Chapter 14
"Welcome to Coconut Capital Partners," a cute blonde receptionist said. She put on a cheery smile as we stepped to the front desk of the fourth-floor office.
I returned the smile and flashed my badge. "Looking for Fletcher Cahill."
Her smile faded. "Um, is he in some kind of trouble?”
"No. We're hoping he can help us with an investigation."
"Oh. Okay. I think he's in his office. Let me dial his extension.
" She picked up the phone and rang him. Fletcher answered a moment later, and she told him two deputies were here to see him.
He replied, then she hung up and said to me, "He'll be right with you.
Would you care for water, soda, or coffee while you wait? "
"No, thank you," I said.
JD and I took a seat on the leather sofa and snatched magazines from the glass coffee table.
The decor was modern and minimal—leather couches, wood-paneled walls, and a great view of the ocean.
Footsteps clattered down the hall, and Fletcher stepped into the lobby. He had chiseled features, smooth skin, ice blue eyes, and golden hair. Dressed in a designer suit, he looked like he could have been on the cover of a fashion magazine.
He approached with an air of caution.
I stood up, flashed my badge, and made introductions. We shook hands.
"What is it I can do for you?" he asked, getting down to business.
"I'm sure you've heard what happened to Sydney Hollister."
His mouth tightened, and he hung his head. "Yes.”
"Is there somewhere more private where we can talk?" I asked.
He hesitated, and his eyes flicked between us. "Sure. Follow me.”
Fletcher escorted us out of the lobby and down the hallway to an office that had an ocean view. It wasn’t the biggest office in the world, but it was private. It beat the hell out of a cubicle.
Fletcher offered us a seat across from his desk, and we obliged.
He took a seat at his desk and leaned back in his leather chair. "So, do you have any leads?”
"We have a few promising avenues to investigate," I said.
"That's good.”
"Tell me about your relationship with Sydney."
He shrugged. "Not much to tell. It wasn’t working out. We went our separate ways.”
"When was the last time you talked to her?”
His brow lifted as he thought. "I don't know. A few weeks ago. I tried not to dwell on the situation.”
"Whose idea was it?”
"The breakup?”
I nodded.
"It was mutual. I had other options,” he boasted. “I wanted to explore those options. To tell you the truth, I was getting a little bored. Sydney was a great girl, don't get me wrong, but… I'm young. I think I should have a little fun before I settle down.”
"Sydney seemed like quite the catch.”
“She had certain qualities, sure.”
"So, you didn't want to get back together with her?”
He scoffed. "No. I was more than happy to get out of that relationship,” he said with emphasis.
"Is that why you called and texted her multiple times a day every day since the breakup?”
His brow knitted. "What!?”
"One of the last texts you sent to her said, You made the biggest mistake of your life, you two-timing whore. You'll regret breaking up with me.”
His cheeks flushed, caught in a lie. "Okay, so I was upset.”
"How upset?”
"I liked Sydney.”
"I thought you said you were bored."
"I felt betrayed,” he clarified. “She was screwing around on me with Trevor. That guy is a total tool.”
"According to Bailey, she was never unfaithful to you."
Fletcher scoffed again. "Of course, Bailey's gonna lie for her friend. Make her out to be a saint. What else was she going to say?”
"Did you ever confront Sydney and Trevor?"
His eyes flicked between me and JD. "I saw them out one night. I may have said a few things. I was pissed. Trevor got in my face and threatened me. I'd have kicked his teeth in if the bouncer hadn't broken it up.”
It wasn't exactly how Bailey had put it. I wasn't sure who to believe, but I tended to side with Bailey.
"Did you ever get physical with Sydney during your relationship?”
"No," he said with a tight face. "What does that matter now anyway?”
"So, you did get physical?”
"No. I just told you I didn't.”
"You never tossed her around or got verbally abusive?"
"The only time I tossed her around was in bed, and she liked it. She liked me to call her names, too. Got off on it. Outside of the bedroom, I was a perfect gentleman. Everything that happened between us was consensual, just for the record."
“Where were you last night between 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM?”