“Me, too, buddy,” he said. “Let’s just get this stuff sorted and then we can ask Daria to contact some of the people who think we are guilty.”
“Good idea,” Kingsley said. They both worked for the next two hours and when they were done, Kingsley had an idea why all of these statements hadn’t been used. A lot of them were conflicting. He’d read two statements from people he remembered not being at the party. “Joe Falcone was in Detroit that night. I’m not sure I trust his statement.”
“I know. This wasn’t helpful at all. It clarified nothing,” Hunter said. “We’re no closer to finding out what really happened than we were yesterday.”
Kingsley agreed. But he wasn’t giving up. “Let’s see if there is anything else that these statements have in common. I remember reading that Stacia left the party and came back. But I have to be honest, I’m a little foggy on when that was. I think I remember seeing her again. What about you?”
Hunter shrugged. “I can only recall the part of the night before you and I sat down and started doing shots.”
Kingsley had the feeling that Hunter was hiding something. It was the way he looked past him instead of meeting his eyes. But just then, Kingsley’s phone rang and he saw that it was Gabi.
“I have to take this.”
Hunter nodded and Kingsley went outside to talk to Gabi. He needed something that was fresh and clean, not the murkiness of the past.
* * *
Gabi left the meeting with her hands shaking and got in her car. Instead of driving back to the office, she headed out to the Pacific Coast Highway. Without regard for speed, she drove the roads she knew like the back of her hand as if she was running for her life.
And she guessed she was. All those nice, safe thoughts that she had about maybe loving Kingsley and finding closure were gone. She realized that until he found Stacia’s killer, the stigma of the past was always going to hang over him and by extension anyone who was associated with him.
It made her mad and shattered her illusions about the justice system. She’d always believed what the court said. She hadn’t questioned their judgments because her father was a judge and she knew he was a good and righteous man. But today she realized that some people got their facts from the court of public opinion.
She pulled over and rested her head on the steering wheel. What was she going to do?
She picked up her phone and dialed her father’s number without a second thought.
“Gabi, how are you?”
“I’m good, Papi,” she said.
“What can I do for you? Your mother said you are bringing a man to brunch,” he said.
“I am. He’s the guy I dated in college. He’s a single dad now and we are bringing his three-year-old son.”
“Interesting,” he said.
“What does that mean?”
“Simply that I always thought you had unfinished business with him.”
“I do.”
“You okay, princess?”
She smiled to herself. Her father was the one man she knew would have her back even if she was wrong. She realized she’d called him because she needed to dispel the anger and disappointment she’d felt after leaving the meeting. “Yes, Papi, I am.”
“Good. I have to go, but look forward to seeing you Sunday.”
“Me, too. Love you.”
“Love you, too, princess.”
She turned the car around and drove back to her office, where she found Conner playing with a pair of twins about his age. He ran over and gave her a hug when he saw her. She looked over at Abby, who was watching the kids.
“Where’s Melissa?”
“In a meeting with the parents,” Abby said. “They are looking for a nanny.”
“When Melissa gets out, would you ask her to come and see me? Conner, are you okay? Do you want to come and help me work?” Gabi asked.
Conner looked up at her, his face so like Kingsley’s. “I want to keep playing with my friends.”
“Sounds good. My office is right down the hall. If you need me, come and get me.”
He nodded and ran back over to the twins to keep playing.
She entered her office and drafted an email to send to the county commissioners. And then printed it out for Melissa to review. She was still angry and didn’t want to say anything she’d regret. She needed an unbiased opinion.
She worked on her column until Melissa came down to join her. “Great news. I think I got my first clients.”