I shook my head. "No. We were in the backyard, talking to you. She could have come home at any time.”
"Or maybe she was home all along. Have you verified her alibi?”
"Not yet.”
"Sounds like something you ought to do," Zoe quipped.
"Trust me, I’m on it.” I took a deep breath. "Are you sure it was Richard Pearson you saw strangle the blonde?”
Zoe was silent for a long moment. "At this point, I'm not sure of anything."
It seemed like an honest answer.
“I don't have enough probable cause to search the house,” I said. “I need something to substantiate your claim.”
“I know what I saw," Zoe said.
"You just told me you couldn't be sure if you saw Richard Pearson or someone else strangle the girl.”
Zoe frowned.
"Tell me about the incident in Pineapple Bay."
“What incident?”
I gave her a flat look. “You know what I'm talking about.”
Zoe swallowed hard. "Oh, that incident.” She took a deep breath. “I don't know if I'd call it an incident. I'd call it a setup.”
"DUI and vehicular manslaughter.”
Zoe’s face tightened, and her cheeks reddened. "I wasn't drunk, and it wasn't my fault. Somebody tampered with the brakes in my car.” She huffed. “I learned the hard way never to accuse a cop of anything. They did everything they could to discredit me and smear my reputation."
I shared a look with Jack.
"You don't believe me, do you?”
"I don’t know what to believe.”
"Look, I saw that cop strangle a girl. I reported it to IA. The investigation went nowhere. A month later, I got into that crazy accident. It wasn’t my fault. I jammed the brakes, and the car didn't stop.”
We both regarded her with a degree of skepticism. “Tell me about the results of your psychological evaluation?”
She glared at me. “I am not crazy. They sure tried to make me out to be. That doctor who did the evaluation was on their payroll.”
It sounded crazy.
She saw the doubt in our eyes. “My attorney sent a mechanic to look at my car after the accident. He found the brake lines had been cut. I'd be sitting in jail right now if that evidence didn’t go up in flames.” She paused. “Tell me that whole thing is not suspicious.”
I had to admit, the situation was a little suspect. “Some would say you paid someone to set that fire.”
Her nervous eyes darted between the two of us. "I didn’t pay anyone. Officer Howell knew the truth would come out. Heclearly tampered with my brake lines. They all protect each other, ‘cause they’re all corrupt. If Matt had gone down, he’d have taken several people with him. I’m sure he’s got dirt on every dirty cop in Pineapple Bay.” A frustrated exhale escaped her lips. “I should have just kept my mouth shut. About all of it. It's none of my business, right? Who cares if people kill each other?” she said, exasperated. “Please tell me you're not as corrupt as the scumbags in Pineapple Bay.”
"I think you’re going to find Coconut Key is very different from Pineapple Bay.
Regret tensed her face. “I came down here to get away from all that. I almost didn't report it when I saw Pearson hit his wife. I didn't want to get involved. But then my damn conscience got the best of me. I just couldn't leave it alone. I had to call. Now here we are.”
“You did the right thing.”
