They act so surprised when their people turn on them. But when you lie down with dogs, forget about the fleas. It's getting bit you ought to worry about."
As T.S. was untangling the detective's metaphor, they reached the precinct. The driver pulled up directly in front of the main door, leaving the car to block the entire sidewalk. It was one of the few perks that cops in NYC enjoyed. A small crowd stopped to see who was being brought in. The onlookers seemed disappointed that neither Auntie Lil nor T.S. was handcuffed and they walked away, grumbling. New Yorkers were hard to keep entertained.
Auntie Lil and T.S. were allowed to wait in a small room off the main floor. While additional detectives could question the other pier witnesses, Santos wanted to take their official statements personally. They had agreed to wait until after Leteisha/Rodney was questioned, though they'd been warned that it would be a long time.
The other witnesses were waiting a few blocks away at the Delicious Deli until they were notified that their turn to make a statement had arrived. Given the busy precinct, it was a good solution. It was far more pleasant to sit in the deli sipping coffee than to sit around the precinct watching drunks and wide-eyed crackheads being dragged in by angry and overworked officers.
Unless, of course, you were Auntie Lil.
Even in her subdued state, she enjoyed the excellent view their small waiting room afforded. It was a good spot. They could see the front reception area, but were sheltered from the periodic chaos that inevitably afflicted Midtown North on a Friday night.
A few minutes later, a commotion in the reception area inspired Auntie Lil to limp to the door for a better look. A booming voice cut through the babble of apologetic police voices and roared, "Why didn't anyone call me in earlier?"
T.S. checked his watch. Detective Santos had managed a whole twenty minutes alone with Leteisha/Rodney before Lieutenant Abromowitz arrived. He hoped it had been enough time. A flash of movement at the door caught his eye. "What in the world are you doing?" T.S. stared at Auntie Lil incredulously. She had slipped behind the old-fashioned door and was cowering quietly behind the slab of massive oak.
"There is a time for discretion in everyone's life," she whispered.
Abromowitz's heavy footsteps approached the doorway and thundered past just as T.S. turned his back to examine an intriguing stain on the tabletop. Perhaps Auntie Lil was right. Having taken on a killer and a four-minute mile already that night, T.S. was in no mood to tangle with an angry lieutenant. He waited until the heavy footsteps stomped up the stairs and faded away in the distance. "You can come out now," he assured Auntie Lil, patting her chair with a smug smile. "The danger has passed."
She glared at him and sat down with aplomb. "I didn't see you rushing out to shake his hand."
"No," T.S. admitted. "But I am going to give Lilah and Herbert a call."
"Herbert." Auntie Lil gave a faint sniff and it was clear that she was miffed at Herbert for being absent during their adventure. "He's probably still out whooping it up with that Adelle woman, who's no doubt into playing her party girl role tonight."
"Aunt Lil, Herbert can't always be there to untangle your messes. My God, the man is only human and you'd detest being followed around twenty-four hours a day. Which is what it would take to keep you out of trouble."
Herbert Wong was home and so distraught at hearing that he had not been there to rescue Auntie Lil that it took a good three minutes for T.S. to convince him that she was safe and did not hold a grudge. Herbert was relieved to know that she was safe, but unfooled about the grudge part.
"I should not have gone to have that cocktail with Miss Adelle and her friends. Lillian will be angry at me," Herbert predicted. "Her fear and pain will make her angrier."
"I can't contradict you there," T.S. admitted. "But I'm sure that she'll get over it."
"You are there all night?" Herbert asked. "At the police station?"
"At least for the next three or four hours," T.S. predicted. "They're taking everyone's story and you know Auntie Lil—she won't leave until the end."
"But of course. There are still many pieces missing from the puzzle," Herbert said. "And you know that Lillian's curiosity is a powerful force."