The Pursuit of Lies (Book #4, Paradise Valley) (4 page)

“Allison’s dead?” Colin gasped. He gazed wide-eyed at the detective, then turned and looked at Emily as she stood in the doorway behind him.

“Oh, my God,” Emily said, her hand flying to her chest.

He whipped back around to face the detective and his entourage. “I just saw her not that long ago. I can’t believe she’s dead.”

“That’s why we’re here, Andrews. Now if you’ll come with us, we’d like to talk to you about it.”

“Am I under suspicion?” Colin took a small step back.

“I’d rather we spoke privately, not in front of this crowd, if you don’t mind,” Roberts said.

Alex squeezed past Emily and stepped up to Colin’s side. “I’m Alex Martínez, his attorney. Colin, do you need me to go with you?”

“Sounds like you’d better,” Colin said.

“Detective, is he under arrest?” Alex asked.

“No, he’s just wanted for questioning at the moment.”

“You don’t have to go with them,” Alex asserted.

“I’d rather get this cleared up as quickly as possible.” Colin looked over his shoulder at Emily.

“I’d like to take Andrews with me, Mr. Martínez,” Detective Roberts said, “but you can meet us down at the station.”

Emily stepped out and flung her arms around Colin’s neck, hugging him quick and hard.

“Ernie,” Colin turned and looked to his friend, “take care of Emily for me?” He flashed Emily a weak smile before walking down the steps.

“You got it, boss.” Ernie ushered Emily back inside and closed the door.

Emily rushed to the formal living room window and watched as Detective Roberts held the car door open and Colin ducked into the backseat.

Why would the police want to question Colin in ADA Allison Laraway’s murder? What could he possibly know?

Chapter 4

Emily stood riveted, staring out of the massive living room window at the driveway, unable to pull herself away.

Isabel and Camille had herded the guests back to the great room as soon as the police took Colin outside. The news reporter in Peter resisted following the crowd, until Maggie took him by the arm and pulled him away.

The light from the table lamps in the living room was low, casting a tranquil ambience over the room. Emily sensed Ernie somberly moving to her side.

“I tried to warn him, Emily.”

She swallowed hard, shaken by what just happened. She turned toward Ernie after the taillights of the last police car disappeared around a corner. “You knew?”

“I caught wind of it a little while ago. The chief pulled me into his office as I was leaving and gave me the heads up. The Boise detective called him out of professional courtesy, I guess.” He shrugged.

“Why didn’t you phone Colin?”

“I tried his cell, but it just rang and went to voicemail.”

“He must have turned the volume down because of the party.” She turned back to the window and stared out to the street. “Alex was about to offer a toast for our engagement, then we were going to dance.” Her throat tightened as she spoke and tears filled her eyes. She thought about their practice dance at her house, only an hour ago, and suddenly she missed his powerful arms around her and the sensation of his lips tenderly kissing her neck as their bodies swayed together. A tightness gripped her chest.

“Sorry I didn’t get here sooner, but I doubt it would have changed anything.”

Emily shook her head, trying to shake off the shock that had settled over her. She turned back to Ernie. “Why would they possibly think Colin had anything to do with Allison Laraway’s death?”

“They must have some kind of evidence pointing to him, or at least that he might know something about it. The chief didn’t say.”

“This doesn’t make any sense.” Emily’s voice quivered as she fought back the tears. She wrapped her arms protectively around herself, shuddering at the eerie chill that rippled over her.

Isabel entered the living room and draped an arm around Emily’s shoulders. “We’ll figure this out, Em. I’m sure Alex will call with an update as soon as he can.”

She turned into Isabel’s shoulder, and the tears she was fighting so hard to contain broke free. Isabel wrapped her arms around Emily and let her cry.

“I’m going to go down to the police station and see what I can find out.” Ernie zipped up his jacket.

“I’m going with you.” Emily pulled back from Isabel. She wiped the tears from her cheeks, pushed her hair back from her face, and drew in a deep calming breath. “I need to know what’s going on, too.”

“Emily, no. Stay here with us,” Isabel pleaded. “Alex and Ernie will find out what’s happening and let us know.”

