Chapter 49: Suspicious Circumstances
Andrea’s expression remained unchanged, in the face of Officer Palin’s accusations. Beneath the table, her hands were anxiously clenched together. Andrea’s mind was running in panicked circles. Agreeing to this interview had been a mistake. Why had she given in to pressure from her sister and Marko? Officer Palin had it out for her. He wouldn’t rest, until she was behind bars. The worst part of it was that Janet’s life would be ruined too. Unaware of her inner turmoil and frustrated by her lack of response, Palin decided to ratchet up the pressure.
“That reminds me of something I never got around to asking you, the night we met. How did you end up at Dorian’s shop, trying to sell the stolen talisman to him?”
“He was Steve’s connection. I didn’t know him.”
“So, you had no idea that he is a disgraced former Doorkeeper?”
“What? No way…now, you’re just making things up!”
“Think about it Andrea. Do you actually believe that we just happened to show up while you were trying to sell your stolen loot? The shop was closed. We had reason to believe that Dorian was trading inside information about the Doorkeeper organization, in order to facilitate the theft of enchanted artifacts from us. Of course, you threw a monkey wrench into things by murdering Steve before we could apprehend him.”
“How many times do I have to tell you, it was self-defense!”
“Since he’s dead, I guess I’ll never know one way or the other. That’s not the only we don’t know. Your friend Steve isn’t even who he said he was.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean he was using a false identity. Were you aware of that?”
“I…no, I didn’t know that. As far as I know, his name was Steve.”
“What else can you tell me about him?”
“He um…told me he had a sister named Kimberly.”
“Did you ever meet her?”
“No, look I’ll be honest. Steve and I didn’t sit around having heart-to-heart discussions. So, there isn’t much I can tell you about him.”
“I thought you said he was your friend.”
“More like a casual acquaintance.”
“Yet you trusted the man enough to commit crimes with him? That makes no sense. I think you’re lying.”
“Look we occasionally pulled jobs together okay? I wasn’t sleeping with the man. Strangers come together all the time to pull a job and then go their separate ways. Even if I had known that Steve was using an assumed identity, I’m not so sure it would really matter. Who cares what he called himself? I didn’t know anything about Dorian either. To me, he was just a name Steve had written on a scrap of paper.”
“Well, I fully intend to verify that with Dorian. If we ever find him. He seems to have disappeared. Do you know what happened to him?”
“How should I know?”
“Yet another person whose misfortune is working to your advantage.”
“Now you’re trying to pin Dorian’s disappearance on me too? Are you arresting me?”
“Of course not, this is just an informal interview.”
“Which was just supposed to be about the dead security guard, but that turned out to be a lie too! Well, if I’m not under arrest then this interrogation is over.” Andrea sprang to her feet and stormed out of the room. Officer Palin remained seated, watching her with feigned incredulity.
“This isn’t over Miss. Rhodes. It’s only a matter of time, before I unearth the truth about you.”
Halfway down the hall, Andrea’s shaky legs threatened to pitch her onto the floor. She looked over her shoulder, to make sure she was out of his line of vision, before staggering into the sitting area and dropping into an armchair. Andrea’s galloping heart was causing her breath to come in ragged gasps.
