Justice(68)
“Would you gentlemen like something to drink? We have fresh coffee,” Dobbs says.
“We’re fine, thank you,” Harry says.
Dobbs nods, and then turns to leave. I stop him and whisper, “I can’t find Justin. Can you locate him? Have him come in here?”
“Yes, Miss Joanna,” he whispers back before walking out.
“Sure you don’t want anything to drink? Eat?” I ask.
“No,” Cam says. “How are you doing?”
I sit on the loveseat, and they sit across me on the couch. It’s kind of strange not being on the same side as them. Usually I’m the one on the couch next to my partner ready to grill a witness. But not today. Right now my one and only loyalty is to Justin, and I’ll do whatever I can to protect him. “I’m exhausted. It’s been a long, God awful twenty-four hours.” I glance at Harry whose mouth twitches.
“How’s he doing?” Cam asks.
“He’s in shock. The press outside doesn’t help matters.”
“I already called it in,” Harry says. “There’ll be another patrol car around to corral them.”
“Thanks.” We all sit in uncomfortable silence. That’s never happened before. Usually, we’re a well-oiled machine finishing each other’s thoughts. I’m the host, so it’s my job to make everyone comfortable. “So, have you been making progress?”
“Neighborhood canvas came up with nothing,” Cam says. “Neighbors saw no one, heard nothing.”
“Have they determined a definitive time of death?”
“Between six and seven this morning,” Harry says.
“CSI find anything of use?”
“His fingerprints were all over. DNA will be back tomorrow,” Cam says. “When we catch him we’ll have more than enough to charge him.”
“What about the security footage from the hotel last night? Has anyone started reviewing it? Interviewing the security detail?”
“We’re still processing the crime scene. The hotel’s sending it over,” Harry says.
“I’ve been playing those seconds over and over in my head. It was him. I have no doubt now.”
“Doubt about what?” Justin asks behind me.
The three of us stand as he walks in. Cam and Harry put on their professional, sympathetic expressions that I see every day. “Hello, Mr. Pendergast,” Harry says, holding out his hand. “I don’t know if you remember me, I’m—”
“Lt. Harold O’Hara,” Justin says, shaking his hand. “We met at the policeman’s charity ball two years ago.” Justin shakes Cam’s hand. “Det. Cameron.”
“Mr. Pendergast.”
We sit on our opposite couches. Us versus them. Harry clears his throat. “Um, Joanna, I think it would be best if we questioned Mr. Pendergast alone.”
“I’d like her to stay,” Justin says before I can protest. “If you don’t mind.”
Harry’s mouth twitches, but quickly becomes a small smile. “Fine,” Harry says. “Mr. Pendergast, let me just first say how sorry we are for your loss. We’ll try and make this as quick as possible.”
“I appreciate that.”
He pauses. “When did you last see Dr. Thornton?” Harry asks.
“Around midnight last night. The limo dropped her and her mother off, and then drove me back here. My plane took off an hour and a half later.”
“Did you notice anyone following you last night?” Cam asks.
“No, but I wasn’t looking. Have you spoken to Kim Liu? She’s, I’m sorry, was Daisy’s nanny. She was watching Daisy last night.”
“We have. She didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary in the past week,” Cam says.
“Did Dr. Thornton or her mother mention any strange people or cars hanging around? Any hang-up phone calls?” Harry asks.
“No. Nothing.” Justin turns to me. “What about you?”
“No. Sorry,” I say.
“Did Dr. Thornton and her daughter spend the majority of their nights at their home?” Cam asks.
“Yes, but I would normally stop by after work and spend the night. It was easier for Daisy that way.”
“How many nights a week, on average, would you spend there?” Harry asks.
“Three to five, and usually once a week they would stay here. It depended on Rebecca’s work schedule.”
“So typically you would be with them,” Harry says. “Who knew you would be out of town?”
“My immediate staff, and I told a few friends last night. But anyone could call and get my schedule if they wanted to make an appointment to see me.”