Her eyes had the patient cruelty of a snake. “Anything and anyone related to the mine or this litigation is privileged.”

“Your opposing counsel, Norm Foltz, believes the mine covered up an incident of harassment involving Ruby,” Darrell went on. “It’s unlikely they could have done that without Ajax knowing about it.”

“Again, anything related to the mine or this litigation is privileged,” she said.

“Even if it involves murder?”

“Murder is your concern, not mine.”

“I would think you’d be nervous, given that someone killed the previous lawyer working on the case.”

“I’m not, but thank you for your concern.”

Darrell and I exchanged a glance. We were both thinking we should have brought along an ice pick to chip through her frozen exterior.

“Do you know if Gordon Brink had any kind of relationship with Ajax?” Darrell asked.

“I’m unaware of who this man is or was. Obviously, I have no idea whether Gordon knew him.”

“Ajax was receiving monthly payments of five hundred dollars from an unidentified source. Those payments stopped the same month that Mr. Brink was killed. Was your firm making payments to Ajax? Or was Mr. Brink?”

“I have no idea.”

“Can you find out?”

“I have no access to Mr. Brink’s personal finances, and anything related to payments made by the firm would be privileged.”

“How long did Mr. Brink represent the mine?” Darrell asked.

“Anything about our client relationship is privileged.”

“Even how long you’ve represented them?”

“That’s right.”

“We have reason to believe Mr. Brink visited Black Wolf County prior to his arrival last fall,” Darrell went on. “Is that true?”

“I can’t say.”

“Because you don’t know, or because you won’t tell us?”

“I can’t say.”

“Was he here in connection with your representation of the mine?”

“Anything about our client relationship is privileged. I believe I’ve made that very clear.”

Across the table, Darrell shook his head in frustration. “Well, you’ve been a big help, Ms. Svitak.”

“It’s not my job to help you, Deputy.”

“Even if it means solving the murder of your colleague?” Darrell asked.

“Gordon is dead. That’s not going to change. Right now, my only concern is serving the interests of my client. Are we done?”

“Yes, we are. For now.”

“Then please show yourselves out.”

Darrell stood up from the table. So did I, with more difficulty. We both shook hands with the lawyer. Her grip was cool and limp. By the time we left the room, she’d already gone back to the paperwork in front of her, as if the time she’d spent with us was a nuisance that she’d already forgotten.