Connections in Death (In Death, #48)- J. D. Robb Page 0,85
are pretty small change.”
“Three murders,” Cohen insisted. “They want the people really responsible.”
She frowned again, showing him the face of a cop conflicted between duty and dislike. And reluctantly letting duty win.
“I can cite cooperation, and push harder if that cooperation leads to arrest and conviction, but immunity’s never going to happen. You’ve been cheating the federal government, Sam. They get really pissy about that.”
He wiped his lips with the back of his hand. “If I knew the location of illegals with a street value of more than a hundred thousand dollars, and the equipment used to make false identifications and to conduct identity fraud, they might be less pissy.”
Eve drummed her fingers on the table. “They might be marginally less pissy, but that won’t get you immunity.”
Peabody leaned over to whisper in Eve’s ear, said the words “Witness Protection” just loud enough to carry.
Eve drummed her fingers again, then leaned back to Peabody. With a nod, Peabody rose.
“Peabody exiting interview,” Eve said. “We might be able to deal down some of the charges, depending on the information. Are you going to stipulate that Eldena Vinn was unaware of your activities in this matter, had no knowledge of the fraud or tax evasion, was, in fact, duped into signing documents, and that you took her money for same under false pretenses. Otherwise,” Eve said when he hesitated. “The feds are going to haul her in, and mine her for information, and that information’s going to add weight to the charges already against you.”
“There’s no need for that. I can stipulate that I handled the household finances.”
“Do better, or I won’t even step up to the plate much less go to bat for you.”
“She was unaware. I was looking out for her financial interests.”
Eyes flat and steady, Eve leaned toward him. “Cop to this, Cohen, or I walk out of here, go pick up Jones, and that’s the end of it.”
“All right, all right. I used her, I’m not proud of it. It’s not my fault she didn’t read the papers I put in front of her.”
“You defrauded her. You used funds you took from her under the guise of household expenses and used them to fatten your own bank accounts and listed her income, without her knowledge, to secure loans for real property.”
“I gave her a very good life,” he began, then stumbled over his words as Eve started to rise. “I lied to her. I’ll admit that. I used her income to secure loans without her knowledge. My records are very clean on what monies I took from her, and she can have it back. Minus, of course, reasonable living expenses.”
A few tears did swirl in his eyes as Eve started to stand again. “All of it! She can have all of it. It’s not important. What does it matter? I’m prepared to give you information on much more. Valuable information. I’ll take Witness Protection.”
As if on cue, the door opened to Peabody, and APA Cher Reo.
16
“Detective Peabody entering interview with APA Reo.”
In her pretty pearl-gray suit, Reo sat, set down a cup of what Eve knew by the scent was her office coffee and a file.
She smiled as if sitting down to a fancy lunch with a friend. The APA looked like an easy mark. Young, blond, pretty, slight build.
No one noticed the fangs until after they’d sunk into their neck.
“Cher Reo, Mr. Cohen, with the Prosecutor’s office. I’m told you have information on gang activity and would like to proffer that for a deal regarding the various charges currently against you.”
Seeing a mark rather than her fangs, Cohen reverted. “I want immunity from all charges, state and federal.”
“Oh.” Reo batted her pretty eyes. “Oh dear, I’m afraid there’s been some miscommunication. Immunity isn’t on the table. Lieutenant, I’m at Central coordinating an assault charge. I can’t take time away from that to deal in fantasies, If Mr. Cohen gains a grip on reality, let me know.”
“Just wait!”
Reo smiled again. “Mr. Cohen, I realize you’re in a precarious situation, but there are only so many hours in a day. I simply can’t waste any of mine.”
“Wait!”
He snapped it out. The same tone, Eve thought, he’d used when telling Eldena Vinn to be quiet.
It wouldn’t work here, either.
Reo glanced at her wrist unit, back at Cohen with the bitter cold of January. “Sixty seconds, starting now.”
Eve decided he’d felt the first bite of the fangs when his tone turned wheedling.