Dean
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Chapter 12
Lee and Amanda were in the library of the Wellington Estate and both had agreed she would help with the investigation.
Unfortunately, Amanda didn't like who they are about to question next.
"Uhhhh, did you say Dean?" she tentatively asked, "We're about to interrogate Dean?"
"Yup," Lee answered nonchalantly, "Do you have a problem with that?"
"Noooo...not really...well, yes, actually... most definitely."
Lee thought Amanda was adorable when she was off-guard like this and had to hide a grin.
"A bit indecisive, aren't we?" he teasingly asked.
"I may sound indecisive, but I'm not sure I am...I think," she stated in all seriousness.
Lee now grinned, "Why the hesitancy, anyway, Amanda? You know we have to eventually question McGuire."
"I didn't think we would do it immediately like this...and...and besides, there would be no reason for him to murder a maid he's seen maybe twice a year!"
"Now, Amanda we can't play favorites..."
"Is that so?" Amanda sarcastically stated, "Just like you weren't playing favorites when you figuratively whipped out a bottle and spun it in Deidre's direction?"
That sardonic response hit Lee's funny bone. He burst out with laughter. And it felt great doing that.
"Touché, Amanda," he smiled back, "But just so you know, I actually DID interrogate Deidre with actual, official questions. And yes, she claimed she was asleep as well during those early morning hours. So you might as well prepare yourself for us to question Dean!"
"You don't REALLY think DEAN could be a killer, do you?"
"Sometimes it's the quiet and dull ones you have to look out for," Lee told her.
"He is not quiet!"
Lee lifted a brow, "You didn't say anything about him being dull."
"What? Oh! Well, he's not dull, either!"
"Amanda, what's the big deal if we interrogate McGuire?"
She answered hesitantly, "It's just that...I haven't even told Dean yet that I will be helping you out."
"Oh? And why not?"
"-Because it just happened two minutes ago!"
Lee had a hint of a mischievous smile, "I see. Well, then, I guess instead of the good cop/bad cop routine, we should be doing the good cop/worried cop routine instead!"
Amanda stuck out her lower lip and pouted, "That is not funny, Lee!"
Lee was having a grand time, "It may not be funny to you, but I have never looked forward to an interrogation so much, that didn't include roughing them up a bit, in my entire life!"
"Kid all you want, Lee, but you better be nice to him!"
He raised his right hand, "I pledge I will cancel my subscription to any of his issues!"
Amanda folded her arms, "That's not exactly a promise to be nice to him!"
He looked at her with all sincerity, "Sometimes, Amanda, I can't give you world, even if I wanted to."
His words somehow made her stomach do a somersault. This was getting awkward.
She unfolded her arms and changed the subject, "Perhaps it's best we move forward and you should, instead, update me on what you have found out with the investigation, thus far."
"Fair enough," he concurred, getting serious again, "so the Coroner had contacted me earlier with his findings. Evidently, Eunice had been tasered before she was strangled by y-...that is... by a random white scarf."
Amanda's eyes widened, "So that's why you were asking Liz about whether she knew where to get a hold of a taser?"
"Yes, and Deidre knew about the tasers as well," Lee acknowledged, "This taser thing has put the investigation in a whole new light."
Amanda questionably asked, "In what way?"
"The taser would've incapacitated the victim and, therefore, the deadly deed could have been done just as easily by man OR a woman. Hell, it could have been done by someone weaker and much older than Eunice, like Olivia, for instance!"
"You're not saying you think it was Olivia who did it, are you?"
"Nooo, I'm just saying I'm not ruling anyone out," Lee began. He then added, "Except for us, of course!"
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Lee and Amanda sat side by side on the sofa in the library of the Wellington Estate. They were about to interrogate Dean.
At precisely 2:00 pm, there were two raps at the door and Dean's voice could be clearly heard.
"Stetson, it's Dean McGuire!" he shouted through the door.
Lee glanced once at a nervous Amanda before he got up and opened to door.
"McGuire," Lee greeted him as he opened the door wider so Dean could come in, "you're right on time."
"Of course I am," Dean noted, "I am never..." he stopped mid-step with a look of astonishment when he spotted Amanda sitting on the sofa in the room.
"Amanda?"
Amanda's smile seemed tight, "Dean, hello Dean."
He slowly walked towards her and then sunk into the sofa across from her, "W-What are you doing here?"
"Welllll…."
Before she could answer, he turned an accusingly look at Lee, "What stunt are you trying to pull, Stetson?
"Dean!" Amanda admonished him, "That was incredibly rude!"
"That is the only way I can talk to a guy like him," Dean sourly stated, "Stetson will sweet talk anyone who wears a skirt!"
"For your information, Dean," Amanda simmered, "I am here to help Agent Stetson with the investigation into Eunice's death!" she bravely announced as Lee took a seat next to her.
"You're kidding, right?" Dean looked incredulous, "why would he need your help?"
Lee patiently answered, "I asked for Amanda's help because she is smart, patient, and intuitive, which are qualities highly regarded when doing an investigation."
Dean didn't look convinced, "And you know all this about her in the TWO days you've known her?"
"I'm not here to answer your questions, McGuire," Lee growled out.
"You are if you're involving my girl!" Dean challenged.
Lee leaned over, "Are you threatening me, McGuire? Because we can just take it outside if you want!"
"A real tough guy, eh?" Dean commented, "So what do you have hidden underneath that tie over there? Another fist?"
"And you're the reason why nerds like Waldo keep hiding!"
"STOP IT YOU TWO!" Amanda yelled out, "Have you two forgotten that this is a murder investigation?"
She stared down hard at the two of them.
Both men backed down, although they glowered at one another.
"I don't think I want to be interrogated by this...this...guy, Amanda," Dean complained.
