Christy Barritt - Shadow Of Suspicion

“Someone either really hates you and has gone through a lot of trouble to make you look guilty or you’re guilty,” the detective muttered. “I’m not sure which one yet. Based on the fact that you’ve been incredibly sneaky tonight, I’m learning toward the latter.”

She swallowed hard, her throat dry.

“I’m going to need that computer.”

Her fingers traced the top of her laptop. She’d rather the police have a hold of it than the bad guys. But still—there were things hidden on the hard drive that would raise suspicions. Thankfully, it would take the police department a while to locate that information. Maybe she could buy herself some time.

“Of course,” she finally said. “It’s like I said, I just remembered a few things I needed to pick up. That’s the only reason I came here. I promise.”

His gaze remained suspicious. “You could have called me.”

“I figured you were home with your family.” Her voice trembled with anxiety. “It really wasn’t a big deal. At least, I didn’t think it was.”

As something dark crossed his face, she realized that any of his earlier goodwill was gone. She’d broken her trust with him and just diminished her chances of having someone in her corner.

“Why’d you go into that gas station?” he asked.

She didn’t say anything. She knew how it would sound when she told him she had to buy a burner phone. She’d had no choice but to do so. She had to reach her CIA contact somehow. Nicholas was her only chance of getting help.

“I had to buy something,” she finally said, sticking with the truth.

He shifted and narrowed his eyes. “What did you have to buy?”

She nibbled on her bottom lip a moment. There was no need to deny it. Certainly the police would end up checking her credit card records. They’d find out what she purchased one way or another.

“I bought a phone,” she admitted. “You confiscated my cell, and I don’t like to be without one. It’s only smart as a single woman.”

It was the truth—just not all of it.

Detective James shifted in front of her, his frame imposing and almost intimidating. “Who do you want to call? Your partner in crime maybe? The person who’s helping you get away with this?”

“I just want to have the ability to call someone.”

“Your hotel room has a phone.”

Laney’s shoulders slumped. Mark James didn’t accept answers easily. She was certain that made him a good detective, but he frustrated her now. Her top-secret job was only working to make her look guilty, and she knew it.

“I wanted to call my boss, okay?” Laney crossed her arms over her chest, wishing something would go her way. Instead, life seemed to be working against her.

He finally lowered his hand from his gun. “Why?”

Her shoulders relaxed, but only slightly. “I might be missing work over the next few days. That’s kind of important. I depend on my job to pay my bills. I can’t afford to simply drop off the face of the earth without explanation.”

“Again, you could have used your hotel phone.” His calculating eyes continued to assess her.

Laney forced herself to raise her chin and not appear spooked by his interrogation. She had to be strong. Besides, she’d done nothing wrong. If she acted guilty, the detective would only have more ammunition against her. “I don’t see where this is a big deal.”

“It’s a big deal because that phone you purchased will have an untraceable number. Maybe you want to make a ransom call with it. Or maybe you have an accomplice and you don’t want us to know about your communications with him. I could continue to list more reasons, but I’m sure you can see my point.”

Alarm rushed through her as the truth of his words settled in her mind. They were looking for anything possible to nail her. She had to be careful. “It’s not like that. I promise.”

Mark’s gaze locked with hers. “I’m having a hard time taking you at your word, Laney. You’ve been less than honest with me.”

At the moment, she felt both dwarfed by his presence and like she wanted to shrink and hide. “I haven’t lied. I just didn’t realize I needed to run these things past you.”

The detective narrowed his eyes. “You’re our number-one suspect. We’re watching your every move. Surely you realize that. I need you to turn over that phone to me.”

She raised her chin. She had no one to fight for her. That meant she had to fight for herself. It was that or let herself go down for a crime she didn’t commit. Still, she had to choose her battles.

Begrudgingly, she slapped the phone into his hands. “Fine. But you’re wasting your time investigating the wrong person. Meanwhile, the real culprit is probably burying himself deeper, which lessens your opportunity to find him.”

They stared off for a moment, neither saying anything.

She waited, wondering if the detective would arrest her again.

* * *

Mark’s phone buzzed. He kept his eyes on Laney as he pulled it from his belt. The woman wasn’t telling him everything, and he wasn’t ready to let this drop. But the phone call was from his partner, and he hoped Jim might have something new to move this case along.

“We have new information,” Jim said.

“What’s that?” Mark didn’t dare pull his gaze off the woman in front of him.

“Ms. Ryan’s in-laws never got that money she said she sent to them. Said they didn’t know anything about it.”

Mark watched as Laney stood against the wall, looking as rigid as a statue. Had his gut instinct been wrong? Was she guilty and trying to play him for a fool?

“Interesting. Any record of where it went?”

“Into a secret account,” Jim said. “The amount was just deposited yesterday. It would be the perfect amount of money to get away from everything. Ten thousand dollars would last a long time.”

His stomach twisted with disgust. Laney was obviously a great liar. The best criminals had looks that were deceiving. They hid in plain sight under the guise of being a good citizen. They won awards. They had no police record. Their pasts seemed to provide alibis within themselves.

Wolves in sheep’s clothing, he reminded himself.

They were out there, just waiting to strike.

He rubbed his jaw, more annoyed than ever. “How does the captain want us to handle this?”

“Same protocol. Keep an eye on her. He’s hoping she’ll lead us right to Sarah. If she really cares about the girl like she claims, she’ll have to get back to her eventually to check on her and give her food.”

“Not if she has a partner,” Mark said.

“I thought of that. But the woman’s a loner. Who would she be working with?”

“I’m not sure.”

“We’re looking into her records and trying to get in touch with her boss,” Jim said. “The number she gave us keeps on coming up as disconnected.”

“I’ll keep all of that in mind,” Mark muttered. That was another strike against her. They continued to add up. “Thanks.”

Mark hung up and turned to Laney. Her eyes were wide with anticipation, as if she knew something was wrong. He wasn’t letting her off the hook this time.

“You want to rethink your story?”

She stared a moment before shaking her head. She rolled back her shoulders, as if finding some kind of internal courage. “No, I don’t. I told you the truth.”

“Then explain why your in-laws know nothing about that money you supposedly sent to them.”

Her eyes became even wider. “I did send it to them. Just two days ago. Ten thousand dollars. My father-in-law has been out of work and dealing with multiple health issues. It seemed the least I could do. Nate would have wanted me to do it. I used part of his life insurance policy that I’d been saving for a rainy day.”