James shook Detective Reed’s hand and then Detective Turner’s. “I still don’t see why this is necessary. Penny has already talked to Joe.”
“It’s a formality really. We just have a few questions.” Detective Reed peered around James’ shoulder. “You must be Penny.”
“Yes, hi.” I walked toward them. Detective Turner still hadn’t spoken a word. It felt like they were trying to intimidate me. I wasn’t going to let that happen. James hadn’t done anything wrong. I had told my parents about our relationship this afternoon. Two men in suits weren’t going to scare me now. I felt stronger somehow. And I was sick of this. I just wanted everyone to leave us alone. “You said you have some questions for me?” I crossed my arms in front of my chest.
“Right. Well, we’re actually going to need to talk to you in private, Penny.” Detective Reed looked up at James.
“I really don’t see why that’s necessary,” James said coolly.
“Something has come up in our investigation. And we need Penny to be able to talk freely about your relationship.”
James’ eyebrows lowered. “What has come up in the investigation?”
“We can’t really discuss that with you right now. I’m sure Joe will be in contact with you shortly.”
“I think that you both should leave.”
“James, it’s fine. I’ll talk to them.” The last thing we needed was for James to lose his temper and punch a detective.
“You don’t have to answer their questions, Penny. Let me call my lawyer. He’ll handle this.”
“It’s fine. I really don’t mind.”
James stared at me for a second. “I guess I’ll be in my office then.” He put his hand on my shoulder and then walked away.
I stood there awkwardly in the foyer. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. But I didn’t have to decide. Both detectives walked past me toward the living room.
“If you wouldn’t mind taking a seat, Penny.”
Okay. I followed them into the living room and sat down on the sofa. Both of them remained standing. They were definitely trying to intimidate me. Screw them.
“I see that James has been buying you presents.” Detective Reed looked at the T. V. It was still in its box and there was wrapping paper on the ground.
“No. He bought that for himself.” I had taken a criminal justice class with Melissa my freshman year. I knew they were trying to get me to admit something without actually asking a question. I folded my arms across my chest again.
“Does he wrap everything he buys for himself? Or just expensive things?”
“I don’t know. We’ve only been dating a few months.”
A smile broke over Detective Reed’s face. “You know, when people act defensive, it usually means that they have something to defend.”
I glared at him. “I don’t have anything to hide.”
“Good. I expected as much. You’re an open book, Penny. Straight As in high school. Same here except for the occasional B. You’re a good girl. Respectable. A First State scholarship winner even. That must have made your parents proud.”
“Yes, it did.” My father’s words came back to me. There wasn’t anything I could do to disappoint him. He’d always be proud of me. I didn’t need a scholarship to prove that.
“So the question is, what made you risk all that? What made you decide to sleep with your professor? Were you worried about losing your scholarship?”
“What? No.”
“What kind of arrangement did you two have exactly?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I knew what he was suggesting. And it made me sick to my stomach. It was like what Raymond Asher had said. Why did everyone assume it was something terrible that brought us together? Why couldn’t everyone just see that I was in love with James?
“Was it for the presents? Or maybe you weren’t doing as well this semester. You have a C average in your statistics class right now. Did you do it for the grades?”
“Do what exactly?” It was hard to stay calm.
“Did he, or did he not agree to give you an A in his class if you gave him sexual favors?”
I stood up. “I think you should go.”
“So it’s true, is it?”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about. We never did anything that we didn’t both want to do. James is a good guy.”
“Good professors don’t sleep with their students.”
“Tim.” Detective Turner had finally spoken. He put his hand on Detective Reed’s chest, as if holding him back. “Why don’t you let me take it from here.” Detective Turner gestured toward the couch.
Detective Reed nodded and sat down on the sofa. I stared at Detective Turner, who was now smiling. I was a little surprised by the sudden change. Were they seriously trying to good cop, bad cop me? I internally rolled my eyes.
“Please, Penny, take a seat,” Detective Turner said. “I’m sorry about my partner’s outburst.”
No he wasn’t. I sighed and sat down, as far away from Detective Reed as possible.
“You said you have nothing to hide,” Detective Turner said.
“I don’t.”
“Would it surprise you, then, if James was hiding something from you?”
I swallowed hard.
He put his hands in his pockets as he studied my face. “It wouldn’t, would it? I’ve heard that James is quite a complicated man.”
“And who did you hear that from? His ex wife?”
Detective Turner smiled again. “It’s not too late, you know. If you’re willing to cooperate with us, we can give the First State scholarship committee a call. Maybe we can get them to reissue that scholarship of yours.”
“If I cooperate?”
“Yes. You see, we are building a case against James regarding sexual misconduct.”
“I’m not going to lie in order to get my scholarship back. Like you said, I’m a good girl. Besides for that fact, you have it all wrong.”
“Unfortunately we don’t. We do want to help you, Penny. But we don’t actually need your statement. Yes, it’ll help, but I think we already have everything we need.”
“What do you mean?”
“Two girls have already come forward saying that James agreed to give them As for sexual favors.”
What? “They’re lying.”
“And how sure are you of that? Because Tim and I are trained to tell if suspects are lying. These girls didn’t seem like they were lying. Actually, they were both in tears. They were embarrassed and ashamed because of the position that their trusted professor put them in.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“And their stories lined up. They both said that James lured them into his office to dispute a poor grade. And that he agreed to change it only if they agreed to have sex with him.”
No. Isn’t that what he did to me? No. Kind of?
“Does that sound familiar, Penny? Did he do that to you too?”
“No. It wasn’t like that.” Was it?