Page 4 of Little Merry Murder

“I’m not trying to disrespect you. I hope you know that.”

“You disrespected me the moment you accepted the case.”

“I don’t see it that way,” I said. “Besides, I’d accepted it on a trial basis.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “How many times do we need to go over the facts? Owen’s story has been inconsistent from the start. His prints were on the bloody knife found at the scene, which just so happens to be the same knife used to slice her throat. When we arrived, he had blood all over him. According to their neighbor, they were having marital problems. The same neighbor also overheard them have a heated argument.”

I crossed one leg over the other, considering my response. “You’re right. So far, some of those things could point to him being guilty. But he insists he’s innocent.”

Foley threw his arms in the air. “Most murderers profess their innocence at this stage, and you know it. The guy’s got no alibi for the time of her murder.”

It had only been a week since Claire’s murder.

Even if the police had spoken to her friends and neighbors, I assumed there was more I could get out of them.

“I’m aware Owen doesn’t have an alibi,” I said.

“Ask me, it’s an open-and-shut case. Or itwasuntil you came barging in here, deciding to poke holes in my arrest.”

“I’m sorry we’re not seeing eye to eye on this one. I don’t want it to be this way.”

“Then it’s simple. Drop the case.”

“It’s just … I told her I’d look into it, and I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t.”

“You’re going against me, then?”

“Come on, Foley. I understand you’re upset. I don’t like being on opposite sides of this any more than you do, but given our line of work, it was bound to happen at some point.”

Staring at the ground, he shook his head and mumbled, “I’m disappointed in you.”

He may have been disappointed, but I suspected there was more to his reaction to me taking this case. Given I wasn’t backing down, I wondered if he was second-guessing himself. Perhaps they’d been a little hasty in making the arrest. Foley was a proud man, but he was also level-headed and logical. If he’d made the wrong move, it would be hard for him to take.

“I can see we’re not getting anywhere with our conversation,” I said. “And I don’t want to upset you any further, so I’ll go.”

“Fine by me. You can show yourself out. And hey, don’t expect any help with this one. You won’t get it.”

CHAPTER 4

There was nothing like a little merry murder to dampen spirits during the holiday season, and dampen them, they had. As the chatter about Claire’s death made its way around town over the last week, the festive feel faded. Even the air seemed gloomy, thick like lead.

I’d just exited the police department and was making my way to my car when I heard someone say, “Hey, Georgiana, wait up.”

I turned to see Whitlock heading in my direction.

Decades before, he’d worked as a detective alongside my father. When he retired, life wasn’t as exhilarating as he’d thought it would be, so when a position opened up at the San Luis Obispo Police Department a couple of years back, he jumped at the opportunity to get back into the action.

“Hey,” I said. “I was going to stop by your office, but Foley’s not too happy with me right now. I didn’t want to hang around and make things worse.”

“Yeah, I … ahh, I just ran into him.”

“Did he tell you about the case I’ve taken?”

“Yup. The first words out of his mouth, in fact.”

“He’s never spoken to me like he did just now. I feel like I’ve damaged our friendship.”

Whitlock reached out, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “You’re being too hard on yourself. Give it some time. He’ll come around.”

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