Two detectives stood by the reception desk, the same two who had shown up to investigate the death of Doctor Splitfield. Now there had been a second murder, but she didn’t know what that had to do with her—except proximity.
The female detective, who wore a purple suit, white shirt, and purple bow tie and had her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, lifted her chin in Eliana’s direction. The male detective turned and watched her approach. He wore a gray suit and red tie, and had a shaved head.
“You wanted to see me?”
They flashed badges. The female said, “I’m Detective Raquel Maloney. This is Jim Wallace. We’re investigating Doctor Splitfield’s death. Got a few minutes, Ms. Adams?”
There weren’t many people in the lobby, but the guests who were there definitely noticed her chatting with two cops. Behind the desk, the receptionist moved papers around while she listened intently.
“Let’s find somewhere quiet.” Eliana tipped her head, then led them to the employee break room. She closed the door behind them all. “You guys want to sit?”
“We’ll cut to the chase.” Detective Maloney moved to the round table but didn’t sit. Instead, she stood there with her arms folded. “We know who you are, Ms. Banbury.”
Eliana frowned. “Enough to know that’s not my last name.”
“So you hyphen, whatever.” Maloney waved a hand.
“If you looked me up, you could probably get it right. My last name has never been Banbury. It’s Jaxton.”
“We’ll make sure we get it right on the paperwork.” Maloney had a pinched look on her face.
Because Eliana had pointed out a mistake? “Just trying to get started on the right footing. Honesty and full disclosure.” Shegot a water bottle from the fridge and offered one to both of them.
Wallace took one, but Maloney shook her head.
Eliana twisted off the cap of hers. “What do you want to know?”
Maloney said nothing.
Wallace took a sip of water first. “Pretty coincidental a guy being killed in this museum, and then another in exactly the same way in the building where you live.”
Eliana was pretty sure that coincidence was the least of her worries right now. “Do you have any idea who killed them?”
Maloney’s expression shifted. “We were hoping you’d be able to tell us.”
“Isn’t it your job to figure that out?”
“Sure, it is,” Maloney said. “By asking questions of people who find themselves tangled up in the situation.”
“I found Doctor Splitfield, that’s all. Director Caughton told me to look for him, even though he never clocked out. Or in.” She couldn’t remember which. “How was I to know I’d find him like that?”
Wallace took another sip of his water, assessing her but saying nothing.
Maloney said, “Any idea who might have done that to him and your neighbor?”
“Honestly, I doubt they’re connected.” Eliana dragged out a chair that had been tucked under the table and sat. “Even if they were killed in the same manner, it seemed more like what Carlos—Officer Ryson—saw on the app when he looked at it. He said the app told him to hurt someone in a very specific way. That way.”
“Why would that mean it was someone else?” Wallace had finally asked a question.
“Splitfield and the Dreamer didn’t run in the same circles. They don’t have the same enemies—how could they? And whoever got into this museum wasn’t the kind of person who’d be seen dead in a building like mine. Unless someone was paid to do it.”
Maloney shifted. “So youhavebeen thinking about it. But you haven’t come up with a theory better than any others.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“No offense…” Maloney hesitated.
Eliana got the distinct impression that she was about to be offended.
