Pendergast [07] The Book of the Dead(31)
“No. First, that would have been against the rules. Second, the system registered that she didn’t do that. A few seconds after she entered, the door reengaged. We had an electronic log to that effect.”
“So the perp must have been waiting in the hall, hiding, from the time it closed to visitors—five o’clock—until the time of the assault, two A.M.”
Manetti nodded.
“Or else the perp managed to get around the security system.”
“We think that’s highly improbable.”
“But I think it’s almost certain. I’ve been through this hall a dozen times since the assault. There’s no place for the perp to have hidden.”
“It was under construction. Stuff was all over the place.”
“It was two days from opening. It was almost finished.”
“The security system is foolproof.”
“Like the Diamond Hall. Right?”
She watched Manetti’s lips tighten and felt a pang. This wasn’t her style. She was becoming a bitch, and she didn’t like it.
“Thank you, Mr. Manetti,” she said. “I’d like to make another pass through the hall, if you don’t mind.”
“Be our guest.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
Manetti disappeared and Hayward took a thoughtful turn around the room where Green had been attacked, picturing, yet again, each step of the assault in a kind of mental stop-motion. She tried to shut out the little voice in her head that said this was a wild-goose chase; that she wasn’t likely to find anything of value here weeks after the attack, after a hundred thousand people had walked through; that she was doing this for all the wrong reasons; that she should just get on with her life and career while she still could.
She took another turn around the room, the little voice disappearing under the rap of her heels against the floor. As she came to the side of the case where the spot of blood had been found, she saw a crouched, dark-suited figure moving toward her from behind the case, ready to spring out.
She pulled out her weapon, drew down on the figure. “You! Freeze! NYPD!”
The person leaped up with a gargled shout, arms windmilling, an unruly cowlick of hair bobbing. Hayward recognized him as William Smithback, the Times city desk reporter.
“Don’t shoot!” the journalist cried. “I was just, you know, looking around! Jesus, you’re scaring the hell out of me with that thing!”
Hayward holstered her weapon, feeling sheepish. “Sorry. I’m a bit on edge.”
Smithback squinted. “You’re Captain Hayward, isn’t that right?”
She nodded.
“I’m covering the Pendergast case for the Times.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“Good. In fact, I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
She glanced at her watch. “I’m very busy. Make an appointment through my office.”
“I already tried that. You don’t speak to the press.”
“That’s right.” She gave him a stern look and took a step forward, but he didn’t step aside to let her pass.
“Do you mind?”
“Listen,” he said, talking fast. “I think we can help each other. You know, exchange information, that kind of thing.”
“If you have any information of an evidentiary nature, you better divulge it now or get slapped with an obstruction charge,” she said sharply.
“No, nothing like that! It’s just that… well, I think I know why you’re here. You’re not satisfied. You think maybe Pendergast isn’t the one who assaulted Margo. Am I right?”
“What makes you say that?”
“A busy homicide captain doesn’t waste her valuable time visiting the scene of the crime when the case is wrapped up. You must have your doubts.”
Hayward said nothing, concealing her surprise.
“You wonder if the killer might have been Diogenes Pendergast, the agent’s brother. That’s why you’re here.”
Still, Hayward said nothing, her surprise mounting.
“And that happens to be why I’m here, too.” He paused and peered at her curiously, as if to gauge the effect of his words.
“What makes you think it wasn’t Agent Pendergast?” asked Hayward cautiously.
“Because I know Agent Pendergast. I’ve been covering him—in a manner of speaking—since the museum murders seven years ago. And I know Margo Green. She phoned me from her hospital bed. She swears it wasn’t Pendergast. She says her attacker had eyes of two different colors, one green, the other milky blue.”
“Pendergast is known to be a master of disguises.”
“Yeah, but that description fits his brother. Why would he disguise himself as his brother? And we already know his brother pulled the diamond heist and kidnapped that woman, Lady Maskelene. The only logical answer is that Diogenes also assaulted Margo and framed his brother. QED.”