Page 54 of Girl, Unmasked
Ella made sure to use the correct wording.It was never your partner was murdered, but someone killed your partner.The correct tense could have a profound effect on an interviewee's reactions.It was implied that the person's death was inevitable, unavoidable.But someone killed gave the faceless assailant a tangible identity.
Jeff cupped his hands around his face.A few ragged sobs broke through before he managed to choke them down.
‘The smallest detail can help, no matter how minor,’ said Ella, giving him a moment.
Jeff shot her a look of exasperated appraisal, but there was a glimmer of uncertainty behind those bloodshot eyeballs.‘Well, there was something a couple of months back.An incident.’
Ella leaned in, as much as her awkward positioning allowed.‘What incident?’
‘Marti got into it with someone at school.A fight.Nearly lost her job over it.’
‘A student?’
‘No.A teacher.’
Now she was getting somewhere.‘Names.Details.’
‘Don’t know the whole story,’ Jeff said.‘But it involved a guy named Black… something.Him and Marti got into it verbally, nearly physically.She wouldn’t tell me much more.’
‘Black-something?’
‘Yeah.I wanna say Blackwell… Blackburn… No, that's it.Blackwood.’
‘You have a first name for this guy?’
Jeff shook his head.No problem.It shouldn’t be too hard to track him down.
‘Jeff, is there anything else you can tell us about Martina?Life, work, friends, enemies.’
‘That’s all I’ve got, detective.I’m sorry.I just can’t believe she’s really gone.It doesn’t feel real.’
Ella held out a hand to the interviewee and clutched it tight.‘Thank you, Jeff.I know this isn’t easy, but you’ve been a great help.’
‘You’ll find who did this, won’t you?’
'Count on it,’ Ella said, and she meant it.Meant it with every ounce of the old testicular fortitude.She'd turn over every rock and rattle every cage until she had the Angel Maker gift-wrapped for the jail cell.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
Spaulding High.Ella had done her time in places like this, and she had the emotional scars to prove it.The walls still exhorted ‘DARE To Resist Drugs’ while, she’d bet, some teacher probably had a dime bag business on the side.Funny how some things never changed, even as the world kept right on turning.
She approached the intercom bolted to the old gates and jammed the buzzer, waiting for the inevitable tinny squeak.A professional voice came through instantly.
‘Spaulding High, how can I assist you?’
Ella leaned close enough to tongue the speaker.‘Hi, I’m working with the Norwalk Police Department.I’m here to see one of your teachers.Roger Blackwood.’
There was a pause long enough for Ella to wonder if the intercom had shorted out.Then, ‘One moment, please.’
In cop-speak, that either meant ‘we're scrambling to hide the evidence’ or ‘we're calling our lawyers.’Neither boded well for a smooth interview.
After what felt like an eternity but was probably closer to two minutes, a harried-looking woman in a sensible pantsuit appeared at the gate.She eyed Ella with the weary suspicion of someone who'd seen too many teenagers try to sneak cigarettes onto school grounds.
‘Detective,’ she said, her voice matching the one from the intercom.‘I'm Angela Mercer, Vice Principal.May I ask what this is regarding?’
Ella flashed her badge.‘I'm afraid that's confidential, Ms.Mercer.I just need a few minutes of Mr.Blackwood's time.’
‘I see.And you can't elaborate on the nature of this...matter?’
