Cries of the Children(24)

Eric gasped. He turned to see his wife’s reaction, but she only regarded the detective with cool interest.

Eric felt sick to his stomach, imagining the pain Nina must have suffered. That poor woman! But Rachel still just stared at the detective with neither sympathy nor horror in her expression. When she spoke, it was with almost clinical detachment.

“What does this have to do with us?” she demanded.

“Because Nina was a municipal employee,” Bristol said, “it was easy to find out who she had spoken to today. We asked for a list of clients, and yours was the only name given.”

Eric looked at Rachel, but she was staring hard at the detective. She seemed more annoyed by his presence than upset about Nina.

“We’ll be happy to answer any questions,” Eric said. “But I don’t think we’ll be of much help.”

The detective opened his briefcase and pulled out a clipboard.

“I have a standard questionnaire,” he said. “We use it in all these cases.”

He began to ask generic questions relating to the Freleng’s demographics. Eric answered them all, because Rachel didn’t seem willing. But when Mark asked about their relationship with Nina Blair, Rachel blurted out:

“None.”

Eric volunteered more.

“Well,” he said, “nothing personal. In her capacity as social worker, Nina often came to the high school where Rachel and I work. I had some contact with her.”

“I understand she came to talk to you about a foster child?”

Rachel nodded. “His name is Steven.”

“Isn’t it unusual for work like this to be done in someone’s home?”

“You’ll have to talk to Social Services about that,” Rachel said. She glared at him, as if challenging him to contradict her.

Bristol did not take the bait. Instead, he went on to a few more questions. Finally he asked, “Can you account for your whereabouts in the past twenty-four hours?”

“Of course,” Rachel said. “I spent most of yesterday teaching school. I stayed late to prepare for a concert we had last night. Then I came home, had supper, and got ready to go out again. I conducted the school orchestra, spoke to a few dozen people afterward, then came home and went to bed.”

Eric felt a lump in his throat and fought to swallow it before it was his turn to speak. He’d never known Rachel to lie before. Why was she withholding the fact that she’d lost several hours last night?

“How about you, Mr. Freleng?”

“I was also at school yesterday,” he said. “After classes, I coached the baseball team. Rachel and I came home together. We ate dinner, went to the concert, and came home as a family.”

“Look,” Rachel interrupted. “I don’t understand this line of questioning. Surely you don’t think we murdered Nina Blair?”

“It’s only routine, ma’am,” Bristol said, never losing his cool, professional demeanor. “No accusations are being made. We’re just trying to paint a picture of Nina Blair’s last hours.”

Eric winced. Whatever that picture might be, he knew it was a hideous one. He couldn’t imagine who would hurt Nina Blair, and he said so.

“Of course I don’t know any of her acquaintances,” he said. “We didn’t run in the same social circles. But she came across as a sweet woman who wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

Bristol nodded, closing his book.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” he said. “Where will I be able to contact you if I need more information?”

“Right here,” Eric said. “Or, as of Monday, at the school.”

He shook his head. “It’s a terrible tragedy.”

“Yes, it is,” Bristol said.

They walked him to the front door. “Good-bye, Mr. and Mrs. Freleng. Thank you again.”

Eric watched the detective’s silhouette through the beveled window. He heard Rachel’s footsteps clicking away behind him.

“I’m going to tell Steven he’ll be with us awhile longer,” she said. “I think he’ll be pleased.”

Eric swung around. “Rachel, wait!”

She stopped and turned. Her face had a quizzical expression.

“Is that it?” Eric asked. “No words of sympathy for Nina? Don’t you even wonder who did that to her?”

“I’m sorry for her,” Rachel said. “But I can’t bring her back to life, and I have a child who needs me.”

“Rachel,” Eric said quietly, “why did you lie about the hours you disappeared last night?”

“I didn’t lie,” Rachel said. “I withheld information. I don’t see what this has to do with Nina, and I didn’t feel like answering a bunch of stupid questions.”