Free A Striking Death by David Anderson Page B

matter?”
    Levine put his head in his hands. “Yes,” he said quietly.
    “Which?” Drumm asked.
    Levine looked up. “Which what?”
    “Did he go to Danny’s with you or by himself?” Drumm was leaning forward, impatient.
    Levine looked unhappy. “Both, I think.” His voice was low, almost inaudible. “We were there together on a few occasions. One time….”
    “Speak up, please,” Lori said. “One time…?”
    Levine spoke more loudly. “One time we were having drinks there after work. A Saturday night, I think it was. There was a guy sitting at another table by himself. He kept glancing over at us. At Art, I mean. He obviously wasn’t looking at me. I asked Art about it later. He denied knowing him. I think he did, though.”
    “Why do you say that?” asked Lori.
    Levine sighed. “It was just this guy’s manner. It seemed obvious to me he was interested in Art. Maybe surprised to see him with someone else.”
    Drumm said, “But Art said he didn’t know him. And you didn’t believe him. You thought maybe they’d met there before, is that it?”
    Levine sat up straight. “Yes. That’s why I think Art had gone to Danny’s without me.”
    “How long ago was this?” asked Lori.
    “About three or four weeks ago, maybe? I can’t remember.”
    That would agree with what Mrs. Stephens had said about an argument, thought Drumm. Aloud he asked, “What did this fellow look like?”
    Levine said, “It was a month ago! Do you really expect me to remember?”
    Lori said, “Try, please. What was he wearing?”
    “A suit and tie, I think.”
    “Height? Weight?”
    “I don’t know. He was sitting down. Average, I guess.”
    “Hair colour?”
    Levine looked puzzled, and then smiled briefly. “I just remembered. He hardly had any. His head was mostly shaved. What he had was grey.”
    “So he was an older man?” asked Lori.
    “In his forties, maybe.”
    Drumm said, “You’re doing very well. Do you remember anything else? Anything distinctive about him? Tattoos, jewellery, accent?”
    “I didn’t hear him speak. But he had a stud in his ear. It sparkled in the light, so maybe it was a diamond.” He thought for a few seconds. “His right ear it was. But that’s it, I can’t think of anything else. And I have to get home. It’s been a tough day.”
    Drumm said, “Yes, that’s enough for today.” He stood and accompanied Levine out into the corridor. “Are you planning on leaving the city at all? If so, please let us know before you go.”
    Levine shook his head tiredly. “You think it was me, don’t you? No, don’t bother to deny it.” He walked slowly down the hallway and said over his shoulder, “Don’t worry, I’ll be around when you want to accuse me some more. I’m not planning on going anywhere at all.”
    “One last thing,” asked Lori. “What size shoes do you wear?”
    Levine looked down at his shoes, then back up at the detective. “Ten,” he said. “Why?”
    “Just routine,” said Lori.
    Back in the office, Drumm said, “What do you think? Murderer? Grieving lover?”
    “Well, his distress seems genuine enough. But I don’t know about this bald, diamond-studded guy in Danny’s.” Lori yawned behind her hand. “Do you think he’s real? First Levine couldn’t remember anything, and then we get a pretty good description. Seems too good to be true.”
    “We’ll get over to Danny’s tomorrow and see if anyone there can confirm that this guy exists.” Drumm yawned too. “Something happened up on the roof, Lori. When I went up with the coffee, he was right over at the edge, looking down. It looked like he was getting ready to jump. I thought he was going to jump. I moved him back from there in a hurry.”
    “You think he’s suicidal?” Lori was surprised.
    “I don’t know. Could be.”
    “Well, if he is, why, do you think? From guilt, or is he just upset over the loss of his partner?”
    “I don’t know. But I’m not ruling him out as a suspect. He