Page 32 of Sinful Memory

“Because she’d been distant lately! Because I’d texted earlier, and she wasn’t replying.”

“Is Janine aware of your affair with Anna?”

“It wasn’t an affair! I was checking in on her. Janine has done the same in the past. This wasn’t a hidden relationship, Chief. It was something my wife was completely aware of. Stop looking my way, and start searching for her killer instead.”

“Ican’tstop looking your way! You’re being secretive. You had a relationship with the victim, but you won’t explain it. Your wife was out of town, and you cut everyone off, so you have no alibi from when you left that afternoon until the next morning when you arrived at the office again. You’ve had a vasectomy, and it would appear Anna was having a sexual relationship with a man who has had one of those.”

“I didn’t hurt her.”

“So you say, but you’re not giving me anything to support that! And you won’t take the detectives’ phone calls. What the hell do you want us to do?”

“I want you to take me at my word, and solve the crime that needs solving. I didn’t hurt Anna Switzer, and I refuse to discuss our completely irrelevant relationship—with you or anyone else. What was between me and Anna was between me and Anna. I came to you because I was confident that you and Detectives Malone and Fletcher would do right by her.”

“Mayo—”

“So do it!” he barks. “She deserves better than rumors of an alleged affair and her sexual history making up the bulk of your medical report.”

“I report what I see,” I seethe. “I report what’s relevant.”

“Not everyone has your integrity, so even in her death, her private affairs will be pored over by the media and sold to the highest bidder. Have you allocated your salary appropriately since our last discussion, Chief Mayet?”

“Have I…” Stunned, I jerk upright as I process his non-sequitur. “What?”

“The budget. We discussed your salary, and that of your staff, for the new financial year.”

“Um… yes?” I don’t know why the word comes out on a question, when I recall the conversation very well. But that’s what this man does to me. “Our new lab tech started work today.”

“Andhissalary?”

“Fits within the parameters we discussed. Why are you asking me about the budget right now?”

“Because I have a city to run.”

“You are the number one suspect in a murder case!” Exasperated, I turn where I stand and face Aubree, whose expression is twisted in both concern and amusement. “Justin, you are a person of interest to the Copeland City PD. And yet, you want to discuss money?”

“You are a valued staff member inside a facility that is important to my city and needs to continue its work. And to date,” I hear a click on his end, and picture him refreshing his computer.Unbelievable.“I’ve not received an updated budget that reflects your adjusted salary.”

“I’m not changing my salary! I took your funds and shared them with my staff.”

“Minka May—”

“Talk to the cops,” I demand. “Exonerate yourself in this case that makes it hard for me to sleep,thenyou and I can talk money. Until then,” I pull the phone from my ear and kill the call. “Kiss my ass.”

“He won’t like that you hung up on him.” Aubree sets down her blacklight and picks up a notepad instead. “He’s a proud man, unaccustomed to people telling him off.”

“Yeah? Well, I don’t like that my husband is being forced to consider him a murderer.”

“Do you think he did it?” She looks up from her notes and purses her lips. “Do you think he killed this woman?”

“No!” I slam my phone down on the steel counter and clench my fists tight in annoyance. “I do not think he killed her. But I do think he considers himself above the law. I think he overestimates my ability to help him, when all the evidence points his way. And I think he expects our friendship, and my marriage to Archer, to keep him out of cuffs.”

“It’s handy knowing important people in high places,” she teases playfully. “If he didn’t know you, and if you weren’t married to the primary detective, he’d already be in a holding cell.”

“Ya think?” I crush the heels of my palms against my eyes, and groan in frustration. “He’s doing nothing to help himself here, Aubs.” I lower my hands and study her sky-blue stare. “He’s making it worse.”

“He’s sure of his innocence,” she murmurs. “You’resure. But the evidence says otherwise, and I guess he figures he’s more valuable in his office, keeping some semblance of order, than he is in jail.”

“Our opinions won’t count for shit when the DA gets a hold of this case and runs it the way it stands right now. By that point, it won’t matter who knows who.”

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