“Gold star?” Martha asked.
“He’s never slept with a woman,” said Jackson.
“Am I really supposed to believe all this?” asked Shaw. “Being gay is an awfully convenient excuse.”
“It’s the truth,” said Park. “And again, the people in this room are pretty much the only people in the world who know, so if youcould maybe leave it out of your official report?”
Shaw spared Jackson a glance and said, “Fine. Fine, there’s enough here to indicate you probably weren’t involved directly. I take your point. The alibi is...compelling. But this is not over. The violence in your apartment indicates to me that the killer probably knows you, so if he wasn’t working on your behalf...” Shaw shook his head. “EvenI can see the logic here.”
“Can you make a statement clearing Park of the crime so he can resume his campaign?” asked Jackson.
They bled time every day the campaign was suspended, and if Park couldn’t have Jackson, he could at least get back to work. He could—
“No,” Shaw said.
“But Gavin—”
Shaw held up his hand. “I will when I have something more to go on in solving this messbeyond ‘Not Livingston.’”
“When do you think that will be?” asked Park.
“Don’t try me, Livingston.” Shaw stood and shoved all of his papers into one stack. “Everyone in this goddamn city is up my ass to solve this, and I will, but I still need you to cooperate and I still have to figure out who the helldidkill this girl if it wasn’t you.”
Park kept himself from slapping the table.He wanted to shout at Gavin, but pissing him off wouldn’t do any good.
Jackson stood as well. “I could sue you for unlawful prosecution. Your assumption from Day One was that Park was responsible for this. The very implication that he was involved has done tangible damage to his career. I think we’ve ably demonstrated that he wasn’t involved. What evidence have you overlooked in your zealto catch Park?”
Shaw closed his eyes for a long moment and then stared at Jackson. “Can we not? I get that you’re doing your job, but I’m doing mine, too.”
Jackson pursed his lips, then nodded. “Fine. Are we done?”
“Yes. But don’t leave the city.”
“Like we could,” said Park.
“They’ll be at the hotel,” Jackson said.
“Good. Jack, I want a meeting tomorrow. Your office. Beforelunch. Say, eleven?”
“I’ll put you on my schedule. Not this afternoon?”
“I’m up to my armpits in work, and now I’ve got to track down this Kenneth Tucker guy. So tomorrow.”
“All right.”
Shaw tossed a legal pad at Park. “Write down everyone who has your keys and at least one way to contact them.” He let out a breath and shook his head, visibly frustrated. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow,okay, Jack? The rest of you, keep yourselves available. I’ll call the hotel if I have questions. Be prepared to answer them.”
“Of course,” said Park. He turned his attention toward the legal pad and wrote down all the people he could think of who might possibly have keys to his apartment. It was a longer list than the one he’d given Jackson, which he knew pissed Jackson off, but there wasnothing for it now. After looking up phone numbers on his phone, Park handed the pad back to Shaw, who glanced at it before he gestured to the door. Dee escorted them through the station, so Park dutifully followed his entourage out of the precinct house.
He walked beside Jackson and nearly reached for his hand, wishing he could take it. In another life, maybe he could have, but he’d madehis choice, and he’d have to live with it now.
