Forgotten in Death(71)

“That’s a lot of information about someone who was only a peripheral and occasional coworker.”

Ilyin lifted the fingers of his folded hands. “Mr. Delgato’s difficulties and predilections were common gossip among the crews. As is the information that Mr. Delgato was found hanging in his apartment in what would strongly appear to be a suicide. While tragic, I fail to see how this involves my client.”

“I hope to make that more clear. We’ll start with the fraudulent financial accounts, which violate U.S. tax and investment laws.”

“Lieutenant.” That smile again. “We’re all aware you and the detective work in Homicide. If we could—”

“Is your client refusing to cooperate re these violations?”

“I believe we can discuss those with the authorities so assigned. Meanwhile.”

“I’m the authority so assigned,” Eve snapped back. “Two of these fraudulent, tax-evading, illegal accounts are in New York, and the funding of same applies to the investigation of Carmine Delgato’s death. If your client wishes to remain silent on those matters, I can have him taken back to his cell.”

Tovinski muttered something in Russian and earned a sharp look from the lawyer.

“My client is an engineer, not a financial expert. Clearly, he mistakenly and inadvertently signed papers that opened these additional accounts, and was unaware he was in violation. He will, of course, immediately rectify that mistake and will pay any and all fines attached.”

“Would that include the accounts set up in Grand Cayman, in Moscow, and in Kiev?”

Ilyin’s interlocked fingers tightened, just a little. “Of course.”

Didn’t know, Eve concluded. Somebody’s client isn’t being fully open and honest.

“There’s a question of the funding thereof. How did you come up with one million, two hundred and eighty-four dollars over and above your earned income in the last twenty-four months, Mr. Tovinski?”

“My client receives cash bonuses.”

“Cash, unreported, of over a million dollars in the past twenty-four months?”

“Again, my client admits to some mistakes, as he is not fully educated on tax law and codes. He wasn’t aware he needed to report the cash.”

“Strange. You’d think his lawyer, his accountant, his financial adviser would be fully educated.”

“Lost in translation.”

“Oh? Do you speak English, Mr. Tovinski?”

“I speak English.”

At the accent, Peabody let out a soft sound, like a woman who’d just taken a bite out of something decadent and delicious. It earned her a warm look.

“And Italian and, of course, Russian. I am an educated man, but with money matters…” He lifted broad shoulders, giving Peabody another eye-flirt. “I am not so much.”

“Are you married, Mr. Tovinski?”

“My client is a happily married man, and a loving father to his son and his daughter.”

“Son and daughter, singular?” Eve nodded as she looked through the file. “I see here you have a joint account with a Nadia Tovinski, that would be your wife. And there’s an account, a trust fund for your son Mikael and your daughter Una.” She looked up and straight into Tovinski’s hard, handsome face. “I assume these other accounts, the hidden ones, are in your name only, as you preferred to keep them from your wife, son, and daughter.”

“My client’s marriage isn’t relevant.”

“Have to disagree. It’s relevant when the accounts in question are used to provide funds for … Let me find the list. Here we go. Elsa Karvell and the two minor children Gregor and Alise. For Pilar Sanchez and the minor child, Elena, and for Masie Franks, who is currently thirty weeks pregnant.”

She looked up, noted Tovinski’s stony face and the glint of anger in Ilyin’s eyes.

“I see a pattern there. Don’t you, Detective?”

“I…” In Peabody’s eyes, Eve saw dazzle, which her partner struggled to erase. “I, yes, sir.”

“Do your son and daughter with your legal wife know they have half siblings, Mr. Tovinski?”

“This is not your business.”

“I take that as a no. You’ve cheated on your wife a minimum of three times, impregnating these women—one of them twice—and have these accounts to pay them off, ensure their silence.”

“I pay no one off!” Outrage sparked, had him pounding a fist on the table.”

“Alexei—”

“No!” He shoved the lawyer’s hand aside. “She insults me.” He turned his gaze to Peabody. “Do I look like a man who must pay women?”

“No.” Peabody let out the giggle, then quickly covered her mouth with her hand. “I mean to say…”

Eve barely flicked Peabody a glance. “You went to a lot of trouble to set up hidden and illegal accounts to conceal them from your wife.”

“It’s not illegal for a man to have needs outside of marriage. I do not pay them off. I do my duty and see that the children have good homes, the best education and care. This is what a man who is a man does.”

“It’s a great deal of money.”

“These children are my blood.”