Park’s stomach felt like it fell to the floor. He glanced at Jackson, who nodded. “She’s a friend I bring as a date to events sometimes. She’s engaged to someone else,though. She and I are not romantically involved.”
“Mr. Kane has told me a few times that there’s no way you could have committed these murders, and I want to believe him, but Occam’s Razor. The most straightforward explanation for the crime is the most likely, right?”
“Except you thought it was a crime of passion, that Park killed her because they were lovers and they had a fight,” saidJackson. “But the medical examiner says she died while Park was at the fund-raiser. There are three hundred people who can vouch for his whereabouts. At the time of this woman’s death, Park was reconstructing his big speech on the back of a napkin!”
“So he had her killed.”
“Then it’s not a crime of passion!” Jackson was getting pretty worked up. Park wanted to reach over and touch him,get him to calm down, but he didn’t want Gavin to know they had anything but an attorney-client relationship. Jackson took a deep breath. “Sorry. I don’t mean to yell. But if Park wanted the girl killed, would he really arrange for it to happen in his own apartment?”
Shaw frowned. “What’s your theory, then?”
Jackson leaned forward. “I’m guessing one of these people...” He paused to wavea hand over Shaw’s folder of photos. “...lured Ms. Haufman to Park’s apartment without realizing Park had such an airtight alibi. Maybe they fought, and he killed her without premeditation. Or maybe he did know Park wouldn’t be there and set it up to look like Park was violent. Maybe he killed her in Park’s apartment and tried to make it look like a crime of passion.”
“What would make someonedo that?” Shaw asked.
“You’re the detective,” Park blurted.
Shaw turned on him. “You’re not off the hook.” He fiddled with the papers on the desk. “I will grant you, it seems unlikely Park was directly involved in the murder, but there are two pieces of evidence that are bugging me. First is the fact that someone broke into your apartment without making it look like a break-in, so I’mgoing to need a list of everyone who has your keys.”
“Fine,” said Park, feeling both irritated and relieved that Shaw finally seemed to be seeing how ridiculous his theory of the crime was.
“Second is the photo of you and Ms. Haufman. Hell, maybe the killer was another woman, someone who saw the photo and was jealous. You have an ex with hard feelings you want to tell me about?”
“That’san absurd theory,” Park said.
“Oh, because all of your relationships have ended on such good terms?”
Park glanced at Jackson. “No. Because I didn’t date Ms. Haufman, and there’s no other woman in my life who could have done this.” He took a deep breath, trying to get his nerves to calm down. “I don’t know why anyone would kill that girl, or why someone would break into my apartment tomake it look like I did it. But I’ve been too wrapped up in the campaign to date anyone, so I can’t imagine who would decide to kill a girl I’m not even dating...it’s crazy.”
“But you have to admit, it’s not so far-fetched to think women might be fighting over you. I mean, you’re a handsome guy. You’re rich and powerful. I imagine women are falling over themselves to date you.”
“And Iturn them all down.”
“Why, because you’re too good for them? Because they’re gold diggers? Because Daddy or the campaign doesn’t approve?”
“No, I—”
But Shaw kept going. “Come on, Mr. Livingston, isn’t there some secret woman stashed in a hotel room somewhere, some girl you don’t want the public to know about? I find it hard to believe that a man like you lives like a monk. And ZoeHaufman was gorgeous and young and rich, just the sort of girl who’d look good on your arm. How can I know you never dated her? That a romantic rival isn’t involved somehow? How can I be sure you’re not lying to me? How can—”
“Because I’m gay!”
The silence was deafening. The air around Park froze. After a long, quiet moment, the only sound was the squeak of Gavin Shaw’s chair as he tippedbackward.
Jackson broke the silence by letting out a wheezy breath.
“Shit,” said Martha softly.
“Are you fucking serious?” Shaw’s tone was a little growly.
Had Park really said that aloud? Jesus, he had. “I am. I didn’t intend to admit that, but it’s the truth. There’s no woman, Detective. I never dated Zoe Haufman.” Park leaned toward Shaw. “Look, it can’t leave this room.”
“No, I...no.” Shaw shook his head.
More silence, so Park glanced over at Jackson, who looked as shell-shocked as Park felt.
Finally, Jackson said, “I can’t believe you did that.”
Park couldn’t quite, either, but he was glad he had. “Well, if Detective Shaw wants an alibi, there’s his fucking alibi. If I ever ran into Zoe Haufman, I hardly noticed her. And, hell, I still have my goldstar, there’s no woman in my past who’d feel scorned enough to go after Zoe.”
