bank in this.”
Chase put his arm around her shoulders.
“Come in, and sit down, and we’ll see if we can’t try to straighten things out,” he said.
He looked at Matt with what Matt recognized was more than distaste. It was closer to hate.
“Do you remember me, Adelaide?” Deitrich asked.
“Yes, sir,” Mrs. Worner said. “Before we had to send Al to the hospital, we used to see you down at the VFW.”
“That’s right,” Deitrich said. “Adelaide, this is Detective Payne of the Philadelphia Police Department.”
Mrs. Worner looked at Matt with terror in her eyes.
“Good morning, Mrs. Worner,” Matt said.
“Good morning,” she said.
“I’d like you to tell me about the safe-deposit box you’ve been letting Timmy Calhoun use. Are you willing to talk to me about that?”
“I really don’t have much choice, do I?” Mrs. Worner said.
“Are we all ready for this?” Matt asked, and looked around the safe-deposit vault. There were nods.
“Okay,” Matt said. “Here we go. I am Detective Matthew M. Payne, Badge 701, of the Philadelphia Police Department.”
“A little slower, please, if you can, Detective,” the stenographer said.
“I’ll try,” Matt said.
“This is an interview of Mrs. Adelaide Worner being conducted in the First Harrisburg Bank and Trust Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In addition to myself and Mrs. Worner, present are Lieutenant Paul Deitrich of the Harrisburg Police Department and Mr. James C. Chase, Vice President of the First Harrisburg Bank and Trust. The interview is being recorded and transcribed by Mrs. . . . I’m sorry, I forgot your name.”
“Grace Placker, Mrs. Grace Placker,” the stenographer furnished.
“Mrs. Grace Placker, of the Harrisburg Police Department,” Matt went on. He looked at Adelaide Worner.
“Mrs. Worner, you have already been advised of your rights under the Miranda decision. . . .”
“Yes, I have.”
“But to make sure that we have crossed all the t’s and dotted all the i’s, I’m going to go over your rights again. All right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m going to ask you questions about Officer Timothy Calhoun of the Philadelphia Police Department having access to a safe-deposit box in the Harrisburg Bank and Trust vault.”
“Yes, sir.”
Matt took his leather credentials folder from his pocket, took out a small cardboard card, and read from it:
“I have a duty to explain to you and to warn you that you have the following legal rights: You have the right to remain silent and do not have to say anything at all. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. You have a right to talk to a lawyer of your own choice before I ask you any questions, and also to have a lawyer here with you while I ask questions. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, and you want one, I will see that you have a lawyer provided to you, free of charge, before I ask you any questions. If you are willing to give me a statement, you have a right to stop anytime you wish.”
He stopped reading and looked at her.
“Do you understand your rights, Mrs. Worner?”
“Yes, sir, I do. Lieutenant Deitrich went over all that with me before in Mr. Chase’s office.”
“And, Adelaide, I told you then that I’ll get you a lawyer if you want one,” Chase said.
“If I’m going to tell the truth, why do I need a lawyer? I’ve caused you enough trouble as it is.”
“We just want to be sure you understand your rights, Mrs. Worner,” Matt said.
“I do.”
“Then you are,” Matt dropped his eyes to his Miranda card and read, “willing to answer questions of your own free will, without force or fear, and without any threats and promises having been made to you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Mrs. Worner, are you acquainted with Officer Timothy J. Calhoun of the Philadelphia Police Department?”
“Yes, I am.”
“How did you come to meet Officer Calhoun?”
“He’s the nephew of my neighbor.”
“Is your neighbor’s name Vincent T. Holmes?”
“Yes, it is.”
“At any time, did you make available to Officer Calhoun a safe-deposit box in the vault of the First Harrisburg Bank and Trust Company?”
“Yes, I did. I told you that.”
“Did Officer Calhoun follow the usual procedures to get a safe-deposit box? I mean, did he identify himself, fill out an application, and pay a rental fee?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“In other words, you let him have the use of a safe-deposit box for free, and without making any records for the bank?”
“That’s right.”
“Why did you do this?”
“Because he asked me to.”
“Did he tell you why he didn’t want to give his name, fill out the application, and pay rent?”
“Oh, I didn’t understand