Page 45 of Just Now

Cody hesitated, nervously running his fingers through his hair. “No, nothing else. It was just a regular day off.”

Connor took in Cody’s response and facial expression, trying to read between the lines.

“Can you account for your time in any way?” he asked. “Any messages sent, activities, anyone you spoke to?”

“I was—I was here. Home alone, with Tracy.”

“Did you see anyone else that night, speak to anyone else?”

Cody’s eyes flickered with uncertainty before answering. “No, I didn’t see or speak to anyone else.”

“Are you sure about that, Cody? Your alibi is the only thing that’s keeping you from being a suspect in a murder investigation.”

Cody’s eyes widened in shock. “What murder investigation? I don’t know anything about that.”

“There’s been a series of murders. All the victims were recent customers at the diner.”

Now Cody looked frantic with stress. “I don’t know what to say. I was home alone with Tracy. We made dinner, and we watched a couple of things on television, we made some plans for the party. It was just a normal night, but only Tracy can confirm that.”

Connor hesitated.

This was always a tricky situation to negotiate, and it wasn’t the first time it had happened. Cody had no alibi and couldn’t account for his actions. The presence of a girlfriend was not enough to clear him. He needed a more impartial source for that.

But sometimes, people didn’t have alibis and it was as simple as that.

Connor’s instincts told him that Cody was telling the truth. He had seen enough liars in his line of work to be able to pick up on the subtleties of deception. However, he couldn’t just take Cody’s word for it. He needed to talk to Tracy and get at least some confirmation of his alibi.

“Okay. I want to speak to Tracy,” he said. He wasn’t going to give them any time alone. He wanted to hear her version first. Connor strode downstairs and back into the poker room.

“Tracy?” he asked, and as he’d expected, the woman who’d been sitting next to Cody stood up.

“That’s me,” she said warily, tugging her velvet jacket into place.

Connor beckoned Cody back into the room, and then led the way upstairs again, this time with Tracy following.

“What were your movements on Wednesday?” he asked.

Tracy looked nervous as she answered. “I was at work all day, I got off at about five, and went straight home to Cody.”

“And you can confirm that he was home with you the entire evening?” Connor asked.

“Yes, we watched TV, cooked dinner, chatted about the party. We were together the whole time,” Tracy said, her voice shaking slightly. “I texted a few people to ask them if they could be there.”

Connor frowned.

He couldn’t bring Cody in just for want of an alibi. He didn’t have recent scars on his face, or on his hands. Connor had checked.

It might be sufficient to tell him to go to the police station tomorrow and give a DNA sample, so they could match it with any analysis taken from Priscilla, who had fought and struggled. He could do that, and warn him not to leave town until the investigation had wrapped up.

To be totally sure, though, Connor decided he should call Cami first.

She might have uncovered something in the course of her investigation that led to a stronger suspect than Cody.

Connor called her number, hoping to touch base with her and be able to make his final decision.

But she didn’t pick up.

To his consternation, since they’d promised to stay in communication and he knew she’d have her phone with her, he listened to it ring and ring.

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