“Lane, I know I was on the phone for much of the time, but go ahead and write down what happened. What you heard happen.”
Lane took the pen and pad that Mick pushed toward her and placed her left hand on the pad to hold it in place as she wrote. This was becoming a habit, writing statements in the police station. One she badly wanted to break.
Lila saw Lane’s engagement ring. Was blinded by it was more accurate. “I see you’ve gotten engaged since I saw you last. Congratulations.”
“Yes, two days ago. Thank you,” Lane said as she continued to write.
“Anyone I know?”
Why did Lane feel like she was being interrogated? She looked up at Lila who was glaring at Lane’s hand.
There was a tap at the door. “If my client’s going to be questioned, she should probably have her attorney present. If you don’t want me in there because I’m a witness, then I’ll call Sal.”
Lane had finished writing her statement and pushed the pad and pen toward Mick.
“It’s okay Bellini, come on in.” Mick was anxious to see what was going on with this little triangle. Lila didn’t seem any happier to see that boulder on Lane’s ring finger than he was.
“Detective Crane, do you have any other questions for my client?”
“No, counselor, none for your client.” “Maybe one or two for your fiancée.” she thought. “But after I question the suspect, I might have some questions for you. Where can I reach you?”
Ben helped Lane stand. “Call my office and arrange something.” Ben nodded to Mick. “Mickey, Detective Crane.” And he guided Lane out of the interview room, down the hall, out of the Leawood police station and to his Jag.
“We should call the Bambino and let him know what’s going on. That you’re all right at least.”
Lane looked at her watch. It was eight o’clock. She’d told Jamie she would probably go to Ben’s after she dropped Jess, reminding him that there was left over meatloaf and scalloped potatoes for his dinner.
“I told him I’d probably stop to see you after I dropped Jess off. He probably doesn’t expect me until late,” she said as she tapped in the home phone number.
“Hey. Did you eat? Ben and I are going to grab something. Can we bring something home for you? Okay. We should be there in about 15 minutes.”
She smiled at Ben. “I feel guilty about leaving him home alone while I’m out having all of this adventure. I guess I kinda need to know my baby’s all right. Can we swing by Popeye’s?”
Ben had the habit of holding her hand while he drove and he gave her a little squeeze. “Just another of many the reasons I love you. You’re a great Mom. Of course we can swing by and get food. I’ve noticed that he’s got his head in the fridge all of the time lately. Must be having a growing spurt or something.” He shook his head. Jamie was already as tall as he was and close to Ben’s weight. He hoped he wasn’t having a growing spurt.
“You know, it’s a very strange phenomenon when your child grows taller than you are. I’ve been looking up to see him in the face since he was 13.”
They got home with chicken and Jamie dug in like he hadn’t eaten in days. It took a couple of minutes, but he finally noticed that neither Ben nor Lane seemed very hungry.
“Aren’t you guys going to eat?”
Lane pulled out a chicken breast and put it on her plate. “So, you know Rochelle, the receptionist at Dr. Andersen’s office?”
Jamie nodded and continued eating.
Ben picked up the story. “Well, she showed up at my house this evening.”
Jamie stopped eating and looked at Ben. Some random woman had gone to Ben’s and neither he nor Mom was eating. This wasn’t good.
“God, there’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to tell you.”
Yep, this wasn’t good. The muscles in Jamie’s jaw clenched.
“She held me at gun point because she saw your Mom’s engagement ring today. Your mom was on the phone and heard the whole thing. She called Detective McGuire. Rochelle has been arrested and we suspect she killed Carol Anne.”
Jamie looked from Ben to Lane. Another hostage situation. At least it wasn’t his Mom this time, but she’d been involved. Where the hell was Jess when you needed her? Jetting toward L.A. that’s where. He looked at the clock. She’d be landing in Minneapolis any minute now. But everyone was okay and she had that audition she needed to concentrate on. He’d call Jake. After he finished eating.
Chapter 20
Why so many Exes
Lila interviewed Rochelle Jones at length. No doubt about it, she had a screw loose. Mick McGuire had Mirandized her, and she had waived her right to counsel.
“Rochelle, where were you at one o’clock last Friday afternoon?”
Rochelle closed her eyes and seemed to concentrate before answering. “Well, Dr. Andersen has Friday afternoons off, so the office was closed.”
“Yes, but where were you?” Lila asked.
“I usually have an appointment with Dr. Conrad on Friday afternoons, but she cancelled last week.”
“Who is Dr. Conrad?”
“Dr. Liza Conrad. She’s my psychologist.”
~~~~~
Ben was in his office preparing for a trial that was scheduled to start Jury selection the next day. His admin buzzed him.
“There’s a Dr. Liza Conrad on line one for you. Something about one of her patients.”
Liza. He hadn’t talked to Liza in what was it, four years? No that wasn't right. He and Lane had run into her and her date at Papa’s a few months ago. He’d introduced Lane as his “friend” and told Liza it was nice to see her again. Then he’d put his hand in the small of Lane’s back and guided her to the Board Room. Lane had asked him that night why he’d never been married. He said he couldn’t imagine spending the rest of his life with any of them. There was only one woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
He pushed the speaker button. “Liza. What can I do for you?”
“I understand you were involved in an altercation of sorts with one of my patients. Rochelle Jones.”
“Rochelle is your patient? I guess you could call it an altercation. She broke into my house and held me at gun point while she professed her undying love. Luckily I was on the phone with my fiancée who overheard the entire conversation and had the presence of mind to call a Leawood detective friend.”
“Fiancée? Some lucky woman has finally snagged you, huh? Congratulations.” Liza was genuinely happy for him, but she couldn’t afford to get distracted. “Listen, she’s being held as a suspect in the murder of Carol Anne Woods. Ben, I know she didn’t do it. You’re the best criminal defense attorney in the metro.” She paused.
What the hell, surely Liza didn’t call him to ask him to represent Rochelle.
She heard him take a deep breath. She imagined the look on his face and what he was thinking. “I didn’t call to ask you to represent her. I know you can’t do that after what she did. But I was hoping you could recommend someone.”
He knew there was a good chance a defense attorney could easily build an insanity defense. There was something that niggled at the back of his mind. Yes, she’d come to his house with a gun, but the more he thought about it, the more he was sure that she hadn’t planned to use it. And she had come to his house, she hadn’t gone after Lane. She hadn’t threatened to kill him, none of that “if I can’t have you then no one can.” What would it hurt to recommend someone?