Page 27 of One More Chance

Kenna said, “That would be private medical information.”

Heather lifted her chin, ready to argue on Kenna’s behalf.

“Very well.” Detective Pendleton nodded. “Ms. Banbury, where were you yesterday between four fifty-two and midnight?”

“Most of that time, I was with my husband.” She figured the fact Jax was FBI would add credence to her alibi, even if they’d insisted he not be present for this conversation.

“And the rest of the time?”

“Jax didn’t get home until almost seven, and before that, I was sleeping.”

“Alone?”

She nodded.

Pendleton said, “So, no one else can confirm your whereabouts during that time?”

“I can tell you what time the security system was deactivated when I arrived at home. I believe it was around three thirty.”

Heather glanced at her, then made a note on her legal pad.

As far as all of them should be concerned, it was Kenna who’d come home then. She knew it wasn’t her, and Jax might not lie under oath.

Okay, fine. He definitely wouldn’t lie.

More likely, he’d say itappearedto be her that entered the kitchen. Only if the cross-examiner picked up on the tiny note of him hedging would they ask further questions and get to the bottom of the fact it wasn’t Kenna. She had no idea where she’d been nor when she was really brought home.

“I must have been completely exhausted because I hardly remember getting home, and when my husband showed up, I was only just waking up.”

Hopefully, that answer was going to satisfy these two.

Time to change the subject. “How did the mother manage to leave the hospital? Wasn’t she under police custody? Do you have footage that shows her being taken out or leaving of her own volition?”

The older detective shifted in his seat. “Are you attempting to imply that it’s the fault of the officer watching her?”

Heather touched the table in front of Kenna. “My client is certainly not commenting on the professionalism of the Phoenix Police Department. But if she’s being accused of kidnapping or some such crime, she has a right to ask questions. The answers to which will enable her to defend her case.”

“So she can explain how she caved a woman’s chest in, and only hours later, that woman has gone missing from the hospital?” Pendleton asked.

Kenna said, “What reason would I have to take her from police custody? I only met her that morning. The first thing she did when I attempted to defuse the fight between her and another man was rush me, forcing me to defend myself. Aside from those seconds of contact, I haven’t spoken to the woman or ever met her in any way. I don’t even know her name, and I never saw her again after that incident at the medical center.”

“Right,” the older detective said. “This ‘other man’ you mentioned. An associate of yours, I presume? The cops who responded said you told the children he was a spy.”

“They were scared kids. It seemed like a good way to distract them.” Truth.

“He disappeared before they could get his information or talk to him about what happened.”

Kenna said, “I have no idea where you’d find him now.” Which was also the truth.

Her lawyer said, “It’s not my client’s responsibility to do the police’s job for them. You expect her to hand over this person?”

“They know each other, don’t they?” the detective asked.

Kenna said, “I’m not sure I’d say I really know him.” Also not untruthful.

The lawyer touched the table again, so Kenna stopped there.

Heather said, “We asked you here as a courtesy to ensure from the outset of the investigation that the police department doesn’t waste their time looking for the wrong suspect—my client. As we’ve done that, and she’s explained that she had no contact with either of the missing women after yesterday morning, I believe this conversation is at its end.” She stood. “My associate will see you out.”

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