lobbyist, let me take the lead with Crowley.”
“I’m on a roll, Armstrong. Think I can’t handle a homicide investigation?”
“I think you’d be great, but you’ve been an agent how long? Fifteen years? How many homicides?”
Stein didn’t say anything.
“If you have a question, jump in, but if you don’t mind…” he let his comment hang.
Stein jerked his thumb toward Lucy. “Why’s she here again?”
“Slater wanted a forensic analyst.”
“Is she going to be asking questions? Slater told you we are under the gun. Every step watched by everyone, including press.”
“I understand exactly what we face.”
“Noah,” she began.
He shot her a look that told her to remain quiet. She was going to suggest she wait outside, knowing that Stein didn’t want her involved, and not wanting her presence to jeopardize the case-even though she didn’t know how that would happen.
She wished Noah had given her a better understanding of their role working with the White Collar division, as well as how he intended to question Congressman Crowley. She disliked the power plays between the two divisions, with the uncertainty of who was really in charge. And she didn’t like this side of Noah.
Lucy followed Noah and Stein through security, then upstairs where they were ushered immediately into Congressman Crowley’s private office.
Crowley had been in Congress for more than twenty-two years, withstanding several partisan shifts of power. His office was decorated with furniture that was a little too big for the space, including a tall glass cabinet packed with awards and trinkets. His desk was cluttered with three pen sets, paperweights, and a variety of odd items, many with gold plates identifying a place or event. Most of the photographs had Crowley in golf gear with people more famous than he.
Noah introduced the three of them.
Crowley said, “I spoke with your superior earlier today.”
“We have some follow-up questions. I’m sure you understand.”
“Why isn’t Agent Slater handling this? He told me he was in charge.” Crowley’s tone was offensive, but his posture was defensive-his body was turned a few degrees away from them, his hands bounced a pen off the desk blotter, his eyes went from agent to agent, then glanced at the door.
He was nervous.
“He’s the Supervisory Special Agent for the Violent Crimes and Major Offenders squad,” Stein said. “I’m his counterpart, the SSA for White Collar Crime and Political Corruption.”
Crowley’s face reddened. He dropped the pen. “I will answer questions about my relationship with Wendy, but you’re stretching to imply there was anything but a consenting adult relationship.”
“Your relationship with Ms. James is public record at this point,” Stein said. “We need to determine if there was anything inappropriate or illegal. It’s odd that she ends up dead three days before her scheduled meeting with the U.S. Attorney. What information might she have been wanting to share?”
So much for letting Noah take the lead, Lucy thought. She wanted to pull Stein aside and explain to him that anyone with basic understanding of psychology could see that Crowley considered himself a leader and wouldn’t be a pushover, just on the basis of what his office showed. His overabundance of awards and pictures was “name- dropping.” The best way to get him to cooperate would be to stroke his ego and let him think he was the one solving the case, all the while answering their very specific questions. Going on the attack right out of the gate was a big mistake.
Crowley leaned forward, both hands palm down on his desk. “I will tell you exactly what I told Agent Slater, since it’s obvious that your office doesn’t share information. I was in a committee meeting yesterday morning. The last time I saw Wendy was a week after the newspaper reported our affair. She called and wanted to meet at her apartment. I agreed to meet in public, at Dupont Circle. I brought my chief of staff with me, so no one could take pictures and accuse me of continuing the affair. We talked about nothing important because she was mad I brought Denise. We haven’t spoken since.”
He looked from Stein to Noah, then said, “I’m upset that she was killed, but her murder has nothing to do with me.”
“Sir,” Noah said, trying to settle him down, “we are simply trying to put together Ms. James’s movements over the last few days. If she ever indicated that someone was following her, maybe an ex-boyfriend she told you about, or-”
“If you have any specific questions, I will answer them through my lawyer.”
Stein said, “You understand that your refusal to cooperate makes you suspect.”
“You can leave now.”
They stood up and started toward the door. Lucy caught Noah’s eye. “Apartment?” she mouthed. He either ignored her or didn’t understand.
She turned around and faced Crowley. “Sir,” she said in her most diplomatic voice, “did you usually meet with Ms. James at her apartment?”
“My attorney,” he repeated without looking at her. He pretended to read a document on his desk, but his hands were shaking and he had to put the paper down. For a split second, she thought he was scared. Not that he might get caught at something, but maybe … was he scared someone was after him?
“Please, this is important. You must have cared about Wendy at one point.”
He looked at her, sorrow crossing his face for a split second, before his arrogance buried it. She implored him with her eyes, even though how he had handled the affair made her want to slap him.
“I truly did. We usually met at her apartment on Park Way.”
“Which apartment number?” she pretended to forget and flipped through blank pages in a notebook.
“Seven-ten. How does that help?” he asked, curious.
“Just fact-gathering, sir. Thank you.”
As soon as they were in the hall, Stein turned to Lucy and said, “What the hell were you doing? He cried uncle and you bat your eyes at him?”
“I did not,” she defended. “I needed to know where they met for sex. It was obvious to me it wasn’t in the apartment we walked this morning-and apartment seven-ten is not hers. It’s not even on the same floor.”
“Like you can tell after ten minutes in her apartment whether she brought men there? Why does it matter where they screwed?” Stein was livid. “I had Crowley panicked and asking for his lawyer, and you act like the good cop? You don’t even have a badge!”
Noah said, “Let’s take this outside.”
“I had this under control. If this case is blown, it’s on
They stepped into the elevator. Noah gave a staff member a look that had the young man waiting for the next ride.
When the door closed, Noah said, “You pushed him too hard, too fast.”
“That’s how you have to deal with these people. They’re all guilty of something.”
“You don’t believe that.”
“I’ve worked in political corruption for more than a decade, and I don’t care who it is, they’re all corruptible. Some easier than others.”
“But he’s not under investigation for political corruption, Josh! He’s a person of interest in a
“And if they’re connected?”
“When we solve the murder, we’ll know.”
The elevator opened. Lucy followed behind the two men. Stein was on his phone and walked ahead. Noah still looked irritated.
“Noah,” Lucy said cautiously. “We need to check out apartment seven-ten. Remember how I said it didn’t look like she lived there? Maybe she doesn’t, not full-time.”
“You should have talked to me before questioning Crowley.”
