One-Night Alibi

He glanced at her sweatshirt. “Guess Daddy didn’t get his way that time, huh?”

“No. He took my car away. I went anyway.”

“You haven’t seen him since then? That’s, what, ten years?”

“Oh, I’ve seen him. He pops up periodically—here or at work, or we sometimes attend the same functions.” Her gaze darted to the dying orchids, then back. “But no matter how hard he tries...tried...he can’t engage me. I ignore him. And he goes away.”

“So the estrangement was one-way.”

“If you mean I wanted it and he didn’t, yes, that’s exactly right.”

Only one more question came to mind at the moment. “Why? It was a long time ago, and it sounds like maybe he just didn’t want his daughter to be so far from home.”

“It wasn’t just that. I had my reasons.”

“That answer isn’t going to wash with the cops when they question you again.” And something told Hudson they would. Though he hadn’t seen it the first time they’d met, Liz fairly reeked with deception. Maybe he simply hadn’t wanted to see it last Saturday.

“I’ll tell the cops if they ask. But you’re not the cops.”

He wasn’t...but he was. They could take his badge and gun away, but inside he was still a cop. He always would be. It drove him nuts that he didn’t have his usual resources at hand. He couldn’t simply call up DMV records or look up someone’s criminal history.

“Hudson...what about the burglar?”

“Yeah. Kinda suspicious—a guy with a gun in close proximity to where the body was found.”

“Was my father killed with...? Was he shot?” She realized she’d never asked how he’d died, and she’d deliberately not watched the news or read a newspaper. “They told me he was found in the lake, and I guess I just assumed he’d drowned.”

Hudson nodded. “He was shot.”

“So the creep that broke into your house was connected to my father?”

“I think he was there to kill me,” Hudson said flatly. “I think if you hadn’t been there, that’s what would have happened.”

“My father wouldn’t have had you killed,” she said reasonably. “I’m sure he was angry over being arrested, but I can’t see him going that far.”

“I can.” Hudson still shivered when he remembered Mandalay’s cold eyes. “Something was going on in that parking lot. Something other than a simple business transaction. Whatever it was, maybe he wanted it to stay hidden—at any cost.”

“Okay, so let’s assume the burglar was there to kill you. He fails. Reports back to my father. They get into an argument. Gun comes out...” She swallowed convulsively.

“It’s okay to grieve, Liz. Whatever happened that caused the feud between you...I’m guessing you have some fond memories, as well.”

She nodded. “He used to be the center of my universe.”

Hudson had to admit, he was consumed with curiosity about what all had happened. But she wasn’t ready to tell him yet. She would be. Someday.

“Okay, I’ll make a deal with you. Knightly and Sanchez think my alibi lady doesn’t exist. I’ll continue to tell them I can’t find you.”

“Oh, thank you, Hudson—”

“Wait, wait, I’m not done. They only gave me a couple of days to produce you as my alibi. I doubt they have enough to arrest me. But if they do...then I’ll have to come clean.” He hated lying to cops—to his own partner especially. But he had to agree with Liz on this one. Once they knew the two prime suspects had been together Saturday night, he and Liz would probably find themselves in jail and unable to conduct any kind of investigation of their own.

“Okay... And during this grace period?”

“I’ll find the real killer. There’s simply no other choice.”

“I’ll help.”

“We’re dealing with a ruthless person or persons here. I can’t put you in danger.”

“I’m already in danger. What if I get convicted of murder? Sentenced to death? Anyway, I’ve got something you might need.”

“Really. What might that be?”

“Money. Lots of it. Getting information out of people can cost. Speaking of which...how did you find me? Money also buys privacy. Jillian was pretty much the only person at that wedding who knew me. And even if you managed to get hold of her in Patagonia, she would never tell. She knows better.”

“I called in a favor at Project Justice. And I did some legwork,” he added, unwilling to give Mitch all the credit.

“Project Justice. So maybe we should get them to help us find the real killer. That’s what those people do, right? Help people who have been unjustly accused?”

“Usually they help people unjustly convicted and imprisoned. We haven’t even been arrested.”

“So, they’ll get a jump start on our case. Anyway, I have an ace up my sleeve. I serve on the board of directors of the Logan Charitable Trust.”

“You’re friends with Daniel Logan? The billionaire?”

“You were at his house. You don’t know him?”

“Not well enough to just call him up and ask him for a favor like that.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll let you know once I’ve set up a meeting. Meanwhile, you better go. The less we’re seen together, the better. It’s only a matter of time before some enterprising reporter puts it together.”

“Damn.” He shook his head. “I’ve never been the subject of media scrutiny before. I don’t like it. Not at all.”

“You get used to it.”

“So I take it you’ve dealt with this kind of thing before?”

“When I was fourteen, my mother disappeared. Poof.” Liz spread her fingers wide, outlining an imaginary cloud of dust. He couldn’t help noticing that her immaculate manicure from Saturday had deteriorated; she’d been chewing on her nail polish.

“Given who my father was,” she continued, “the media went crazy over the story. Reporters camped out in the street in front of our house for literally months. I didn’t leave the house, not even to go to school. My father hired a tutor. I became a prisoner in my own home.”

“That sounds brutal. Did you find out what happened to her?”

“There was some evidence she had a lover. The police decided she must have run off with him, but I never bought it. She wouldn’t have left me without a word. Dad, yeah, she’d have left him. They hadn’t been happy together for a long time. But not me. We were tight.” Liz paused, reflecting. “I know she’s dead. Realistically, that’s the only possible answer. Beyond that, I don’t know, and I’m not sure I want to know. That way, I can fantasize that it was quick and painless, you know?”

Hudson didn’t really understand that attitude. If something happened to one of his parents, or his little brother, he’d want to know, no matter how unpleasant it was for him.

“Reporters still call me about it, wanting to revisit the case, since it was never solved.”