"I certainly appreciate your courtesy in stopping by to check on me, young Inspector Keller. I didn't know that was standard procedure with police any longer."
Steve bit his lip when a remark about the eventful night Vasari's rape case had caused for more than just her was on the tip of his tongue. Instead, he took a seat on the elegant black leather couch and watched the Office Manager pour herself a glass of cognac, shaking his head cordially when she offered him one as well.
"We care.", the young Inspector explained and crossed his legs, watching the lady move through the vast living room and sit down in a Love Seat across from him, "Do you have anybody who could stay with you for a couple of days? Just in case you need anything?"
"I am an independent woman, young Inspector Keller.", Vasari scoffed, noticing him take a deep breath to argue, then smiled, "But your concern honors me. I do have a couple of friends I can call should…the need arise. I refuse to let this…vile assault stop me in my tracks. If anything, I am living proof that more needs to get done to empower women in this town, and to educate men about our ever-changing role in society."
Steve didn't react to the well-choreographed filibuster, knowing better than to get into politics at this point. Instead, he decided to pry at the Office Manager's defenses from a different angle.
"Forgive me for asking this, Miss Visari, but why do you think that your position at the Drain Commissioner's office would be enough to incite the attack that happened yesterday? There are women in other, high profile positions within this city. Lauren DiVagio is the Spokesperson for the Mayor's Office. Emilia Andrews is the CEO of Bay City Bank, took over after her father passed away from a heart attack a few years ago. Florence Schmidt is the Controller and Coordinator of the Farmer's Market downtown and has managed to increase its size and vendor volume by over 65% over the past five years. Anybody wanting to take out their frustration on women in power should feel a strong urge to go after Misses Schmidt with those kinds of accolades in her back pocket, shouldn't they?"
"I'll give you a lot of credit. You've done your research, young man.", Visari retorted and took a sip of cognac, letting it sit in her mouth for a moment, before swallowing in joyful penchant, "And to be perfectly honest, I am not sure why I was the target. Commissioner Lanskey and I had just been to a local rally since elections are coming up again in November. It was a gathering of local business people, one hundred perhaps. It's possible that this was the trigger. It's even possible that the reason I was attacked had more to do with him, than me."
Filing the information in the back of his mind for the time being, Steve nodded, letting his eyes drift over each expensive piece of furniture that made up the living room, and undoubtedly so, every other room in the expensive condo that was part of the Parkview Terrace complex.
"Now, you voiced your concerns about the alleged kidnapping and murder of Sarah Milan to us. Did you tell somebody else about it? Somebody who might be capable of doing what these men did to you?"
As he put a different spin on Visari's latest comment, Steve could see her growing concerned, a brief frown crossing her façade of false professionalism and confidence.
"You think somebody would try to intimidate me like this? Try to silence me perhaps?"
With a slight nod, Steve pursed his lips, gauging how to proceed in the most careful fashion.
"It is well known that an event as horrific as yours can potentially scar women for life, take away their…their confidence. Somebody who may not know your…your fighting spirit well enough, could have resorted to trying to break you that way. Get you to quiet down about your thoughts on Milan's disappearance."
"Your flattery honors me, young Inspector Keller. And you might be absolutely correct. Not that this…this rape would silence me. If anything, it fuels my mission. I just wish there were any clues left behind, something we could use to find these men before they strike again. You said your…lab crew found nothing in the park?"
"Nothing, unfortunately. It's possible that inclement weather disturbed the crime scene. It's hard to say at this point."
Straightening out his legs again and leaning his elbows on his knees, Steve glance down at the sleeves of his grey dress coat, trying to sort his thoughts.
"Miss Visari, I know this might seem like a personal question, but how about your love life? Are there any men past or present that could pull something like this off?"
Much to his surprise, the Office Manager chuckled, before sipping on her cognac again.
"You wouldn't ask me this if you didn't already have the answer. You guys always do your homework, then ask questions to see if I tell you the truth. So, you want to know more about my botched engagement with Eugene Davis. You think I made all this up to tarnish his name and that of his detectives for the sake of some…some petty personal agenda?"
Steve raised his hands, ready to rebut when Visari stood back up, placing her glass on the nearby dining room table, then gesturing for him to stay seated.
"Don't worry young man, I am not taking your question personally, I know you are just doing your job. But now let me ask you this. Do you really think I'd go this far to prove a point?"
Without the least bit of a warning, Visari put one foot up on her dining room table, then pulled her black mini skirt up all the way to her hips, showing off black and purple bruises on her inner thighs that were so large and numerous that there was no white skin left to see.