Chapter Thirty-Five
Hayes
“Are you sure you don’t want a lawyer present?” Malec asks Miley on the other side of the glass partition.
Liv and I are standing silently behind the window, she’s watching them, but I’m watching her. Having someone so close to her be a suspect is bothering her more than she’ll admit.
She hasn’t been the biggest fan of her intern, but they spend hours a day together. That’s a type of betrayal she isn’t ready to accept.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t need a lawyer.”
“Idiot,” Liv mumbles.
“Why did you decide to bring Miss Greenwood lunch earlier today?”
“I was already getting my own lunch across the street. It wasn’t any more trouble to bring hers.”
“Do you do that regularly?”
“Well, yes, kind of. I bring her lunch all the time, but normally she tells me ahead of time when she wants something. I usually order it and then walk over to get it.”
“But today was different?”
“Yes. I didn’t know she wanted anything until I was already there.”
“What do you mean?”
“The guy at the counter handed me her usual order when he handed me mine.”
“Did you pay for both?”
“No, it was already paid for.”
“By who?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t ask. I assumed Miss Greenwood’s bodyguard called it in after I left the office.”
Liv glances at me. Miley has no idea how complicated our relationship is.
“You picked up the lunches and walked straight back to the office?”
“Um, yes.”
“Did you come straight back to the office after picking up the lunches?” Malec asks again.
She hesitates.
“What did you do after you picked up the lunches?”
“I stopped to see my boyfriend. He was outside the courthouse, waiting to say hi to me.”
“Who is your boyfriend?”
She bites her lip, avoiding the question.
“Miley, you’re not in trouble. I’m trying to get the big picture here. Miss Greenwood has had issues with unwanted attention, and I need to rule out everyone that I can.”
“My boyfriend’s name is Landon… I met him a few months ago.”
Liv’s shoulders stiffen, and my fists clench.
Mr. Arkett.
Malec doesn’t make any obvious reaction, continuing his questioning without skipping a beat.
“Where did you meet him?”
“He is a professor at my college. But I’m 19, it’s not illegal.”
“I know, Miley. You’re not in trouble.” She nods, and he keeps going. “Did Landon hold the lunches for you at any time?”
“No. I mean, I left them sitting on the park bench between us for a few minutes while we talked, but he never touched them.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. We only had a few minutes. We mostly kissed.” Her cheeks flush. “And then he asked me about work, and then I came back inside.”
“What did he ask you about work?”
“He asked if my day was going okay? If my boss was being nice to me…” She looks down in embarrassment.
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him that she’s been happier since her bodyguard has been around. She isn’t so short with me.”
She glances at me again, but this time I reach for her, threading my fingers through hers. She turns her attention back to the interview, but her hand squeezes mine.
“What did Landon say?”
“He asked to walk me to my desk, but I told him no.”
“Was he okay with that?”
“Yes. I came back to the office alone, but I left my scarf outside on the bench, so he had to bring it back to me anyway.”
“How nice of him,” Malec compliments dully. “Do you have a photo of Landon?”
“Um, no. He didn’t want to have any photos in case someone from the college found out about us and gave him a hard time, but he’s very sweet. He gives me flowers all the time.”
“Can you tell me where he orders them from?”
“Why?”
“Honestly, it’s my wife’s birthday tomorrow. I need to send her something before she bites my head off,” he lies.
I know he would never be so careless about getting Natalie a gift… And they already celebrated her birthday a month or two ago.
I hate that I know that, and I think that means Malec is my friend.
“Oh, he orders from the Blue Ridge Florist Company online. He says that they’re more efficient than the local flower shops.”
And anonymous. That’s the same florist Liv’s stalker used.
“Thank you, I’ll have to check it out. Can you write down Landon’s phone number for me?”
“Why?”
“I’d like to talk to him, too. Rule out his involvement in today’s incident.”
“I don’t know…”
“Someone tried to hurt Miss Greenwood. The faster we can rule out innocent parties, the faster we’ll catch the person who wants to hurt her.”
“Okay… I guess.” He hands her a notepad, and she pulls out her phone to find the number she needs.
“What’s Landon’s last name? So, I know when I call him?”
“It’s Smith.”
“Ah, right. Thank you. You’re free to go.”
She scurries out the far door, and Malec turns in his seat to look at us through the window.
Someone is lying.