“I thought we did,” Killegrew said. “Nadia, didn’t I tell
you to recover them?”
Nadia gave a little start. “Did you? Goodness, I must have
forgotten. I was so upset.”
“Do you want me to get them now?” Judith asked. “They’re
in my room.”
“Later,” said Killegrew. “Let’s get on with it.”
Gene Jarman did, posing another thirty or so questions,
most of which Judith didn’t find relevant to the case. At last,
he moved on to the discovery of Leon Mooney’s body. There
was much less to tell, and Jarman concluded by asking Renie
why she’d turned on the kitchen lights.
Renie was miffed. “The better to see him with? Jeez, it
was pretty dark in there. Did you want us tripping over poor
old Leon?”
“My point,” Gene said painstakingly, “is that the killer
might have turned the lights
smudged important fingerprints.”
Renie’s face fell. “You’re right. I didn’t think of that.”
Ava had gotten to her feet. “Are we done?” she asked in
a tired voice. “It’s late, and I don’t know about the rest of
you, but I’m beat.”
Gene didn’t look pleased. “We haven’t gone over any of
our whereabouts after the meeting tonight. I think we should
get that down while everything is fresh in our minds.” He
glanced at Nadia. “How are you doing?”
“Fine,” Nadia replied, though she appeared haggard. “I’m
certainly glad I haven’t forgotten my shorthand.”
“All right,” Killegrew sighed. “Let’s go around the room.
It shouldn’t take long.”
“Let’s start,” Gene began a bit ponderously, “by asking
who saw Leon last.”
No one spoke. Glances were exchanged, throats were
cleared, and drinks were sipped, but nobody responded. Finally, Max Agasias broke the silence.
“He was sitting on that ottoman, the last I remember,”
Max said, pointing to the empty green leather footstool near
the hearth.
Everyone followed his gaze, fixated on the spot as if they
could see the ghost of Leon Mooney.
“He went up in the elevator with me,” Margo finally said.
“You were there, too, Russell. Don’t you remember?”
“Was I? Did he?” Russell stared vaguely at the fireplace.
“Yes,” Margo continued. “We were the last to leave the
lobby. Leon’s so quiet that sometimes we don’t notice him.
Or didn’t,” she added in a softer tone.
“I saw him last.” Andrea held her head high. “We’d
decided to share another piece of that delicious angel food
