The Pursuit of Lies (Book #4, Paradise Valley) Read Online Free PDF Page B

announced to Colin that he was wanted for questioning in the murder of ADA Allison Laraway. The detective had read him his rights before tucking him into the backseat of his car, but Colin had not been able to speak to his attorney alone yet.
    The detective dragged a chair away from the table and sat. “As you know, Martínez, Andrews is a person of interest in the Laraway murder and I’ve already read him his rights. I have quite a few questions for him.”
    “Yes, I’m well aware.” Alex patted Colin’s shoulder as they both took a seat. “But I’ve had no time to speak privately with my client yet, Detective. Before you question him, I’d like a chance to do that.”
    Roberts looked from Alex to Colin, and pursed his lips. “All right.” He stood, shoving his chair back with some force. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”
    “I’ll need more than just a few minutes.” Alex remained calm, but Colin could feel the underlying tension between the two men. They had obviously done battle before. “Give me at least twenty or thirty.”
    Roberts peered down at his wristwatch. “All right, we’ll be back in twenty.” He smirked at Alex, then motioned to the officer to follow him out.
    “And make sure that camera is off,” Alex shouted after him, pointing in the direction of the video camera mounted high on the wall.
    “Yeah, yeah,” Roberts mumbled with a dismissive wave of his hand.
    Alex watched the door shut all the way before speaking. “Why would they think you killed Allison Laraway?”
    Colin pushed his chair away from the table and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “I have no idea.” He shook his head as it hung low.
    “The truth.”
    Colin lifted his head and looked Alex in the eye. “Really. I have absolutely no idea.”
    “When’s the last time you saw ADA Laraway?”
    “Week before last we had a short meeting in her office about one of my cases she’s trying.”
    “Before that?”
    “Except for the last few weeks, I was mostly in San Francisco before that, for the past few months, but then you already know that.”
    “Work with me here, Colin. And you’ve had no contact with her except for the meeting a couple of weeks ago?”
    “Just by email a few times, but always case related.”
    “You have no romantic ties to this woman, do you?”
    “You know me, Alex. It’s only been Emily since I moved to Paradise Valley.”
    “I have to ask. You know Roberts will.”
    “The only time was…”
    “Was what? Tell me,” Alex demanded.
    “When I first moved here, Allison came on to me a few times. But I never responded, never took her up on it. We had drinks together at Bar deNay’s one night, but I made it clear to her I was with Emily.”
    “When was that?”
    “Before I went back to San Francisco.”
    “Did Emily know about that?”
    “I don’t think so. It was nothing. Just a couple of friends having a drink.”
    “You considered Allison a friend?”
    “A work friend, I guess. Is that bad?”
    “We’ll see.”
    Colin buried his face in his hands for a moment. Then he ran them through his hair as he straightened in his seat, letting out a cry of exasperation.
    “Calm down, Colin.”
    “What is going on?” Colin stood and paced the room. “And what about Emily? What is she thinking? That they’ve arrested me for murder? Murder!”
    “I’m sure Isabel and the girls are with her.” Alex patted the seat of the chair. “Come sit down and get a hold of yourself. Roberts will be back any minute and you need to stay calm.”
    Colin shrugged out of his jacket and hung it over the back of the chair before wiping his hand across his sweaty forehead. He took his seat and crossed his arms on the table.
    Alex laid a firm hand on Colin’s forearm. “Let me do all the talking. I don’t want you saying a word. We need to find out what they have, not give them anything more.”
    “You do believe me, don’t you?”
    “Yes, of course.”

Chapter 5
    Colin