly, as if butter wouldn’t melt. She wasn’t a fool. She hadn’t been raised by a fool either. Cue look of concern, soft eyes. Amelia remembered what was expected. “I saw it on the news this morning. I was so upset. Is she going to be okay?”

“Have you ever met Dr. Silva?” Foster asked.

Amelia ran through the choices in her head . . . no or yes, truth or lie. She went with the lie. “Early on in Bodie’s stay. She had questions about our family and our childhood she hoped I could answer.”

“And did you?” Li asked.

“Some. I gave her as much as I could. I wanted to help my brother.”

“Why was she shocked then to hear he had a twin? You?” Foster asked. “She ID’d your photo as the woman who attacked her but didn’t have your name.”

“I assume Silva is in critical condition,” Bishop said. “Heavily medicated after such a violent attack. She can’t possibly be in her right mind. She could be confused, disoriented. This is clearly an unreliable victim account.” He searched their faces. “But you know that already. A conversation, you say, but this is you trying to get us to do your work for you.” He smiled. “No dice. Amelia.” He gestured for Amelia to get up.