“So, you think it was random,” I raise an eyebrow. “A second ago you said it was because she pissed somebody off. Can't keep your story straight?”
“Back off,” he says. “Everybody knows why you're here.”
“Because I'm a hell of a good FBI agent?”
“Maybe you were once,” he says.
“Come to think of it, since you're here, I have a few questions for you, too,” Sam says. “Where were you the morning Everly died?”
“You've got to be kidding me. What reason would I have to kill her?”
“Oh, I don't know,” I shrug. “You're just so warm and affectionate toward her. I can't imagine why anyone might suspect you'd like her gone.”
“I didn't like the woman. I didn't think she was good enough for my brother, and then she killed my nephew. That doesn't mean I would put my life at risk just to end hers. I needed to be here for Michael.”
“So, where were you?” I ask.
“You seem to forget the idea of having a lawyer during questioning,” he growls.
“This isn't an interrogation,” Sam raises his hands in protest. “Just asking you a simple question.”
Daniel sighs. “You know what? I'm in a magnanimous mood today. I'll help you along with your floundering investigation. I was at home.”
“At home?” I ask. “That's your groundbreaking alibi? Was anybody there with you?”
“No, but Maggie knows I was there. She let herself into the house and went up to the bedroom. When she started screaming, I ran from my suite over to the main house. The medical examiner said she died just a short time before Maggie discovered her. That means I would have had to kill her, figure out how to lock the house from the inside, leave, run across the grounds without the gardeners seeing me, get back to my suite, and get in the shower. If you ask Maggie and the first responders, they'll tell you my hair was wet when they got there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to.”
Daniel turns and stomps out of the house. Michael shakes his head.
“I'm sorry about him. Daniel has never been the friendliest of people, but he's my brother, and I've done as much as I can to take care of him.”
“Was it difficult between the two of you with him having so much contention toward Everly?” I ask.
“It wasn't easy,” he admits. “He had something against her from the first night we met.”
“He was there when you met?”
“I was out having dinner with Daniel, Payton, and Peter. She was a waitress at the restaurant where we were eating.”
His eyes mist over, and he looks into the distance like he's seeing that moment play out in front of him.
“I fell for her the second I saw her. She was incredible. I introduced her to everybody and hung around the restaurant until her shift was over. We talked for hours that night, then the next night I went in to see her again. We were together ever since. Daniel didn't take it well. He thought I should be getting more serious about settling down and looking for someone ‘in my social class’, as he put it. I didn't care about that. I liked hearing her laugh. I liked the stories she told and how full of life she was. When she started spending time with Peter, he adored her. That sealed it for me. If my son didn't love a woman, there's no way I would be able to. But we both did.”
“Just one more thing,” Sam says. “The house was locked from the inside. All the windows and all the doors. Can you think of any way someone would be able to get in and out?”
Michael thinks about it for a few seconds, then shakes his head. “I have no idea.”
Sam nods. “Thank you for your time. I'll let you know if there's anything else we need to know.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"There's something I still don't like about Daniel," Sam says.
We're back in the conference room bent over the pictures and evidence lined up on the table. I'm waiting for something to jump out at me.
"Sheriff?"
We both look up and see Savannah at the door.
"Yes?" Sam asks.
"They're here," she says.
"Great. Bring them back to the interview room. We'll be there in a minute," he nods. When the officer leaves, he looks at me. "I know your experience with Payton wasn't exactly pleasant. But I'm going to ask you to try to be gentle during this interview.”
“What do you mean by that? I'm always tender and compassionate,” I protest.
He looks at me, totally unconvinced.
“Emma. Don't be mean to her.”
We head out of the conference room and into the interview room where Payton and Ian have been waiting, their chairs pressed close together as they hold hands between them. The interview room is an interesting tactic. Not all departments have some, but those that do tend to find them highly beneficial. As opposed to the stark coldness of an interrogation room, the interview rooms have some furniture, lamps for more comforting lighting, and sometimes even drink machines. They look more like a lounge or break room than somewhere you would be questioned by police. But that's the point. The room is meant to put you at ease and help you open up. It's especially effective at encouraging people who may feel defensive to talk more freely.
“It's good to see you two again,” Sam starts. “I'm sorry it's in these circumstances.”
“Why did you bring us in?” Ian asks.
“Did somebody actually murder Everly?” Payton asks.
She sounds like she's on the brink of tears, and I understand Sam's warning.
“Yes,” Sam answers. “The evidence doesn't add up to her death being suicide. We've shifted the investigation to focus on finding the person responsible for her death.”
“Then why do you have us here?” Ian asks again. “If you're trying to find whoever is responsible for killing Everly, why are you bothering to interview us again?”
“In a murder investigation, you start at the center,” I explain. “If you don't have a clear and immediate idea of who committed the crime, you begin at the victim and move out like the ripples when you drop a pebble in the water. The closest people to Everly were Michael and her parents. We've already interviewed Michael, and her parents are planning on coming to town soon. Which brings us to the next ripple. The two of you.”
“We're just gathering information,” Sam adds. “The more information we have about all the people in her life, the easier it'll be to pinpoint changes or issues that might lead us to her killer.”
“Payton, everyone says the two of you were on good terms. Especially considering the somewhat odd dynamic of your relationship,” I say.
“I don't think it was odd. She was in love with the father of my child. It's as simple as that. We had no reason to not get along. In fact, she was a good friend. And an amazing influence for my son.”
“Michael mentioned you were there the night he met Everly,” Sam says. “But he didn't mention you, Ian.”
“Ian and I hadn't met yet,” Payton explains. “That night, I came by to spend some time with Peter. Michael said he was hungry and had a craving for the stuffed shells at Angelo's. That was always one of our favorite places to go. He asked if we wanted to go with him, then invited Daniel to come along. It wasn't unusual for us to eat together or spend time at his house. As I'm sure you've heard, ours wasn't exactly the romance of the century. When it didn't make sense for us to be a couple anymore, we became friends and co-parents. It was an easy transition and wasn't made any more difficult when Everly came into the picture.”
"How long was it after that before the two of you got together?" I ask.
Payton glances over at Ian, like looking at him will help jog her memory. "Not long. Maybe... three weeks? He joined my yoga class."