Eve just nodded. “No problem. Let’s get this done, Nadine.”
“All right.”
Nadine signaled to the camera, and as she tapped her earpiece, Roarke stepped out of range.
“Trace. We’re ready here. They’re breaking into current programming, the in-studio will toss it to me. We’re live in five, four, three.” She held up two fingers, then one.
“Thank you, Evan. I’m standing outside the gates of the Barrister House, the home of Nathan Barrister, where tragedy struck in the early hours this morning. Nathan Barrister, the son of Henry, who founded Zip Global Shipping and Delivery, served as CEO of the monolithic company after his father’s death. While Henry died peacefully last February at the age of a hundred and two, his son was struck down early this morning, apparently by an intruder.
“I have with me Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD, who leads the investigation into Nathan Barrister’s death. Lieutenant, what can you tell us regarding the circumstances?”
“At approximately one this morning, officers and medical technicians responded to a nine-one-one call from this residence. The medicalspronounced Nathan Barrister as deceased, and the officers secured the scene.”
“How was Mr. Barrister killed?”
“He suffered a blow to the back of the head. Evidence indicates an intruder or intruders compromised the Barrister House security, gained access to the property. This individual or individuals entered via a window of the home office on the main floor used by Mr. Barrister. At this time, evidence indicates Mr. Barrister entered the office and was struck down by the intruder, who then exited via the same window and fled the scene.”
“Was anything taken?”
“Certain items are missing from the residence. I’m unable to report details of those items at this time.”
“Who else was in the house at the time of the attack?”
“The victim’s wife and his sister and three live-in staff.”
“You’ve eliminated them as suspects?”
“We’re in the very early stages of the investigation, and have no reason, at this time, to suspect any member of the household. However, we have solid evidence of the break-in.”
“Lieutenant, my information is the nine-one-one call and the time of death were within minutes. Did one of the household witness the murder?”
“Statements from members of the household corroborate that Mr. Barrister was unwell yesterday. The ME confirms the victim had a respiratory infection at the time of his death. As a result, Barrister retired early, and his wife used a guest room. She checked on his status several times, and when he wasn’t in their room, she went downstairs to look for him. She subsequently found him on the floor of the office. Her screams woke the rest of the household.”
“She didn’t see the intruder?”
“She did not. Evidence indicates the intruder fled very shortly before she discovered her husband’s body. The evidence, the statements, the circumstances all verify this.”
“Lieutenant, when I arrived here, I observed an armored vehicle inside the gates, along with members of the SWAT team and other security personnel. While my view was somewhat obstructed, I did observe items being removed from the house, loaded into the armored vehicle, which left the property, accompanied by SWAT and security, and traveled to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”
When Eve’s eyes narrowed, Nadine returned a look that said clearly: I do my job, too.
“Can you tell us what was removed, why, and what bearing this has on Nathan Barrister’s murder?”
Here it comes, Eve thought.
“Shortly after the Nathan Barrister family inherited the residence and relocated here, during some remodeling, redecorating, a crew member discovered a mechanism that opened a wall panel. The panel concealed a vault, one that dates back to when the house was first constructed. The surviving members of the household all state none were aware of the panel, the vault, the contents. Eventually, Nathan Barrister found the combination to the vault among his father’s personal papers.”
“And opened it?”
“That’s correct.”
“Don’t keep us in suspense.”
“The vault contained paintings, jewelry, other objects of art and artifacts, all stolen over a period of more than three decades from various museums and private collections.”
For maybe the first time since they’d met, Eve observed Nadine speechless.
It didn’t last.