“But—”

“No, Em,” Isabel insisted. “As your friend, I’m telling you, you’re too close to the situation, too emotional right now. Give the guys a chance to do their jobs, then we’ll see what the next step is.”

“But, Isabel, I need to know what this is about. Allison Laraway is dead and they seem to think Colin had something to do with it. I’ll go crazy if I can’t help sort things out in some way.”

Ernie put his large hand gently on Emily’s delicate shoulder. “I promise, Emily, I’ll let you know as soon as I know something.”

“But, Ernie—”

“Emily, please,” Ernie pleaded, pulling his hand back.

“All right, I guess I have no choice.” She raked her fingers through her curls and took another deep breath. “This has to be some kind of horrible mistake.” She glanced from Ernie to Isabel and back again. “Colin is one of the good guys.”

“I know, I know.” He nodded. “We’ll figure it out.” He dug his keys out of his pocket. “I’d best be going.”

Ernie said his good-byes and slipped out the door.

The moonlight streamed in through the window. With an arm laid loosely around Emily’s shoulders, Isabel stood by her as they watched Ernie walk to his car and drive away. “I’ll send everyone home, Em. There’s no need for them to stick around now.”

Emily nodded.

“Although, I might have trouble getting rid of Camille and Maggie.”

“You all went to so much trouble. I’m so sorry.” Emily’s eyes welled up again. Through the window, she gazed up at the stars. “It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way.” Her voice was eerily haunting, even to her own ears, her mind a thousand miles away.

“Why don’t you go upstairs to the guest room and wait for me while I clear everyone out. Then we can talk, if you like.” Isabel lightly patted Emily’s back. “You’re welcome to stay here, you know.”

“I know,” she replied softly. “I think I will, at least for the night.”

~*~

Seated in one of the interrogation rooms at the Boise police station, Alex stood up as a uniformed officer brought Colin in, followed by Detective Roberts. Still wearing his black suit and white dress shirt, Colin felt uncomfortable and shaken. He couldn’t believe what he was being accused of.

It felt like a bad nightmare. One minute he was standing next to the love of his life, about to toast their engagement, and the next minute he was being practically dragged out of the house, all-but-accused of a heinous crime against a woman with whom he only had a passing relationship.

If anyone could help Colin out of this mess, it was Alex Martínez. He was a top criminal attorney in the Boise area and they had become good friends over the past year. Having come directly from the engagement party as well, Alex remained dressed in an expensive-looking navy blue suit that set off his thick, graying black hair.

“Let’s all have a seat.” Detective Roberts dropped a folder hard onto the table, making a hand gesture directing Colin where to sit.

Roberts was a tall man, mid-forties, average weight, wearing a nondescript sport coat and tie. He had a head of bushy brown hair and small brown eyes, situated close together at the top of a large, long nose.

Alex had stayed close to Colin as the detective escorted him out of the house. Once they were away from the party guests, Roberts had formally announced to Colin that he was wanted for questioning in the murder of ADA Allison Laraway. The detective had read him his rights before tucking him into the backseat of his car, but Colin had not been able to speak to his attorney alone yet.

The detective dragged a chair away from the table and sat. “As you know, Martínez, Andrews is a person of interest in the Laraway murder and I’ve already read him his rights. I have quite a few questions for him.”

“Yes, I’m well aware.” Alex patted Colin’s shoulder as they both took a seat. “But I’ve had no time to speak privately with my client yet, Detective. Before you question him, I’d like a chance to do that.”

Roberts looked from Alex to Colin, and pursed his lips. “All right.” He stood, shoving his chair back with some force. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“I’ll need more than just a few minutes.” Alex remained calm, but Colin could feel the underlying tension between the two men. They had obviously done battle before. “Give me at least twenty or thirty.”

Roberts peered down at his wristwatch. “All right, we’ll be back in twenty.” He smirked at Alex, then motioned to the officer to follow him out.

“And make sure that camera is off,” Alex shouted after him, pointing in the direction of the video camera mounted high on the wall.

“Yeah, yeah,” Roberts mumbled with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Alex watched the door shut all the way before speaking. “Why would they think you killed Allison Laraway?”

