Or was Judith just saying that so we’d have our doubts about helping Christine, a woman whom Judith had vowed in her drunken rant would “get hers”?
“Couple things before we do the interview,” says Nussbaum, touching the nosepiece of his designer frame glasses with his finger. “One: You should know, Detective Ceepak, your mother is, once again, providing Ms. Lemonopolous with financial assistance. She is loaning her the money to pay my fees until Dr. Rosen’s estate cuts Christine that check for fifty thousand dollars.”
“Good to know.”
“Is this going to create a problem for us?”
“I don’t see how it can,” says Ceepak. “Ms. Lemonopolous is entitled to an attorney and, if past experience is any indication, you are an excellent choice for her legal representation. I am glad that my mother has chosen to spend her money to see that justice is administered fairly, without fear or favoritism.”
Nussbaum just sort of stares at Ceepak for a second or two.
“You were a Boy Scout, am I right?”
“Yes, sir. Eagle.”
“Whatever. Item two.” He reaches into the pocket of his creased Levi’s.
And pulls out the keys to my apartment. I recognize my Mr. Mets key fob.
Nussbaum hands me my keys.
“Ms. Lemonopolous will be temporarily residing at the Mussel Beach motel until this matter reaches a satisfactory conclusion.”
“Is my mother advancing money for the lodging as well?” asks Ceepak.
“You have a problem with that aspect of our arrangements?”
“No, sir. It’s all good.”
“Groovy. Okay, where’s the interrogation room?”
“Actually,” I say, “we call it the ‘interview’ room.”
Nussbaum shrugs. “Whatever, Boyle. And remember, I get paid by the hour.” He hooks a thumb in Ceepak’s direction. “You’re costing his mother money.”
I have to go first because I was the detective in charge of calling all those families Christine used to work for.
“In cases of poisoning, when the deceased is an elderly individual,” I say, trying to remember what Ceepak told me earlier in the day, “it is wise and prudent to look into the history of all the victim’s caregivers.”
I lean on the word all so Christine knows we’re checking out Monae and Joy Kochman, too.
Well, we will be.