Chapter 44
FORTY-FOUR
I hadn’t been able to sleep after finding a small scratch on my arm but I must have dozed off for a while because hammering on my door wakes me. I stagger out of bed and open the door to Mia. She has a wild expression in her eyes; or is that fear? “What’s wrong?”
“The house is filled with cops and they are searching everywhere. I managed to slip up here to warn you that they’re on their way.
You’d better get dressed.” Mia steps inside my room and closes the door quietly behind her.
“They have gotten the search warrants and a huge team of people dressed in PPE are crawling all over the yacht. They have already searched Allison’s room and want everybody who attended the party to go downstairs—not the staff, they are assembling in the gazebo.
We’re all getting DNA tested and remember, don’t answer any questions the cops ask you.
Dad says they’ll likely ask you if you have a scratch anywhere but maybe not.
He said David—the lawyer—told him everyone was to remain silent. ”
I grab some clothes and dress quickly. “So, they really believe one of us did it?”
“I’m not so sure.” Mia leans against the door, combing her hair with her fingers.
“Apparently, they have teams of people visiting everyone who was on board last night. They will be taking samples from everyone. Allison must have been able to scratch her assailant. Once they get a DNA match they’ll have the killer—well, maybe they will.
I overheard one of the techs saying that the sample they have is degraded, so they might only get a partial match.
” She gives me a long considering stare.
“I don’t think anyone in the family would have done something like that.
Allison has lived here forever. It seems a bit strange that one of us would suddenly fly off the handle and murder her for no reason at all.
It’s got to be someone else. You two got along okay, didn’t you? ”
I slide my feet into my shoes and nod. “Yes, she was always very nice to me. I’m horrified this happened to her. Are they sure it’s her?”
“Apparently so. Dad says he recognized her from the photograph they took of the body. It shook him up though and he refused to allow anyone else to look at it.” Mia opens the door a crack and peers into the hallway.
“All clear. When we get down to the bottom of the stairs act natural. You don’t want to call attention to yourself. ”
The rest has done me good, and my head is clearer than before but my hands still shake.
What if they ask me about the scratch on my arm?
What will I say? Is this proof positive that I murdered Allison and will the DNA prove it?
All afternoon I’ve been forcing my mind to try and remember what happened but it’s like there’s nothing there.
I don’t recall anything after spilling my drink and then Lucas standing over me.
I think about what we told the cops earlier, that I’d fallen into the hot tub.
If they ask me, I’ll say I grazed my arm.
My footsteps echo on the marble floors as we walk toward the family room.
Cops are everywhere and my stomach flip flops as the female detective turns slowly and pierces me with her gaze.
I raise my chin trying to look as innocent as possible and follow Mia into the family room.
The lawyer is back again and is supervising every one of the samples taken by the cops. Linc is pacing up and down, his eyes flicking from one place to the other. Everything about his demeanor tells me that he hates having his privacy invaded by the police.
“My daughter Mia and our guest Alani Fairchild.” Linc stops pacing and turns to the man wearing a vest with the word “Forensics” in bold lettering front and back.
He turns back to speak to the original male detective.
“How much longer will this take? I’ve given you all the information you require. Everyone is tired and hungry.”
“We’ll be out of your way shortly but the forensics team will probably work late into the night on the yacht.” The detective’s forehead crinkles into a frown as he stares at Linc. “It would have made our job easier if you hadn’t had the entire vessel scrubbed from head to foot before docking.”
“It happens automatically.” Linc shrugs nonchalantly.
“No one had any idea that Allison was missing until we all disembarked. The yacht is always cleaned to make sure everyone takes their personal possessions with them when they leave. Once they have all eaten breakfast, they are told to collect their things and move to the upper decks. At that time their rooms are cleaned. As you have noticed I have a large contingency of staff on board. I want my yacht to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
I can’t imagine what it’d be like leaving it filthy and having to wait for it to be cleaned before I can use it. ”
I stand motionless to allow a forensics guy to swab inside my mouth.
It’s simple and painless. I’m guessing the results will be back soon.
It depends on the volume of people being tested today.
I sigh with relief. I have a little more time to prove that I’m innocent.
Someone must have seen me out on the deck.
I did sit alone for most of the night and the only person I really spoke to was Lucas.
He has already promised to vouch for me, so I can only hope that the cops accept our story…
unless the DNA comes back as a match to me.