“Are you trying to say that they suspectme? That I am a person of interest?”
“I don’t know for certain,” he starts, but I follow his line of sight over to the huge bandage wrapped around my thumb.
“What? Because of this?” I ask, holding it up. “I told Detective Harvey that it was from breaking a glass while washing dishes. And that the bump on my head was from running into the door at the top of the stairs.”
“I know all of that,” he says, and holds out his hands like I am a scared animal he is trying to soothe.
“Oh my God.” I put both hands on top of my head. “They’ve thought that it was me from the beginning, haven’t they? That’s why they had Detective Harvey interview me. Now that the video footage shows it was a woman, they are going to arrest me, aren’t they?”
He steps forward as I start to hyperventilate and pulls me into his chest. “We don’t know that yet, Drew. It’s just a hunch from what Cartwright has picked up from overhearing a few conversations. They shut him out right after he finished taking my statement, so he figured something was up, and they have kept him at arm’s length ever since.” He gently pulls back when it becomes clear that hugging me isn’t helping and dips his head so that he can catch my eyes. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but this is actually good, Drew, because now that we know what they are thinking, we can adjust our strategy. You are in the very best hands. I promise.”
I shake my head as everything spins and rearranges in my mind. I was so wrapped up in protecting everyone else that I completely forgot to protect myself. I need someone who lives and breathes true crime, and has a vested interest in protecting me, and I need it fast.
“I have to make a phone call.”
“Okay,” Cameron says, not daring to try and stop me. “To who?”
I pause before closing the door that connects our two rooms. “My boss, Monika.”
Chapter forty-one
TELL ME MORE
WhenMonikadoesn’tanswerher cell, I try the bookstore.
“Thank you for calling the Book and Barrel, this is—”
“Monika, it’s Drew.”
“Oh, hi. Is there baby news? We’ve been so slammed that I haven’t had a chance to check my phone.”
“No baby news, but I need your help. It’s an emergency.”
Her voice muffles as she puts the phone to her chest, but I can just make out enough to know that she is asking someone to cover the register for her, and within a few seconds, she is back on the line in a quieter place. “What’s going on?”
“The host of the retreat was murdered last night, and I think I might be the prime suspect.”
The line is silent again as my words sink in, but after about ten seconds, she says, “Hang on. I need to get something to write with.” If I didn’t think I was about to be arrested, I might have laughed at her clear lack of surprise. Of course, she’s not shockedthat I am being blamed for a crime that I didn’t commit. It’s completely in character for me.
Once she has what she needs, she says, “Okay, I’m ready. Tell me everything, from the beginning.”
I rehash the events of the last twenty-four hours as calmly as possible, sparing no detail. She asks a few clarifying questions but otherwise remains silent until the end when she lets out a low whistle. “That’s a lot, Drew, even for you, but you called the right person. Can you get me the first and last names of all the guests?”
“The only last name I know is Cameron’s, so I’ll have to ask for the others.”
“Didn’t you say that Delaney put you all in a group chat? A lot of times, those outside apps require first and last names to sign up.”
“Oh, yeah,” I say, and pull the phone away so that I can check. Sure enough, all our last names are displayed in the group info, so I take a screenshot and text it to her.
“Perfect. And you said you know Cameron’s last name?”
I pause. “It’s James, but you don’t need to waste time looking into him.” She’s silent for a moment, so I remind her, “He was cleared by the surveillance footage.”
“Footage can be manipulated,” she says, echoing Leah. “Especially since it’s a family friend that owns the security business.”
I shake my head, even though she can’t see it. “Do your thing, I called you for a reason, but I think you should focus on Judith first, then the other women.”
She pauses for what I can only hope is long enough to write that order down so that she can follow it. “Any chance you can get Cameron on the phone to ask him about Delaney’s paranoia and the person in prison you overheard him talking about? I amsure I can figure those things out myself, but it would speed my process along if I had more context.”
