“Just trying to clear some things up,” Dante said, as if he were being entirely reasonable. “What’s the harm in a few questions?”
“No,” Leigh said. “He’s not—”
“Harleigh,” Andrew interrupted. “I’d be happy to answer any questions. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
Barbara Klieg had been silently taking photos of Andrew’s wounds with her phone. “Looks like you’re trying to hide some fairly nasty cuts and bruises there, pal.”
“You’re right, pal.” Andrew’s smile was chilling. He was completely unafraid. “As I told my lawyer, I was attacked on my morning jog yesterday. It must’ve been a junkie looking for a quick buck. Isn’t that what you said, Harleigh?”
Leigh bit her lip to keep herself from losing it. The stress was going to split her in two. “Andrew, I’m advising you to—”
“Did you file a report?” Klieg asked.
“No, officer,” Andrew said. “Given my recent interactions with the police, I didn’t feel it would be worth my while to ask for help.”
“What about last night?” Klieg said. “Your ankle monitor was off for over three hours.”
“A fact I immediately reported to my probation officer.” His gaze found Leigh, but not out of desperation. He wanted to watch her squirm. “My lawyer can confirm that she was also informed. Isn’t that right?”
Leigh said nothing. She looked down at her phone. Maddy’s school crest was on the back. She knew that Andrew had seen it.
Are you worried about your family, Harleigh?
Walter was right. Leigh had been a fool for thinking that she could keep this monster packed inside a separate compartment.
Klieg asked Andrew, “Can you account for your whereabouts between the hours of five and seven thirty last night?”
“Andrew,” Leigh warned, silently begging him to stop. “I am advising you to remain silent.”
Andrew ignored the advice, telling Klieg, “My wedding ceremony was held at my home yesterday evening. I let the caterers in around five thirty . My mother arrived promptly at six to make sure everything was running smoothly. I’m sure you know my probation officer, Teresa Singer, showed up around six thirty to reset my ankle monitor. Guests were already arriving by then for cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres. Then Sidney and I walked down the aisle around eight. Does that satisfy your inquiry?”
Klieg exchanged a look with Dante. Neither one of them was happy with his answer. There were too many potential witnesses.
Andrew offered, “I can show you the photos I took on my phone. I’m sure the metadata will support my alibi. Everything is time and location stamped.”
Leigh remembered Reggie telling her that metadata could be faked if you knew what you were doing. She went from hoping Andrew would shut up to praying he knew what the hell he was doing.
Klieg said, “Let’s see the pictures.”
“Andrew,” Leigh said, but only because it was expected of her. He was already reaching into his inside jacket pocket.
“Here we go.” He angled the screen so that everyone could watch him scroll through the photos. Andrew posing with a line of caterers behind him. Standing beside Linda as she held up a flute of champagne. Andrew helping to hang a banner that read CONGRATULATIONS MR. & MRS. ANDREW TENANT!
The photos were compelling, but what was absent told the real story. There were no solitary pictures of cakes and decorations. No guests standing alone at the front door. No Sidney in her wedding dress. Every photo contained Andrew and, at every angle, you could see the scrapes and bruises on his face and neck.
Klieg said, “How about I take your phone and let our experts look at it?”
Leigh gave up. Andrew was going to do whatever he wanted. Trying to warn him wasn’t worth the effort it took to open her mouth.
“The password is six ones.” He gave a self-deprecating laugh, acknowledging the simplicity. “Anything else, officer?”
Klieg was clearly disappointed, but she made a show of pulling an evidence bag out of her blazer pocket and holding it open so that Andrew could drop in his phone.
Dante spoke to Leigh. “I need a private moment.”
The sick feeling welled back up. He was going to offer Andrew another deal and Andrew was going to tell her to pass because he was always three steps ahead of her.
Leigh followed Dante into the conference room. She crossed her arms and leaned back against the wall as he closed the door. He had a folder in his hands. Leigh was sick and tired of men showing her the abhorrent contents of their folders.