Page 116 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

“We will.”

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Twenty minutes later, Stone was shown into the windowless interview room where Monica had been waiting. She jumped up as he entered and hugged him.

“Oh, thank God!”

“Let’s get you out of here.”

“I’m free to go?”

“You have a solid alibi. Me.”

She kissed him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. But next time, think twice before heading into a situation like that alone.”

“You’re right, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone, but I was worried that Tristan would disappear again.”

They joined Dino in the hallway and soon were ensconced inan Arrington Porsche Cayenne. Now that they were away from the prying eyes and ears of the LAPD, Stone said, “Tell me exactly what happened.”

She went through the afternoon’ events. “When they brought me to the station, I did exactly what you told me, and said that I wanted to talk to my lawyer.”

“You didn’t tell them anything?”

“Not a word.”

“What about at the scene?”

“I was too shocked to say anything.”

“That should have been the first sign you weren’t the murderer,” Dino said.

“Describe what you found there,” Stone said.

“I had to flick on a light because it was so dark. That’s when I saw Tristan on the bed. I thought he was asleep, but…” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “When I found Dalton on the bathroom floor, I called you.”

“What about wounds? Perhaps from a bullet or a knife?”

She thought for a moment. “Their faces were bruised and had a few cuts. Tristan’s nose looked broken. Oh, I remember a large dark spot on Dalton’s shirt.” She touched the area right below her ribs. “Somewhere around here.”

“Was there a lot of blood on the floor?”

“Actually, I don’t recall seeing any. But I was pretty freaked out at that point.”

“What about on the walls of the bedroom or bathroom?”

“I don’t think so.”

“If they’d been killed at the motel, there should have been blood all over the place,” Dino said.

“You’re saying they weren’t killed there?”

“I doubt it,” Stone said. “I think someone was trying to set you up.”

“But why?”

“The same reason anyone gets set up,” Dino said. “You’re getting in someone’s way.”

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