“I’ll take it from here,” he said to the other detective. That one nodded and left the room.
“I’m Detective Gunderman from the Denver Police Department.” He showed him his badge.
“Are you aware that Mr. Maguire now has an alibi for the hit-and-run?” At Damen’s silence, Gunderman said, “That means Mr. Maguire’s car was stolen.”
Damen stared at the man a few seconds. “Okay...?”
“Did you steal it?”
“Me?”
The cops were onto him. They suspected he may have stolen Korbin’s car. But why? What had made them think that was a possibility?
Gunderman was still waiting for a response.
“No,” Damen said.
“Where were you that night?”
“You asked me that already. I was working at home until late and then went over to Collette’s. After seeing Korbin leave her house, I found her dead.”
“Can anyone verify you were at home?”
Damen smirked. “I live alone.”
“Mr. Maguire told us he met this woman at the Laughing Grass Pizzeria. The day before her murder. Were you aware of that?”
“No.”
Demarco saw how Gunderman remained calm but Demarco sensed he knew Damen was lying. “Here’s the problem I have, Mr. Ricchetti. Mr. Maguire’s car was found abandoned after a fatal hit-and-run, and then your girlfriend turns up murdered. All in the same night. How does that happen?”
Damen stared at him. He was beginning to realize he might be in trouble. Real trouble.
“I don’t know,” Damen finally said.
“Mr. Maguire said your girlfriend was afraid you’d hurt her. Her sister and a close friend said the same thing.”
“I never would have hurt Collette. I loved her. Korbin is lying.”
Demarco found it remarkable that his brother had said “loved” instead of “love.” And it wasn’t because she was dead. He’d loved her until he thought that she wanted another man and that she was going to leave him.
After a moment watching Damen, Gunderman nodded a few times, noncommittal, disbelieving.
“Are you planning to return to Denver when you’re released?” he finally asked.
“Yes.”
Once more, he nodded. Then he turned to Demarco. “Can I have a word with you outside?”
Demarco glanced at his brother and then said, “Sure.”
He followed the detective into the hallway, where they faced each other.
“Have you given this some thought since we last talked?” Gunderman asked.
He’d thought of nothing else. His life had pretty much come to a screeching halt ever since he’d seen Damen toss that gun.