—
I drank but despite his request Milo didn’t, circling his mug with both huge hands and staring pastme.
“So what changed everything?” he said. “Nasty old reality. Two days after Heck’s arrest, a woman shows up unannounced at the station asking for me. I go downstairs, see a young redhead in a white Armani suit and big heels pushing an impressive wheelie bag. Moves fast, talks fast, shoves her business card at me fast. Wanna guess?”
“Attorney.”
“Bettina Bel Geddes, Esq., big Century City firm. Corporate litigator but she’s representing Heck in the criminal case, announces it like it’s gonna win her a Nobel. I say, ‘How can I help you?’ She says, ‘You can’t but I can help you. Let’s go up to your office, if you’re smart enough, you’ll pay attention.’ All this in front of Demetria, the civilian clerk.She’slooking at me like,Who’s this piece of work?I coulda shined Bel Geddes on, but she’s too damn happy. Won-the-lottery happy. We go upstairs, minute we’re out of the elevator, she starts orating.”
I said, “Her client’s innocent.”
“Expressed with smug self-righteousness,” he said. “She claims Heck’s got an ironclad alibi for the time of the murder, opens the wheeler and sets out to prove it. Hundred and twenty miles from the crime scene, at a hotel in La Jolla with another woman, and Bel Geddes has time-stamped CCTV footage to prove it along with a readout from those high-tech key dealies hotels use to monitor comings and goings.”
“Heck came but didn’t go.”
“Didn’t leave his room once. And if the camera and the door stuff wasn’t enough, Bel Geddes also has a stack of time-stamped room service receipts, affidavits from hotel staff, more footage from the parkinglot, and a clear shot of Heck and some blonde checking out and finally leaving two days later.”
“Party time,” I said.
“From the booze receipts I’d say serious party.”
“Who’s the woman?”
“Married, so Heck won’t say.”
“Noble of him.”
“Apparently, he’s up for sainthood and waiting to hear from the Vatican. All the camera picks up on her is a brief shot in the lobby. She keeps her head down, which fits with a naughty wife. Has white-blond hair that has to be a wig. In any event, Heck’s cleared so how the hell did his cigarette butts get on Sophie’s table?”
“He could’ve paid her a prior visit and she never cleaned up.”
“According to Bel Geddes, Heck hasn’t been there for a coupla months and the look of Sophie’s place backs that up. Neat, clean, organized. Leaving a random stash of stale tobacco doesn’t fit.”
“Someone got hold of Heck’s old smokes and planted them?”
“I know,” he said. “It’s screenplay stuff but I haven’t found a better explanation. Accessing the butts wouldn’t be tough if you had access to Heck’s trash. Which fits with something personal. Against Heck or himandSophie Barlow.”
“With an alibi like that, why wouldn’t Heck tell you right away instead of lawyering up and sitting in jail?”
“I posed that to Ms. Bel Geddes. She looked at me like I had brain damage and said, ‘Because only stupid people talk to you guys.’ ”
“Two days in lockup is smart?” I said.
“Guess a felony record could make you careful. That and all those true-crime shows. Nowadays, even the stupid ones are clamming up. And Heck’s no moron. Business degree, works as an administrator for a law office.”
He lifted his mug. Sipped. Drank deeply.
I said, “Could Heck be smart enough to hire someone to kill his exandleave the butts behind? Knowing he’ll be arrested then released due to his alibi?”
“Kind of a warped double-jeopardy thing? But unlike real double jeopardy it wouldn’t really insulate him from future charges, Alex.”
“But it could prevent any warrants or affidavits for his home, phone, or financials.”
He thought about that. “I guess anything’s possible.IfI can find a motive for Heck wanting Sophie dead. Bel Geddes claims there isn’t one, the two of them parted on friendly terms.”
“What do Sophie’s friends say about the relationship?”
“Haven’t gone there yet,” he said. “Still acclimating to the time zone at Square One.” He sighed. “The whole thing’s crazy. Which is why I’m here.”
