"They don't call it the hot seat for nothing," I said.
"I bet you do that on purpose. Turn up the heat to make people sweat."
"I can neither confirm nor deny," I said with a wink.
"I'm hungry. I’m having a craving for the Five Fathoms. Would you gentlemen care to join me? My treat?”
I hesitated. "I'm not sure that would be appropriate.”
Her brow knitted. "I fail to see what would be inappropriate about that. I'm no longer a suspect, am I? I'm just a widow helping deputies solve my husband's murder. Perhaps there’s something we missed. Some connection can be found. It would almost be negligent not to have lunch with me.”
I shared a look with JD.
"As much as I'd like to, I think the press would have a field day with that.Deputies fraternize with widow days after husband's death."
She laughed. "You're probably right.” Tiffany paused. “But if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that the press will say anything. They have no regard for the truth.” She paused. "I don't want to give you the wrong impression. I have no ulterior motives. I'm just looking for a social connection right now. I don't really like being alone. My true friends are few and far between.”
“I understand.”
She took a breath. "Perhaps another time?”
"Perhaps."
We escorted her outside. Jack offered to give her a ride, but we all decided that was probably a bad idea since there was a horde of media waiting in the parking lot, Paris Delaney among them.
Reporters shouted, and cameras closed in.
"Tiffany, are you still a suspect?”
"Did you kill your husband?”
"Was this a murder-for-hire plot?”
I stepped in frame and said, "Tiffany Madison is no longer a person of interest at this time."
Another onslaught of questions came at me, but I declined to answer.
Another deputy gave her a ride back to the Seven Seas in a patrol car. The cameras all filmed as they drove out of the lot.
Paris asked me on camera, "Deputy Wild, who is your primary suspect now?”
Isabella buzzed my phone. I stepped out of frame and answered the call. "What have you got for me?"
"You asked me to look into a lot of people. It's taking a little time to sort through all this, and I've got my hands full with a few of the things, so forgive me if I'm slow to respond.”
I smiled and meandered away from the reporters for some privacy. "No worries. Anything you can do is appreciated.”
"I‘ve got some interesting tidbits here and there and a possible suspect. Hunter Madison's cell phone is off the grid during the time of the murders. The last position I have for that is aboard his boat in the marina. It goes off-grid about 6 PM. Comes back online the next morning around 10:00 AM.”
"Could be a dead battery.”
"Always a possibility. Colt Ralston currently lives in Los Angeles. From what I can tell, his phone attended a concert at the Hollywood Bowl at the time of the murder. I can't say with absolute certainty, but I think you can cross him off the list.”
"Good to know. What about Gavin Carver?"
"Well, his cell phone was at his apartment, then a few bars on Oyster Avenue. He made a late-night trip down to Dowling Street, stayed down there for 15 to 20 minutes, then came back to his apartment."
"What about the widow of the cyclist Coach Madison killed?”
