speaker?â
âYes. Iâm Kincaidâs class supervisor; unless thereâs a reason this needs to remain confidential, Iâll be in the loop.â
âUnderstood,â Suzanne said. âLucy?â
âHi, Suzanne.â
âIâll cut to the chase. Have you been contacted by a true crime writer, Rosemary Weber? Sheâs writing a book about the Cinderella Strangler case.â
Lucyâs chest tightened. She remembered the conversation sheâd had with Weber, and it wasnât one of her finer moments. Sheâd never told anyone to go to Hell before.
âYes. It was the Friday before I reported here.â
âWhat did she call about?â
âThe Cinderella Strangler investigation. She told me you were cooperating.â
When Weber said that Suzanne had already talked to her Lucy had been at first stunned, then angry, then deeply sad.
âShe said that? No way was I cooperating.â
Lucy thought back to the conversation. âShe strongly implied it. I assumed thatâs where she got my name.â
âI guarantee, Lucy, I did not give her your name. I met with her as directed by my boss and listened to her proposal, but offered no information.â
Lucy was both relieved and upset with herself for being manipulated by Weber. âI should have called you. But I didnât tell her anything about the case.â
Kean interrupted. âAgent Madeaux, what was so urgent that you couldnât speak with Kincaid later?â
âSheâs been murdered. Last night, in Queens.â
Weber had been killed? Before Lucy could ask any questions, Suzanne continued.
âNYPD thinks there may be a connection between whatever project Weber was working on and her death. Iâm creating a time line, and because Kincaidâs name was in her notes, I needed to know if and when she spoke to her. Lucy, what was she fishing for?â
âShe wanted to interview me about my involvement with the case. I said I had no involvement, and thatâs when she said sheâd been talking to you and NYPD.â
âI wish youâd called me.â
âIâm sorry I didnât,â Lucy said. âShe was very pushy. I cut her off, and eventually had to hang up on her. I blocked her calls after that.â
âDid Sean talk to her?â
âHe didnât tell me if he did.â She didnât think soâLucy had told him about the conversation; he would have said something to her.
Kean said, âKincaid, as Agent Madeaux knows, special agents are not allowed to speak to reporters of any stripe without prior permission from a superior. You should have reported the conversation to me when you arrived.â
Before Lucy could comment Suzanne said, âWeber has published three books, all related to federal investigations, and there are interviews with multiple agents in her files. Thereâs a few at Quantico now, and Iâll be contacting them if the investigation seems to be pointing at her work as a motivation for the killer.â
Kean reapplied her lip gloss, though she didnât need it. âI suggest then that you speak to Assistant Director Hans Vigo, our liaison with national headquarters.â
Suzanne said, âThe doc got a promotion? Cool.â
Lucy smiled, reminded that Suzanne was both smart and outspoken. After a rocky beginning, Lucy had grown to like the seasoned agent and secretly hoped they could work together in the future. Lucy was relieved that Suzanne hadnât discussed her, professionally or personally, with the reporter.
Kean cleared her throat and gave Lucy a disapproving look.
âDo you need anything else from me?â Lucy asked Suzanne over the speaker.
âIâll let you know if I do. Ciao.â She hung up.
Kean said, âDonât let Agent Madeauxâs investigation cloud your focus, Kincaid.â
âI wonât, maâam. May I go back to PT?â
Kean