“Sam, I … ”
“Is that true?” he repeated.
She didn’t answer for a bit, trying to read his expression. Finally she said, “Nothing seems to be missing, even the petty cashbox was intact. It may be time to move the studio — three break-ins in less than a month. That’s some kind of record.”
He didn’t comment. She looked down at the floor, unable to face him. “Sam, I have to tell you something.”
Turning away, he started for the door. “I know what you have to tell me, but I’m not sure I want to have this conversation tonight.”
“You don’t think I … ?” She couldn’t even say the words.
“Killed Robin Jordan and Eubie Kane? Of course I don’t. But you lied about being there. If you don’t believe it’s stupid to lie to the police, I’d have thought you trusted me enough not to lie to me.”
The word “lie” hit her like a fist each time he said it. “I can explain. Please. Sit down for a minute. Just listen.”
He followed her into the living room and sat facing her on the opposite couch, his face stony. “I’m listening.”
“Of course I should have told you — told the police — I was there. But I felt trapped. Eubie Kane was on a rant about me. Leo’s gun with my fingerprints on it killed him. I was only three blocks away. Motive, means, opportunity. It’s like location, location, location.” She looked up at him, but he didn’t seem amused at her attempt to lighten the atmosphere.
“I couldn’t say I’d been there. I knew what it looked like and I knew what you — what the police — would think. I would be presenting them with a neat little package that wrapped up their case. Just like last year. It was all back again. I couldn’t be involved again, not when I hadn’t done anything. So, I didn’t tell anyone, figuring you’d find out who did it and I wouldn’t have to. I should have known better but I was scared.”
“Why were you there, Amanda?”
She moved a pillow from behind her and clutched it to her chest before she answered. “I’d agreed to meet him at my studio but I finished up earlier than I expected. I, uh, decided to go see him. He’d said he would be at Bullseye. I figured he was taking a class; that’s the only reason anyone’s there at night. And classes usually end by nine. I thought maybe I’d have a chance to snag him when it was over.” Her voice trailed off.
“Okay, you went to see him. Go on.”
“I got there and saw cars parked in the covered area near the front door so I thought my guess that he was in class was right. But when I got to the door, it was dark inside. No one answered when I knocked. I didn’t expect it to be open. It never is when there’s a class. But I banged hard enough that if someone was in there, they would have heard.”
“The man who saw you says you went south on Twenty-first.”
“Toward the factory, yeah. I knocked on the door to the office. No one answered. So I went around the block to see if I could find anyone. When I couldn’t, I got in my car and came home.”
“That took you ten minutes?”
“I have no idea how long it took me. I wasn’t exactly timing myself.”
“You didn’t see anyone who can verify what you’re saying?”