August 29, Wednesday Morning
Detective Moss Stone walked up the short sidewalk to the half-duplex home. “It appears Paige Butler has a more modest income than our other suspects.”
“That’s true. But Ryan Morgan had the most money and looked at what happened to him.”
“Good point.” He pushed the doorbell.
The door opened. Paige stood wearing black, tight -fitting shorts and a white crop top. “Come on in. I’ve made coffee.”
“Thank you.” Roberts entered first, sitting in one of the two unmatched armchairs.
Stone looked around the small living room and sat in the other armchair.
Paige called out from the kitchen. “What do you take in your coffee?”
“Just milk.”
“Black.”
A minute later, Paige entered, carrying three mugs. She gave Roberts her coffee first and handed over a mug to Stone. “I’ll bet my coffee is better than your tea.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.” He waited until she sat on the remaining place to sit, a loveseat, then asked, “We were reviewing your statements about the Friday night when Ryan Morgan died. I understand you stated you were with Brooke Morgan during the evening. However, there turns out a period in Charmaine’s Coffee Emporium where you were not with her. You went or said you went, to the washroom. During that time, you had the opportunity to hurry across the street to Ryan’s office, kill him, and return to the coffee shop.”
Paige gave a half smile. “You know I went out for dinner that evening, don’t you?”
Stone nodded. “We do.”
“Have you considered what I was wearing?”
“No, what difference does that make?”
“You can check with Brooke or the server at Joey’s. Or at the coffee shop. I was wearing a short, tight black skirt with high heels. It’s not something I would dash across the street in and attack a man in. I think you may have me confused with one of Charlie’s Angels.” She looked at Roberts. “Tell your detective partner what it’s like wearing heels and trying to do anything fast.”
Roberts sighed. “She has a point. Unless you’re watching a movie, you won’t see a woman fight, or run, in heels.”
“Damn.” He took a drink of his coffee. “Okay, I get it.” He peered at Paige. “I’m curious. Do you carry a knife with you? In a purse?”
Paige frowned. “A purse? Me carrying a purse big enough to hide a knife? I don’t think so. But I have a knife. It’s in the glove compartment in my Jeep. Want me to get it?”
“Under the circumstances, it may be best if I get it. Where are the keys?”
Paige shrugged, stood, and walked to the kitchen, returning with a set of keys. She placed them in his hand. “Make sure you lock the Jeep afterward.”
“Will do.” Stone walked to the kitchen, exiting out the rear door.
“More coffee?” Paige asked Roberts.
“Sure. You don’t seem nervous about the knife.”
“No reason to be. I didn’t kill Ryan, and I’ve never used that knife. I bought it for protection and never had a reason to use it. Yet.” She refilled the cups.
“Do you have an opinion about who killed Ryan?”
“No. Just that it’s hard to believe anyone I know would have done it.”
“How about Michael? He was carrying a knife when he went to see Ryan. That sounds like an intent to murder.”
“He may have been carrying a knife, but I find it hard to believe he would have used it.”
“Why?”
“Michael…, he knows restraint. He could be furious, or upset, but he always stops from going over the edge. He may have had the knife, but I don’t believe he would’ve used it.”
“Okay. Would you have?”
Paige smiled. “No. I could have handled Ryan without a knife.”
“Did you consider teaching him a lesson when he showed you the photos of yourself?”
“No. I was just pissed off. What did you think of the photos?”
“They were nice. I guess for nudes, they were in good taste.”
“Do you think you can get a copy of them and send them to me? I never got a copy of the photos.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks. If you ever want lessons on self-defence, I would be glad to provide some to you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. For now, I’m good.”
Stone entered the room, holding a knife in a plastic bag. “There doesn’t appear to be any signs of blood on it, but our lab will take a closer look.”
“There won’t be. Just make sure you return it afterward.”
Roberts followed Stone out the door and toward his car. “Did you find anything besides the knife?”
“No. Clean vehicle. Did you learn anything more from her?”
“She’s convinced Michael wouldn’t have murdered Ryan Morgan, even if he was alive when he arrived at his office. She doesn’t know who might have murdered him.”
“The knife looks brand new. No marks on it. I’m not optimistic our lab will find anything on it.”
“By the way, Paige wants a copy of her photos.”
“Makes sense. She seems fairly confident about her body.”
“What’s our next step? Who do you want to focus on?”
“Good question.” He started his car. “I want to interview the secretary of the year again, and I want to look around Joseph McCarthy’s home for something.”
“What is that something?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t believe his alibi.”
“Okay, so which one should we work on? Melisa or Joseph?”
“I’m not sure.” He tapped the steering wheel with his fingers. He looked out the driver’s window.
“What are you looking at?”
“A hint from the universe what to do next.”
“Seriously?” She looked at the mix of duplexes and single-family homes. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, and she was about to say so when she spotted a man working on a roof to adjust a satellite dish. “There’s a man on a roof. Other than that, I see nothing.”
“The roof? Okay, I know who to see next.”
“Who?”
“Rover Driscoll. He works on roofs. Let’s interview him again.”
Roberts shook her head. “Your logic really is something else.”