Break the Silence (Detectives Kane and Alton)

“Okay, what’s the problem?” Lowe leaned against the bench and turned to look at them with a worried expression.

Kane pulled out a chair. “Why don’t we take a seat?”

“Sure.” Lowe glanced at the door. “But can we make this quick? My grandpa will be back soon and he don’t like unofficial breaks.”

“Did Chrissie make contact with you the day she died?” Kane waited for a reaction. “Did she send you a message late Saturday night?”

“No, but I did see her on campus on Friday around six.” Lowe leaned back in his seat. “She didn’t seem suicidal to me.”

Kane’s interest piqued at the mention of the college. “Why were you on campus?”

“I work here part of the time.” Lowe raised an eyebrow. “I attend classes at the college and take a few night classes as well. Where’s this heading?”

Kane smiled. “It’s just routine questions. We’re looking for witnesses on certain days. When are you usually at the college and at what times?”

“Most mornings, and I take night classes three times a week: Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. I’m studying business management. I’m planning on taking over the store when my grandpa retires.” Lowe drummed his fingertips on the table in an agitated manner. “I usually have dinner at the cafeteria to catch up with friends. Classes go to about eight thirty.”

The timeframe fit but the man before him had volunteered the information a little too easily. “You always leave around eight thirty?”

“No.” Lowe spread his hands. “There are some nice girls in my classes; sometimes I stay later and we have coffee and chat.”

“I see.” Kane nodded. “Did you use the gym or pool this week?”

“Nope.” Lowe glanced at Jenna and then moved his gaze back to Kane. “I’m lifting heavy weights most days, and I’m usually tuckered out by then.”

Kane noted the man’s well-muscled frame. He was the third man they’d interviewed who was well capable of killing Jacobs and Devon. “Do you know Alex Jacobs or Pete Devon?”

“I know who they are but they’re no friends of mine.” Lowe snorted. “Their friends are all from money.”

“Did you see them at all on campus, Monday or Tuesday evening?”

“Maybe. On Monday, some of the team got off a bus as I walked past. Those two should’ve been with them but I couldn’t swear to it.” Lowe sighed. “Tuesday, I don’t recall seeing them.”

Kane noted the repressed agitation coming from this man. He needed a few more answers. “Were you in the vicinity of the pool and gym on Monday or Tuesday evening?”

“Yeah. I walk past there to get to my truck.” Lowe narrowed his eyes to near slits. “What is all this about?”

Sometimes bluffing a suspect worked wonders. Kane cleared his throat. “We’re trying to identify the people on the CCTV footage collected on the night Alex Jacobs accidentally died as we need to establish his time of death. We’re speaking to people who may have seen him arrive at the building.”

“I see.” Lowe shrugged. “I don’t remember seeing either of those football players. Or anyone in particular.”

“Do you remember the names of the girls you had coffee with on those nights?” Kane rested his hands flat on the table. “They might recall what time you went back to your vehicle.”

“Yeah, one girl, Stella.” Lowe pulled out his cellphone. “I’ll give you her number and you can call her.” He read out the number and Jenna took it down then stood and walked out of the room.

Kane needed to know one more thing. “Do you know the name of the man Chrissie was meeting the night she died?”

“Yeah.” Lowe grimaced. “Seth Lyons, the Teflon quarterback. If he’s the one who raped her, you’ll never make it stick. His father will buy him out of trouble, same as all those dogs living in the house on Pine.”

Kane pushed to his feet. “No one is above the law. If Lyons is responsible for raping Chrissie, we’ll charge him.”

“Good luck with that.” Lowe stood. “Are we done here? I’ve gotta get back to work.”

“Yeah, for now.” Kane handed him his card. “If you remember anything that might assist us in chasing down the men who hurt Chrissie, give me a call.”

“Sure.” Lowe pushed the card into his top pocket.

Kane headed for the door and met Jenna outside at his truck. “Did you call Stella?”