Chapter 14 #2
“Julia, I would highly recommend we take a step back from this and pursue another strategy. Even if that footage stays…missing, we can deal with this in other ways.”
“Mitchell, I don’t want the police pursuing an investigation that could cost my family more than it already has. Now, can you represent me or not?”
“Yes, I can, though, again, I would highly recommend we not do this.”
Julia shook her head. “If they investigate, I could easily be identified as a person of interest anyway. Someone could have seen me. Remaining silent serves no purpose other than arousing suspicion towards both of us. I want to do this.”
“All right. I’ll make the arrangements. We’ll stick to just that you visited Lydia after Grant and nothing more. At least follow my lead when it comes to the questioning.”
“Absolutely,” she said with a nod.
“I’ll be right back.”
Julia breathed out a shaky sigh as she fidgeted in her seat. Had she done the right thing? She’d done the only thing she could, she reminded herself.
They did not need an investigation into this where more people could be incriminated, especially within her family. She hadn’t done it, and she hoped the truth would come out, but failing that, she had to stop an investigation.
Mitchell returned a few moments later, pulling her from her thoughts with a detective in tow. “Mrs. Harrington,” the man said with a grin, “we meet again. And again, I hear you have some information that can somehow save your husband from this mess he’s gotten himself into.”
“That’s just it, he hasn’t gotten himself into anything.”
“I beg to differ,” the detective said as he slid the chair across from her.
With a sigh, Mitchell pulled one next to Julia and eased into it.
“We have a very public battle for a major company and on the heels of that, your husband’s first wife is dead…under mysterious circumstances, I might add.”
“But he couldn’t have done it,” she insisted.
“Julia,” Mitchell advised, his tone a warning as he placed a hand on her forearm.
She leaned back in her seat with a sigh.
“No, please, counselor. Your client has something to say, and I’d like to hear it.”
“My client has offered information that can clear another suspect in this case. That is the only information she will be giving.”
The detective flicked his gaze to Mitchell. “So, I shouldn’t hope for a full confession from the lovely Mrs. Harrington?”
The glare Mitchell offered him was enough to stop any further taunts. He raised his hands in the air. “Mrs. Harrington, what information do you have?”
Mitchell leaned closer, whispering in her ear. “Keep this short and simple. Do not say anything beyond you were there after him.”
She nodded before she set her focus on the detective. “My husband couldn’t have killed Lydia Knight because I visited her earlier this evening, too, after my husband did. She was alive and well.”
The detective flicked his eyebrows up. “And was she still alive and well when you left?”
Julia glanced at Mitchell, her gaze questioning. “I am advising my client not to answer that question.”
The detective scoffed. “You’re kidding me. All right. What time did you visit Mrs. Knight?”
“It was around quarter after six.”
“You’re sure?” he shot back.
“Yes. Because I remember looking at the clock on my car’s screen just as I parked.”
“That’s convenient,” he said. “Also convenient that you know exactly when your husband visited her. Especially since he didn’t admit to seeing her earlier, but that you for confirming that.”
Heat rose in Julia’s cheeks. Had she made matters worse by confessing Grant’s whereabouts? It didn’t matter. He couldn’t have done it. “I don’t know exactly when, but I do know it was before I did because he was home when I arrived home and didn’t leave for the rest of the night.”
“I see. All right, so you say he couldn’t have done it because you saw her alive. But why should we believe you? What if you’re lying?”
“I’m not,” she answered with a shake of her head.
The detective sucked in a breath. “Says you. Who may lie for your husband. It’s been known to happen, Mrs. Harrington.”
“Look, I’m sure there’s–”
“Julia,” Mitchell warned with a shake of his head.
The detective stared at her for a minute before he bobbed his head. “All right, Mrs. Harrington. I’ll play. If what you’re saying is true–”
“It is.”
“Then your husband is cleared of any wrongdoing. And if you’re willing to swear to that…well, then I guess he’s off the hook.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
“But you’re not,” the detective said, poking a finger at her. “You, Mrs. Harrington, have just become our prime suspect.”
