Page 96 of The Dollmaker

Knox sat in the recliner and lowered the volume with a remote he clutched close to his chest. “Hurry up and ask your questions, young man. I got my television shows to get back to.”

Andrews understood the psychology of interviewing. He knew he should sit. Try to build a rapport with Knox. But he’d never cared about playing nice. “Sharp said you attended Roger Benson’s funeral on Monday.”

Knox twisted a button on his shirt. “Seemed the least I could do.”

“You two were friends before she died?”

“We knew each other well enough to say hello on the street. But that was about it.”

“And yet you spent years helping him with her case.”

“Benson was devastated after Kara’s death. Heartbreaking to see the tall and mighty brought to their knees.”

Andrews pulled up a chair covered in magazines, which he set on the floor. He positioned the chair in front of Knox so they’d be eye level. He wanted to see the man’s facial expression clearly. Ninety percent of communication was nonverbal. “You were one of the first officers at Kara’s crime scene, correct?”

“Yeah. I was on duty. The scene still gives me nightmares.”

“Was Kara Benson wearing makeup when you found her?”

The old man did a double take. “What?”

“Makeup.”

“Why would you ask a question like that? Her crime scene pictures are in the files. What did you see?”

“The images are inconclusive. The photos are either out of focus or her face is turned. There is no clear view of her face.”

“I never claimed to be a great photographer.”

“So you took the pictures.”

“Yeah, sure. Of all things, why care about the makeup?”

“Pictures were taken of her at the medical examiner’s office. There are traces of heavy makeup on her hairline and on her lips and eyes.”

“So?”

“According to the files, you were the first officer on scene. Is that true?”

“Yeah.”

He watched the old man carefully. “Did you wipe the makeup from her face, Chief Knox?”

“Why would I do that?”

“You tell me. Why would you destroy evidence?”

He rubbed his chin covered in gray stubble. “Maybe I didn’t want it getting around what she looked like. I knew more police were coming, and I’d hated the idea that it would get back to Roger and Adeline that their little girl died looking like a freak doll.”

“Her face was made up to look like a doll?”

“Yeah, I guess that was what her face was supposed to look like. Nothing a parent needed to see.”

Andrews sat back in the chair. “Do you remember talking to Diane Emery? She was a close friend of Kara’s.”

“If she was a friend, then I talked to her.”

“She was found murdered days ago and dressed to look like a doll.”

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