The Alibi

“No, it couldn’t,” Hammond admitted.

“You’re going out on a limb with a chain saw in your hand.”

“I know.”

“Where do you go from here?”

“Well, first of all, I want to make damn sure I’m right.” Hammond turned to Alex. “Other than me, did Pettijohn mention any other appointments? I know that he had another scheduled for six o’clock. I just don’t know with whom.”

“No. He only told me about his meeting with you.”

“On your way to the suite, did you see anyone in the elevator or in the hallway?”

“No one except the Macon man who later identified me.”

“And when you took the stairs, you didn’t see anyone in the stairwell?”

“No.” He looked at her hard, and she added, “Hammond, you’re placing your career on the line for me. I wouldn’t lie to you now.”

“I believe you, but our culprit might not. If it’s believed that you saw something, it really doesn’t matter if you did or not.”

“To the killer, she’s still a threat.”

“Which would be unacceptable. Remember the crime scene was nearly immaculate. This isn’t a person who leaves loose ends untied.”

“So what do you suggest?” Frank asked. “Around-the-clock bodyguards for Alex?”

“No,” she said adamantly.

“That’s what I would prefer,” Hammond said. “But reluctantly I agree with Alex. First of all, I know her well enough to know that she wouldn’t stand for it, and that arguing about it would be futile. Second, guards, or anything out of the ordinary, would be like a red flag.”

“How long do you need, Hammond?”

“I wish I knew.”

“Well, that open-ended time frame makes me very nervous,” Frank said. “While you’re gathering evidence, Alex is at risk. You should take this up with…”

“Yeah,” Hammond said, reading Frank’s unspoken thought. “Who do I take it up with? At this point, who do I trust? And who would believe me? These allegations would sound like sour grapes, especially if anyone learned that Alex and I are lovers.”

“ ‘Are’? You mean you’ve been together since Saturday night?” Their expressions must have given them away. “Never mind,” Frank groaned. “I don’t want to know.”

“As I was saying,” Hammond continued, “I’ve got to do this myself, and I’ve got to work quickly.” He laid out his plan to them.

When he finished, he addressed Frank first. “Do I have your sanction?”

The lawyer pondered his answer for a long moment. “I’d like to believe that people associate my name with integrity. That’s what I’ve worked toward, anyway. This is the first time I’ve ever deviated from the rule of ethics. If this ends in disaster, if you’re wrong, I would probably come through it with no more than a reprimand and a blemish on an otherwise impeccable record. But, Hammond, it’s your throat. I’m sure you realize that.”

“I do.”

“Furthermore, I don’t give it a snowball’s chance in hell of working.”

“Why not?”

“Because in order for it to work, you must confide in Steffi Mundell.”

“I’m afraid that’s a necessary evil.”

“The very word I would have used.”