Colin pushed his chair away from the table and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “I have no idea.” He shook his head as it hung low.

“The truth.”

Colin lifted his head and looked Alex in the eye. “Really. I have absolutely no idea.”

“When’s the last time you saw ADA Laraway?”

“Week before last we had a short meeting in her office about one of my cases she’s trying.”

“Before that?”

“Except for the last few weeks, I was mostly in San Francisco before that, for the past few months, but then you already know that.”

“Work with me here, Colin. And you’ve had no contact with her except for the meeting a couple of weeks ago?”

“Just by email a few times, but always case related.”

“You have no romantic ties to this woman, do you?”

“You know me, Alex. It’s only been Emily since I moved to Paradise Valley.”

“I have to ask. You know Roberts will.”

“The only time was…”

“Was what? Tell me,” Alex demanded.

“When I first moved here, Allison came on to me a few times. But I never responded, never took her up on it. We had drinks together at Bar deNay’s one night, but I made it clear to her I was with Emily.”

“When was that?”

“Before I went back to San Francisco.”

“Did Emily know about that?”

“I don’t think so. It was nothing. Just a couple of friends having a drink.”

“You considered Allison a friend?”

“A work friend, I guess. Is that bad?”

“We’ll see.”

Colin buried his face in his hands for a moment. Then he ran them through his hair as he straightened in his seat, letting out a cry of exasperation.

“Calm down, Colin.”

“What is going on?” Colin stood and paced the room. “And what about Emily? What is she thinking? That they’ve arrested me for murder? Murder!”

“I’m sure Isabel and the girls are with her.” Alex patted the seat of the chair. “Come sit down and get a hold of yourself. Roberts will be back any minute and you need to stay calm.”

Colin shrugged out of his jacket and hung it over the back of the chair before wiping his hand across his sweaty forehead. He took his seat and crossed his arms on the table.

Alex laid a firm hand on Colin’s forearm. “Let me do all the talking. I don’t want you saying a word. We need to find out what they have, not give them anything more.”

“You do believe me, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course.”

Chapter 5

Colin tried not to fidget as Detective Roberts returned to the interrogation room with another detective to begin the questioning. Alex had directed Colin not to say anything, so they were hopeful that the interrogation wouldn’t last long.

The detective leaned on the table, assuming an intimidating stance that Colin knew all too well. “Where were you last night, Mr. Andrews, between the hours of seven and midnight?”

“Don’t answer that,” Alex ordered.

“But, Alex—”

“Silence.” Alex frowned at Colin, who was straining against his attorney’s directive.

Colin leaned over and whispered into Alex’s ear. “I was home alone.”

“According to Ms. Laraway’s appointment calendar, she had a date with Colin last night.”

“No! That can’t—”

“Colin, please. Stop talking. He’s just trying to bait you.”

After stonewalling one question after another, Roberts slammed his fist on the table, apparently exasperated by Colin’s lack of cooperation. “You’re just digging yourself deeper, Andrews. It’ll go a lot better for you if you cooperate and answer the questions.”

Colin knew these interrogation tactics—he’d used them himself—but it was different being on the receiving end of the accusations.

Alex folded his hands on the table. “If you’re looking for a confession here, Roberts, you’ve come to the wrong person. My client is innocent.”

“My pile of evidence says otherwise, Mr. Martínez. The fingerprints, the DNA, the photo we found of the two of them snuggling together for the camera. Hell, we even have the florist’s note, still stuck in the pot of red flowers he sent to her, with his name on it.”

My fingerprints and DNA? What flowers?

“Whether he sent her a potted plant, or not, proves nothing,” Alex said.

Colin frowned at the mention of the flowers, shaking his head. He hadn’t sent any.

“What was the cause of death, Detective?” Alex asked.

“Looked like stab wounds. We’re still looking for the knife.”

“I see. So you have my client’s prints, which could have been left there at any time, you have a pot of flowers with his name written on it by a florist, and you have no murder weapon.”

“We’ve also learned Andrews is engaged to that feisty private eye over in Paradise Valley, Emily Parker. So if he was seeing Ms. Laraway on the side, and she threatened to tell his fiancée, shutting her up would give him plenty of motive.”