Page 37 of The Perfect Accomplice

"Not right away," he said. "I got home super late last night. It was this morning, actually, around 4 a.m."

“Why so late?” Ryan asked.

“We were working on a programming issue with a new product,” Henshall explained. “Sometimes I like to get into the nitty gritty with my designers. That’s what happened last night. By the time we called it quits, it was 3:30. I tend to lose track of time when I’m really focused on something.”

"So you got home at four," Jessie reminded him, prodding him to continue.

“Right,” he said. “I was really tired, so I just didn’t notice anything right away. I didn’t want to wake Chloe while getting into bed and figured she’d be up in a couple of hours anyway, so I just made a bowl of popcorn, grabbed Missy—who was still whining—for company, went to my study, and tried to crash on the couch. But I was still so wired from work that I just dove back into it.”

“When did you realize something was off?” Ryan asked.

“When I finally got up to stretch, I realized it was almost six. That’s when Chloe usually gets up, so I went in to wake her. But the bed was empty and made. That was when I realized I hadn’t talked to her since yesterday afternoon. I checked all around the house, but she wasn’t in her normal areas, so I called her. The phone started ringing. I found it on the floor under a couch in the living room. That’s when I got truly worried.”

“What did you do?” Jessie asked.

“I took Missy out of my office and went into the bedroom, which was a mistake because she was stuck there and couldn’t—” he paused as his voice cracked briefly, “couldn’t show me where Chloe was. I started calling everyone I could think of. She had this scholarship foundation meeting yesterday, so I called the co-chair, Angela Bossom, who said she left the meeting without issue.”

“What time was that?” Ryan pressed as delicately as he could.

"I think she said it ended around four, but you should double-check with Angela."

“We will,” Jessie told him. “What did you do next?”

"I called other friends of hers. Some didn't answer because it was so early, but the ones I could reach didn't know anything. That's when I called the police to tell them that she was missing. They said they'd send someone over."

“Then what?”

“Missy was whining again, and I thought she had to go to the bathroom, so I let her out of the bedroom, but instead of going to the door to get outside, she went to the closet and started scratching at that door. I opened it and then…you know the rest.”

He lowered his head, unable to go on. Cutter got Jessie and Ryan’s attention, and mouthed “May I ask a question?”

They both nodded.

“Mr. Henshall,” the sergeant said, “I know this is difficult but we’re trying to put the pieces together. Have you had any problems with people sneaking into your garage?”

“No. Why?”

“Well, there doesn’t seem to be any sign of forced entry and we understand that Mrs. Henshall’s car isn’t in the garage. We didn’t know if someone possibly snuck into the house that way and then stole the car after attacking her.”

Henshall shook his head absently.

“Her car is in the shop. I suggested she get a rental, but she said she was happy to use the car service for a few days.”

“She didn’t use rideshares?” Jessie confirmed.

“No,” Henshall answered. “She has a guy she likes. She would always request him for when we attended major events. His name is Albert something.”

Ryan had a question. “The front security camera appears to have been displaced so that it doesn’t show the front porch. Do you know why that is? Has it been worked on recently?”

“I don’t think so,” he said. “Why?”

Ryan answered that one.

“Because now we won’t have footage of anyone who might have approached the front of the house after she got home.”

Jessie saw the pained expression on Henshall’s face and wished Ryan hadn’t been so forthright.

“I don’t know,” he muttered. “Chloe handled all that stuff. I don’t know how long it was like that.”

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