Natalie knew what he was thinking. Those pills could have been switched out in the bottles weeks ahead of his death. Lionel himself could have refilled his daily pill case with the potassium without even knowing it.
“Yeah. Like I told the coppers, he had kids coming in a lot, all the time.”
Mildred reinforcing that Lionel had his TAs in his apartment was helpful, but it still didn’t narrow down which of the four had opportunity.
“There was one I remember in particular,” Mildred continued.
Natalie perked up. “Why is that?”
“Because she was such a pretty little thing. I remember thinking what an old dog he was, having her come to his apartment.”
“And when did she come by last?” Liam asked.
“Oh, she was in and out a bunch of times that week before he died, now that I think about it.”
Natalie’s eyes widened. From what Lionel had told them, he had three male TAs and only one female.
Heart pounding, Natalie reached to squeeze Liam’s arm. He shot her a glance and a slight nod. He realized the importance of the information they’d gleaned too.
The only thing they hadn’t accomplished was speaking with Ralph. As a ghost, he had access to see things Mildred wouldn’t. But maybe they, and the police, had all they needed. A real suspect. Someone who had means and opportunity.
But they still didn’t have motive…
“Is that all?” Mildred asked, looking like she was starting to get annoyed. Or maybe she was just tired of standing when her easy chair, her cigarettes and the television awaited.
“Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Roth. You’ve been really helpful,” Liam said with a smile which seemed to appease the old lady.
“Sure. Anytime.” Mildred slammed the door, leaving them standing alone in the dimly lit hallway, but they weren’t coming away completely empty handed.
Natalie spun to Liam and whispered, “I don’t think Mildred told the police about the girl. We might be the only people who know it was the female TA who was here most during the right time frame to swap out Lionel’s pills. We need to go to the police station.”
Liam drew in a breath as they walked out the front door of the building. “I hate to say this, but I think you’re right. Next stop, the New Haven Police Department.”
“I’ll search for the address.” Excited, Natalie dug her cell phone out of her purse.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ten minutes later, as they sat in front of Pataki’s desk, Natalie was less excited.
“What do you mean you questioned the female TA and let her go?” she asked.
“First of all, you are no longer involved in this investigation.”
“In spite of the fact we just brought you new information?” Natalie countered.
Pataki leaned forward. “I shouldn’t even be talking to you about the case. It’s with homicide now,” he told them in a lowered voice. “But since you were helpful with the cause of death, I’ll tell you what I can.”
“We appreciate that,” Liam said, only to be shushed by Pataki.
“Keep this under your hat, and you didn’t hear it from me, but we got the names of all four assistants. Seized their computers, searched their apartments, got their alibis for the day Graves died. But we didn’t find anything. Not on any of the four.”
“An alibi for the day he was murdered doesn’t mean anything. Those pills could have been swapped a week or more before Lionel got around to taking them,“ Liam reminded.
“And what about the fact Lionel’s landlady saw the female TA going in and out a lot the last couple of weeks of his life? Doesn’t that give her opportunity? Doesn’t that make her the main suspect?” Natalie asked, matching Pataki’s low hiss so they wouldn’t be overheard.
Pataki shook his head. “All circumstantial. It won’t stick. The DA won’t risk it. And we still have no motive. All four kids were A-students so it wasn’t like Graves gave them a bad grade and it was a crime of passion or, you know, revenge.”
“Oh, I didn’t tell you my new theory for motive,” Natalie began.
