"No, sir." Peabody cleared her throat, fixed a sober expression on her face as she realized she was being told they were likely under audio as well as video surveillance.
It took several minutes before the light in the first floor windows flashed on. She didn't hear locks being disengaged, which told her the door was fully soundproofed. It opened silently, and she got her first look at Lucias.
His bright red hair was disheveled. He wore a long white night-robe belted loosely at the waist. And gave every appearance of a young man just roused out of sleep, and puzzled as to the reason why.
"I'm sorry." He blinked owlishly. "You're the police?"
"Yes." She offered her badge again. "Are you Lucias Dunwood?"
"That's right. What's this about? Is there some trouble in the neighborhood?"
"Not that I'm aware of. May we come in and speak to you, Mr. Dunwood?"
"All right. Sorry, I'm a little punchy." He stepped back, gestured them into a wide foyer with marble floors glowing under the lights from a three-tiered silver chandelier. "I've been in bed a couple of hours. I'm not used to having the police come to my door."
"I'm sorry to disturb you so late. I have some difficult news. It might be better if we sat down."
"What kind of news? What's wrong?"
"Mr. Dunwood, I'm sorry to tell you that your grandfather is dead."
"My grandfather?"
Eve watched with reluctant admiration as he paled, lifted a hand that trembled very slightly to his lips. "Dead? My grandfather's dead? Was there an accident?"
"No, he was murdered."
"Murdered? Oh God, oh my God. I do need to sit down." He made it as far as a long silver bench in the foyer, then collapsed on it. "I can't believe this. It's like I'm dreaming. What happened? What happened to him?"
"Your grandfather was found in the East River earlier tonight. The investigation into his death is underway. I'm sorry for your loss, Mr. Dunwood, but it would help us if you'd answer some questions."
"Of course. Of course I will."
"Are you here alone?"
"Alone?" His head came up and she saw suspicion pass quickly over his face before he lowered it again.
"If you're alone, perhaps there's someone you'd like my aide to call. To stay with you."
"No. No, I'm all right. I'll be all right."
"When's the last time you saw your grandfather?"
"He's been away, some consult business off planet. I suppose it's been several weeks."
"Did he at that time express to you any concerns, any fears for his safety?"
"Why no." Lucias looked up again. "I don't understand."
"There's a possibility your grandfather was killed by someone he knew. A car registered in his name was set on fire only hours before his body was found. The car was parked near the ground-shuttle tracks off East One-forty-three. Are you aware of any business that would take him to that area?"
"None whatsoever. His car was set on fire? That sounds like – like some sort of vendetta. But Grandfather was, he was a humanitarian, a great man who dedicated his life to medicine and research. This has to be some terrible mistake."
"Are you studying to be a doctor?"
"I'm taking a leave from schooling just now." He pressed his fingers to his temple, covering most of his face. And Eve studied the dragon's head carved into the sapphire in the blended gold ring on his right hand.
"I wanted time to think, to explore, to decide what area of medicine would suit me best. My grandfather…" His voice broke, he looked away. "He leaves big footprints to fill. He was my mentor, my inspiration."
"I'm sure he was very proud of you. You were close then?"
"I think so. He was larger than life, a man who drove himself to excel. I hope to be worthy of his memory. To end like this, thrown in the river like… sewage. My God, to have been stripped of his dignity at the end of his life. How he would hate that. You have to find who did this to him, Lieutenant. They have to pay for what they did."
"We'll find them, and they'll pay. I'm sorry, but I have to ask, it's standard procedure. Can you account for your whereabouts tonight, between the hours of seven and midnight?"
"My… Christ. I hadn't thought… I'd be a kind of suspect. I was home here until about eight-thirty. Then I went out to a club. I didn't actually talk to anyone. Didn't see anyone very interesting. I'd been hoping… Okay, I confess. I'd thought I might pick up a girl for the evening, but it didn't work out. I came home early. Ten-thirty, I'd say. My security system would verify that."
"So you were alone, essentially?"
"I have a house droid." He got to his feet. "I can get it. You can question it as to when I left, when I came back. Oh, and I have a cash receipt for drinks. I'm sure they're time and date stamped. Will that help?"
"Very much. We'll just clear this up so we can move on in the investigation."
"Anything I can do. Anything to help. I'll get the droid. And while you're doing the questioning, I'll get the receipt. I'm sure I stuck it in my pocket."
"Appreciate it. Oh, I should tell you your address is mis-listed in the city files."
"Excuse me?"
"Your address, there's an error. I got your correct location from your grandfather's files. You might want to see to that, when you get the chance."
"How odd. Yes, I'll take care of it. Excuse me just a minute."
He got the droid, having no doubt Kevin's careful re-programming and falsified input would hold. But his fists were clenched when he strode into his bedroom. Kevin rushed in behind him.
"You said they'd never identify the car."
"Well, they did," Lucias shot back. "But it doesn't matter. Everything's fine. Looks like it's just as well that stupid bitch didn't show up at Jean-Luc's tonight. I wouldn't have this." He tugged the receipt out of his trouser pocket. "Alibied all around, and playing the shocked and grieving grandson."
"What about me?"
"They don't know about you, and there's no reason they should. There's no connection between this and the project as far as the cops are concerned. And no connection that can be proved between me and my grandfather's death. Just stay up here and be quiet. I'm handling this."
He hurried down again. "Lieutenant, in my pocket, just as I thought." He handed Eve the receipt.
"Fine. I'd like my aide to make a copy of this for the files."
"Of course."
He waited while Peabody scanned the receipt. "Is there anything else I can do? Anything at all?"
"Not at this time. We'll be in touch."
"You'll let me know if you – when you find who did this."
"You'll be the first," Eve promised.
She walked back to the car, slid behind the wheel. "Cold-blooded son of a bitch. He was enjoying that."
"Droid could've been reprogrammed," McNab said from the backseat. "Same for the security. The guy who's been doing the e-work could've done both. It'd be cake."
"Still, we didn't get much out of him," Peabody complained.
"Didn't we?" Eve tapped her fingers on the wheel. "I never said his grandfather's name and he never asked. He has the requisite two, both New York City residents. But he never asked which one was dead. Didn't have to ask. And that bit about being stripped of his dignity at the end of his life. That's just what he'd done. What he'd intended to do. And he out-thought himself by not just saying his pal and housemate Kevin was with him part of the evening. Didn't want to share the spotlight."
"I guess we got more out of him than I thought."
"That's right. Little mistakes."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Roarke met them at the door. It only took one look at Eve's face to confirm his suspicion that she was running on fumes. At that moment, he'd have preferred closing the door in Peabody's and McNab's faces, scooping his wife up, and pouring her into bed.
Because she read something of his thoughts, Eve nudged everyone inside. "It was quicker to bring them here."
"We can catch a cab downtown," Peabody said, sacrificing the delights of lolling in one of the magnificent beds for a few hours.