detectives a few hours to get here and had decided not to warn Hayden they might show up. If he acted too prepared, it might increase their suspicions.
âI was just about to call you.â He closed the file he had been reviewing when she came in and placed it on the stack to his left. âWhy on earth would they think you did it?â
She explained about Callieâs cell phone calls sent from the trail. The file on top of the stack teetered; it tilted more and more and finally spewed its papers onto his blotting pad. Every surface of his desk was covered with folders, paper and pens. By all accounts he was a competent lawyer. She didnât know how he kept on top of his work.
âWhat kinds of questions did they ask you?â she said.
He stuffed the papers back into the file. âThey were here a good half hour and caused quite a stir in this place. Iâm sure some of my co-workers were hoping to see me hauled out in handcuffs.â
She reached under a folder for the music box, the only personal item in his office aside from photographs. For the second time today, she missed smoking for how it occupied her hands.
âThey asked how long Iâve known you,â he said, âhow long weâve been dating, if Iâd seen or talked to Callie. They wanted details of your movements yesterday. I may not have helped when I said you were a bit of a night owl and Iâd never known you to go to the office at that hour in the morning. It slipped out . . .â
âThanks a lot, especially since it was your fault I went in early.â
âIf itâs any consolation, they also wanted details about me, in case weâre in cahoots.â He got up to close his window blind against the setting sun that blurred the Rocky Mountains zigzagging along the horizon. The mountains looked their best in the morning splashed with eastern light and would be spectacular in a couple of weeks, after a dump of snow.
He returned to his desk. His surroundings were messy, but his person couldnât be more proper and neat. Clean shaven, short dark hair parted to the side with patches of gray above the ears, he wore a business suit, pale blue shirt, and conservative blue and gray tie. The detectives would have to be impressed with the company she kept.
âI wouldnât worry about it,â he said. âThe police arenât going to impulsively arrest the wrong person.â
âYou know thatâs not true. Donât try to make me feel better.â She shifted the holograph picture on the music box lid so the trumpet playerâs cheeks puffed out and in. âI suppose Iâm keeping you from work.â
âI do have a trial coming up in a couple of weeks.â
âCallieâs funeral is Monday morning. Can you get the time off?â
âI have a meeting with my client. If you want me to go, I might be able to rescheduleââ
âDonât you want to be there for yourself?â
âI only knew Callie in passing, through her husband, Kenneth. I saw her, maybe, twice in the past thirty years. Will your ex be going?â
Was he worried about meeting Gary? About his position in the legal community, if he was connected to her, a potential suspect? âI talked to Gary this afternoon. Heâs leaving Sunday on a cruise, with his girlfriend.
âYour daughters?â
âLeah might want to go. She used to be close to Skye and Callie. Although Leah always says sheâs against formal rituals.â
âThat figures.â Hayden glanced at his cluttered desk. He didnât want to rearrange his life to attend the funeral of someone he barely knew, but would do it if she asked.
âDo you realize,â she said. âIf it werenât for Callie, you and I wouldnât have met?â
He and his nephew had attended Skyeâs play. Paula had gone with Callie and Leah. Hayden recognized Callie from a charity event she had
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley