Page 115 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

“Mr. Barrington, the fact that you andCommissionerBacchetti are standing in my office right now says otherwise.”

Dino said, “Detective Eldridge, we’re not here to cause you any problems. In fact, we’re here to help.”

“Yeah, I heard our person of interest is a friend of yours.”

“Good,” Stone said, “that’ll save us some time. I’d like to speak with her.”

“She’s in the interview room, so that’s not happening.”

“You’re saying she’s being questioned without a lawyer present?”

“Why? Are you her lawyer?”

“I am.”

“Of course you are.” He looked past them. “Kwan!”

A female detective named Kwan entered the office. “Yes, sir?”

“Is the Reyes woman still being questioned?”

“No. She asked for her lawyer.”

“Did she give you a name?”

“Stone Barrington. I was just about to call him.”

Eldridge closed his eyes for a moment. “No need. Detective, meet Stone Barrington.”

Kwan looked at Stone, surprised.

“Are you planning on arresting my client, Detective?” Stone asked.

“That’ll depend on what we learn when we question her.”

“Let me save you the trouble. Even if that conversation happens, you won’t be arresting her.”

“And you know this why?”

“First, she arrived on the scene a few minutes before the police did. You can talk to her Uber driver to confirm that.” Monica had told him as much as she could before the police barged in.

“She could have gone and come back,” Eldridge countered.

“Actually, she couldn’t have. Before she went to the motel, she was at the Arrington, getting a massage. And before that, she was with the commissioner and me.”

“For how long?” Kwan asked.

“With both of us since breakfast. With me since before we both saw Tristan last night, when he was still alive.”

“You saw this Tristan guy last night?”

“I saw him, too,” Dino said.

“Maybe we should be interviewing you two.”

“We’d be happy to oblige, but the conclusion will be the same.”

“You’ll give sworn statements about all this?” Eldridge asked.

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