“Det. Fallon,” Commissioner Craven says as he stands. He’s a thin man with thick gray hair, bushy eyebrows, and a scar down his left cheek from his legendary fight with Supernatural twenty years ago. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“As am I,” Miracle says. “Terrible tragedy.”
“How are you doing?” Craven asks.
If one more person asks me this, I’m going to scream. “Fine. Shook up, but fine.”
“And Justin?” Miracle asks.
“Devastated.”
“Well, will you please tell him that the whole of the force and Marshal Service is doing everything in their power to find Alkaline,” the mayor says. That line must have come straight out of the press release.
“I may have found something to help you do that, sirs.” I hand the DVD to Napier. “Ryder was at the engagement party last night. He arrived at 8:12 with an invitation in hand.”
“Alkaline was at the party last night?” Miracle asks, stunned.
“He probably walked right past us both ten times last night,” I say.
The mayor gulps. “I didn’t see him.”
“It gets better. He was staying at the hotel. There’s footage of him getting off the hotel elevators.” The men perk up. A lead. “Though he seemed to know we’d review the footage, so I doubt he’s still there.”
“We can cross check the names of guests who checked out last night or today to Ryder’s known aliases,” Napier says.
“We already gave that list to every hotel in the city,” Harry says. “He must be using another name.”
“He smiled at the camera. He wanted us to know he was there,” I say. “We would have found out eventually.”
“Five other guests have come forward,” Harry says, “to say they saw him, but didn’t believe it was him either.”
A tiny weight lifts off my shoulders. I’m not the only one who screwed up. “I didn’t see him,” the mayor says again.
“Why risk it?” Napier asks.
“Ultimate taunt,” I say. “‘I was right under your noses. I drank the same champagne as the detective on my case and the mayor, and I got away.’”
“Let’s just hope his narcissism is his downfall,” Craven says. “Our people are already at the hotel interviewing staff from last night. I’ll have them get the list and pull the security tapes since Alkaline escaped. See if he met with anyone.”
Napier holds up the DVD. “I’ll get this over to our lab for enhancement.”
“I haven’t finished going through it. I don’t know what time he left.”
“We’ll take care of it,” Napier says. He stands up and walks out with the stunned mayor behind him. Probably cycling through the excuses to use when the news breaks.
Craven smiles down at me. “Good work, Detective.”
“I was just doing what Lt. O’Hara told me to.”
“Then good work to you both. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Thank you, sir,” I say.
Craven nods at Harry. “O’Hara.”
“Commissioner.” Craven walks out, closing the door behind himself. Harry sits back with a sigh. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Coming when you did. I think I was about five seconds from being demoted to parking enforcement. I have the distinct feeling I’m being prepared as the department scapegoat for this mess.”
“Sorry.”
“There’s a psychopath killing children out there. The city’s in an uproar and terrified, but all they’re worried about is looking bad at a press conference.” Harry sighs. “Politics.”
“If things get too bad you can tie me to the sacrificial altar. I am the one who let him walk right past me twice.”
“Well, you aren’t the only one. Half the city was there last night, including our vigilant mayor. No, your involvement is being kept on the Q.T. Strict orders from Craven.”
“Why?”
He looks away. “Didn’t ask.” Liar. “They also don’t want you anywhere near the case anymore. They’re right. We can’t give Ryder’s future lawyer any ammunition for impropriety. Craven had to use every inch of his clout to keep us involved at all. So, as of right now, you’re on paid vacation. I shouldn’t have let you come in the first place.”
“For how long?”
“Until Craven says so. I tried to get you temporarily transferred to another squad, but he wouldn’t go for it. You’re too high-profile right now, and your guards don’t help matters.”
“So, I’m being punished for my friend getting killed?”