Page 195 of Bound By Fire
“The cell phone. Did you plant it?”
“What on earth are you talking about?” His face has gone a shade paler. His voice has gone up. “Commander, I beg your pardon. What kind of question is that?”
“A serious one. I would like you to answer, please.”
“That is insane.” He’s clutching the stack of files harder. “We just had our interview. I already gave you my answer, and it hasn’t changed. Of course I did not. Why would you even ask me such a thing?”
“Someone tried to break into her apartment a few nights ago. It was around two-thirty on Thursday morning.”
“I told you I was at home in bed with my wife.”
“They left a print in the flowerbed by the emergency stairs. The print was made by an Italian loafer. The exact brand you have on your feet right now. A brand that is not sold anywhere on this island. There would not be many men on Draig with a pair of these.”
There is a size discrepancy. I look at the printout that Carla gave me, and his size is listed as an eight. Patel said he was a size eight but the shoe print found outside Robyn’s apartment was a nine.
Fuck!
It can’t be.
This can’t be a coincidence. It can’t!
“This is plain crazy.” His voice has gone thin. “I would never do anything like that. The very suggestion is disgusting.”
“I am going through every second of the camera footage from her building and the surrounding area.” I keep my voice level. “Inside the lobby, the streets around it, the corner cameras. If there is anything to find, I am going to find it. It would be better for you to tell me now.”
It’s a bluff. I doubt I would find anything. I’ve searched for Patel’s vehicle and come up with nothing.
“There is nothing to tell.” He’s almost spitting it. “You have nothing, and you are trying to put this on me because I happen to own a pair of imported shoes. I will not have my reputation dragged through the mud because you can’t do your actual job.”
He turns toward his car and fumbles for his keys.
“Dr. Patel.”
He whirls around. His face is a different color now, blotchy at the cheekbones.
“If you come anywhere near me with this kind of accusation again, I will have my attorney on the phone before you finish the sentence. I will sue you personally. I will sue the Council and Security Central. I will not have my name attached to this. Are we clear?”
“I want to help you.”
“Liar!”
He drags the door open, throws the files onto the passenger seat, and gets in. The door slams. The engine turns over. He reverses out of the spot too fast. The tires give a small chirp as he straightens, and then he’s gone, out of the lot and onto the main road.
The male was flustered when he walked into the interview. I chalked it up to being wired after dealing with such a difficult case. Perhaps I was wrong. Then he dropped those files.
I think he might be afraid.
I need to figure this out. I need to work the case step by step. Robyn’s life depends on it.
