“You are aware that we are recording?”
“Yes. I’m fine with it if you are.”
Muller nearly picked up his hot chocolate again, then awkwardly slid back on the crimson sofa chair. “Very good, then. We’ve come by to ask you a few questions about your whereabouts two days ago.”
“Two days ago?” Lila asked, crossing her legs. “Is this about Shiloh?”
“No, madam, it is not. Your whereabouts?”
“I visited my father.”
“Do you mind if I ask what sort of visit you had, when you arrived, and what time you left the prime minister’s presence?”
“Yes, I do, actually.”
“Are you refusing to cooperate?”
“Are you refusing to tell me what you’re really doing here?”
“We’re here to search your property, your living quarters, and your offices, including every computer you’ve had access to in the last week, as well as your network log.”
Lila forced a smile. “You thought that you could just waltz inside my home without a warrant and ask for such a thing?”
“Are you refusing?”
“Most people would.”
“It’s no matter. The warrant is coming,” Sergeant Davies said. “We will begin in your living quarters, if you would care to lead the way.”
“I would care.” Lila intertwined her fingers in her lap, refusing to stand. “I will see the warrant first.”
“You know how this works, chief. We do not need a physical copy of the warrant with us when we begin our search. It will come through on our palms before we are done.”
The blackcoats stood. Muller gestured toward the door. “If you will lead the way? I’d hate to call for backup. I
f I had to arrest you, the media would have time to gather. Your story would probably kick the Holguín’s scandal off the front page of the New Bristol Times.”
Lila pulled out her tainted palm. “Tell me the case number for this investigation. I’ll need to verify that much before I lead you around the compound.”
“Your living quarters, chief, before we are forced to call Bullstow and make your life more difficult.”
Lila did not move. “No, you should stop this ridiculous charade before I make your life more difficult. If you actually had a legal warrant, or if you were in the process of getting one, you would have brought more of your little friends to do the grunt work.”
“How many men does it take to search a few rooms?”
Davies scowled at his partner. “How do you like that? We try to save her family from scandal, and she threatens us.”
“Let me save your family from scandal, Sergeant Davies, for your family can hardly afford it right now. You have no warrant to search anything at all on the premises. It has been a very nice chat and very informative, but I must regretfully take my leave, as should you. The chairwoman is expecting me for lunch.”
She straightened her coat and opened the door, motioning for them to exit, her grip tight upon the doorknob.
The men did not budge.
“Chief Randolph, are you declining your right to be present when your property is searched?” Muller asked. “We do not need you to be present. It’s only a courtesy, after all.”
“You should leave now, Sergeant Muller and Sergeant Davies. We both know what will happen if you do not.” Anger boiled within her, perhaps too hot to keep back. She might have hung above a firepit with only a thin violin string to keep her from the conflagration below.
Muller locked gazes with Lila.