"You don't have to like him, Dean. Just answer his questions, please, and then you can leave!"
She then turned to Lee, "And Agent Stetson, please be the professional that you claim to be!"
Lee pursed his lips.
"Fine!" Lee decided as he opened his notebook and asked Dean, "So this is me professionally asking you...how did you feel about Eunice the maid? Did you get along with her?"
Amanda turned to Dean, "No insults! Just be truthful, please!"
Reluctantly Dean gave in, "Alright, I will." he thought about the question, "Eunice was okay, I suppose. We got along, although she was a bit...aloof. However, as a maid, she was quite efficient, and she was loyal to Mother. She certainly didn't deserve to be tasered and strangled."
Lee's head immediately shot up from his notebook, "I never stated Eunice had been tasered!"
Dean testily asked, "Are you saying it didn't happen that way?"
Lee gave him an accusatory look, "Nooo. I'm asking you how you knew a tasered was used on the victim?"
Dean sounded irritated that he needed to explain himself, "I'm sure you didn't notice, but earlier this morning when we found Eunice on the floor, I was the pretend doctor who first felt her pulse. Being in such close proximity to her, I noted the taser prong marks on her neck. Does that answer your question, Stetson?"
Lee looked disappointed that there was an explanation.
He next quizzed, "Where were you between the hours of 3 am and 6 am?"
Surprisingly, Dean's eyes shifted left, then right, "Between 3 am and 6 am?" he repeated.
"Yes. You can tell time, can't you?"
"I, uh, is that really important to the investigation?"
Lee was now observing Dean very closely, "Only that it may be the difference between being the murderer and not being the murderer."
"Oh, I see," Dean seemed to be buying time.
Amanda knew what Lee was thinking. In their Interrogating the Enemy Class back at the Agency, both she and Lee learned that one of the 'tells' of lying is when the person being interrogated repeats the question of the interrogator. Another 'tell' is when he or she fails to make eye contact, which Dean did as well.
But, there is no way Dean could be the killer, right?
Amanda needed to know.
She got up and went over and sat next to Dean. Assuredly, she then took both of his hands into hers.
"Dean, I know you're nervous about being questioned like a suspect regarding your whereabouts," she began, "but just be honest with your answers. You don't have to have a good memory if you tell the truth."
She was only a few inches from his face. He reached up to touch her cheek and watched as a flush rose there. But she steadily continued watching him, waiting for his response.
Lee looked away, thinking he was witnessing something intimate passing between Amanda and McGuire. It was like an arrow going through his heart and he hated that he felt that way.
"I trust you, Amanda," Dean said, directly speaking to only her, "You may ask whatever you'd like of me and I will tell the truth. I promise."
Amanda didn't take her eyes off Dean.
"I appreciate your candor, Dean," she took a deep breath in, "So what were you doing between the hours of 3 am and 6 am this morning?"
He never took his eyes off hers, "Honestly? I couldn't sleep, so I went to the library. I found a book and sat and read for a time. And, no, no one saw me there."
Amanda flitted a knowing glance at Lee. They were both recalling when they had been sitting together on the backyard bench during their little rendezvous, a light from the library had lit up. They now had an answer as to who had been in that room.
Thank you for that, Dean," Amanda gratefully stated as he relaxed, "I just have one more question for you."
Dean was now more receptive, "Go ahead."
Amanda took a deep breath in before blurting out, "Eunice was blackmailing you, wasn't she?"
Dean was taken totally by surprise with her bluntness, "What?"
Amanda didn't let up, "Eunice was blackmailing you. Right?"
He looked confused, "Uh... no?"
But beads of sweat had formed on Dean's forehead.
Amanda continued to push him, "Now, Dean, Mother always told me that the truth may hurt for a little while, but a lie hurts forever. You need to stop incriminating yourself."
Dean swallowed hard, "Is that what I'm doing?"
Amanda leaned in and whispered, "Agent Stetson is mentally reading your rights to you."
'You've got that right!" Lee snapped back.
Dean's expression dropped, "Oh, I suppose you will find out eventually, anyway. You're right; Eunice did have something on me. She knew about my promotion," he admitted.
Amanda looked surprised, "Your recent promotion at the TV station?" she asked.
"Yes. I...I didn't get it on my own," Dean confessed, "Mother had made a few calls to the higher-ups at the station. I guess Eunice must have overheard Mother's phone conversation. The next day Eunice called me and told me to leave $1,000 at her private post office box or she would tell everyone."
"And you paid her?" Amanda asked.
His eyes turned desperate, "Amanda, how could I not? I couldn't bear to see the disappointment on your face or your family's if the truth came out!"
"Oh, Dean," Amanda softly said, "Don't you know me yet? I could never be disappointed in you!"
"Of course you could be disappointed in me! I got a promotion I didn't deserve!" He looked down at his lap, "So now you know, and I'm so humiliated."
She reached over and used his chin to force him to look up at her, "Dean, you should not feel humiliated. So you got your promotion sooner than expected. It is still up to you to keep that job and I'm sure you will. And remember, it was Eunice who did the wrong with the blackmailing, not you."
Lee had to admit. Amanda really did have a way with people.
Dean looked ever so grateful, "Amanda, I'm so lucky to have you."
Amanda smiled, "Thank you for your cooperation."
"Welll..." Lee stated, as he stood, "I suppose we have all the info we need from you. You can go, McGuire."
Dean glared over at Lee and then stood, along with Amanda. Dean then touched Amanda's arm.
"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, Amanda," he humbly told her.
"We'll talk about it later," she promised.
He nodded. Then he turned and left the room. Lee couldn't help noticing how Amanda's eyes followed Dean the entire way.
The door shut.
And Lee and Amanda were alone once again.
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