Page 19 of Pied Sniper

“I’ll have you out of here in a jiffy,” said Diana. “Not only is everything circumstantial at best, but not once were you seen abducting the young lady in a video that was presumably being viewed by dozens of people.”

“Hundreds of thousands,” I corrected her. “We didn’t switch off the camera so it must have captured everything. Even if there isn’t much to see, they would all hear exactly when we arrived and what happened after that.”

“Even better,” she said with a smile. “Hundreds of thousands of witnesses are plenty.”

Fifteen minutes later, true to her word, she escorted me out of the interview room and away from the redheaded detective who stuck to his word and interviewed me as a potential witness. A moment later, the adjoining door opened and Garrett stepped out.

“Were you watching?” I asked.

“Every word,” he replied. “Solomon is waiting in reception for you. You should go home.”

“Where’s Lily?” I asked.

“Still being interviewed.”

“But…”

“Go home and take this,” insisted Garrett, pressing my confiscated pocket knife into my hand. “There’s nothing further you can do here. I’ll have Lily call you when she’s released.”

“Your friend is in good hands with one of my colleagues,” said Diana, taking me by the elbow as she guided me towards the station’s reception. “And Lieutenant Graves is correct. There’s nothing you can do for your sister-in-law now. She has the same alibi as you, so it won’t take long to get her released.”

“Fine, but I want her to call me as soon as she’s out. And tell her I’m only leaving under protest,” I added over my shoulder to Garrett as the lawyer ushered me away.

“I should have known you were involved.”

I whipped my head around, just in time to skitter to a stop and roll my eyes when my gaze landed on Maddox. Wearing a black suit with a white shirt and dark blue tie, he looked like a lawyer. Except, that is, for the badge I knew he had on his person somewhere. That didn’t explain why Special Agent Maddox had left the FBI’s Montgomery field office to come to the police station. As I tried to work out why he came here, and if it were connected to me, he shook his head at me and plunged his hands into his pants pockets. His eyes sparkled with mirth, as if he caught me up to no good. Damn it! Could he be on the case already? That would really make Garrett’s day.

“What are you doing here? No, don’t answer. Let me guess. You just happened to hear I got arrested,” I said.

Maddox stilled. “You were arrested!?”

“And released without charge,” said Diana, officious again. “My client is merely a witness and got arrested by mistake. You are?”

Maddox reached into his pocket and flashed his badge. “Special Agent Maddox. The FBI is taking an interest in the Tiffany Rose case.”

“Oh, yay!” I clapped my hands.

“No yay,” said the lawyer, clamping a calm hand on my arm. I dropped my hands. She shook his hand, adding, “Diana Casey, from Hemingway, McCarthy, and Gort. My client has been interviewed and no charges have been filed, nor will they be. I’m sure one of the detectives can fill you in on the finer points.”

“Very yay,” I countered. “They arrested Lily too. She’s being interviewed right now. You have to spring her!”

“What did she do?” asked Maddox, frowning now.

“Absolutely nothing,” said Diana. “Mrs. Shuler-Graves merely behaved as any concerned citizen would and came to the aid of a person in need. Just like my client.”

Maddox’s eyes narrowed on me. “That so?”

I nodded emphatically. “Yes, and we got arrested for our Herculean efforts. I’m out but please help her!”

“My card,” said Diana, passing one to Maddox. Maddox reached into his pocket and handed over one of his own. “My client will be happy to assist with a further witness statement should you find the one conducted here insufficient, but you must arrange it through my office so that I’m present.”

“I’ll just come over later,” said Maddox.

“Hard no,” said Diana.

“You’re not going home?” Maddox frowned as he looked from the lawyer to me.

“I am,” I confirmed.

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