She slouched in her chair with a sigh.
“I’d like a moment with my client before you continue any questioning,” Mitchell said.
“Sure thing, counselor. And I guess you can let your other client know we’ll be letting him go.” The detective shifted his eyes back to Julia. “You think he’ll wait for you like you always do for him?”
She sucked in a breath as she let the comment slide with a subtle shake of her head.
“I’ll make sure someone uncuffs Mr. Harrington.” The detective strode from the room, letting the door bang behind him.
Mitchell rubbed his forehead as he tossed his pen down. “Julia, you have to tell them you didn’t kill her. If you keep refusing to answer their questions, they’re going to charge you.”
“Mitchell, I can’t.”
He heaved a sigh. “Okay, on this video footage that has yet to see the light of day, is there anyone else who could be a suspect?”
Her mind whirled as she recalled the faces on the screen. “Yes. There are several people who went there after me.”
“So, any of them could be the killer.”
“Theoretically, yes, but…”
“But?” he asked.
“But the person who went there last is the most likely suspect, right?” She drummed her fingers on the cold metal table as she tried to work through casting reasonable doubt on Sierra.
“Possibly not. It would depend on the time that they were there. Lydia could have already been dead. She fell onto someone’s balcony. They reported it when they arrived home, she could have been dead for quite some time.”
Her mind poured over the video footage she’d seen earlier, trying desperately to recall the times. “What time did she die?”
Mitchell shrugged. “We’re waiting on the ME’s report.”
Julia let her head fall between her shoulders.
“Julia, I’m being very serious when I say this could lead to a murder charge. For a crime you have already told me you didn’t commit. I would be remiss as your legal counsel if I did not recommend that you stop protecting the guilty party and start telling the truth.”
“Noted,” she answered. “Can you see if the ME’s report is ready yet? And can I make a phone call?”
“You haven’t been charged yet, and you’re here under your own volition. You can make a call. I’ll go make sure Grant is out of custody and check on the report. Do not talk to anyone from the police without me present.”
“I understand,” she said with a nod.
She slouched further in the chair as she tugged her phone from her pocket and pressed the call button next to Alex’s name. She leapt from her seat and paced the length of the room, a storm of emotions raging within her.
Fear for Sierra’s feature and her determination to protect Grant clashed with her desire to remain free. The weight of her decisions pressed down on her.
“Sunshine? Please don’t tell me I’m your one call, and you need to make bail.”
“No, I haven’t been charged yet, but…I need the times that…” Her eyes darted around the room as she pondered whether or not they could see and hear her. “I’ll text you.”
She ended the call before he could answer and typed a text instead. I need the times from that thing we saw earlier. Specifically for the last three events.
She had no idea if they could search her text messages if she was charged, but she wasn’t taking any chances.
Alex responded a moment later, listing them. Event one: 6:57. Event two: 7:23. Event three: 7:48.
She breathed out a sigh as she let her head fall into her palm. They were all too close together for the ME’s time of death to help her sort it out.
A second message followed that one. Please tell me you’re not in trouble.
She pressed her lips together as she considered how to answer. She hadn’t been charged yet, but she also wasn’t off the hook. Not yet. Is there any way to change what we saw and make it look different?
He answered her in seconds. It’s possible, but it’s not going to be easy. And it’ll take a while.
She typed back. Do it.
The door popped open, and she shoved her phone back into her pocket, her heart pounding after the conversation.
Mitchell entered, followed by Grant.
She sat straighter in her seat.
“You have five minutes, then they want to question her again,” Mitchell said before he closed the door, leaving them alone.
She leapt from her seat and threw her arms around his neck. He pulled her into a hug before he leaned back. “Julia, what are you doing?”
She stared up at him, her eyebrows furrowing as she prepared her answer. How could she tell him she suspected Sierra had killed Lydia?