The Scent of Lies: A Paradise Valley Mystery (22 page)

“How did you know I meant Emily Parker?” Colin asked gruffly.

“In your report, I noticed you mention that Emily Parker was there, in New York.”

“Yes, she was, along with Detective Marconi, and Mr. Andropov and his attorney,” he clarified, “but she wasn’t in the interrogation room.”

“You took Emily Parker with you to New York?” Allison pressed.

“I did not
take
her to New York. I was going there to interrogate a very important witness that I had found in the course of my investigation. Delia McCall’s attorney hired Ms. Parker to investigate the murder, as well.”

“I see.” Laraway planted a hand on her hip and took a sip from her coffee.

“She and I just happened to be going to New York around the same time to interview the same person of interest. I got to the police station and Emily was already there.”

“Emily?” she asked, raising her eyebrows for emphasis. “That sounds so...friendly. Should I be concerned about a conflict of interest here?”

“Of course, not. I met Emily before the murder occurred. We’ve been on somewhat friendly terms, but that doesn’t mean I’m not doing my job and she’s not doing hers.”

“I hope you’re right. I can’t have your personal life messing up my case,” she said, her voice rising with her apparent resolve. Then she dropped her volume to a smoldering even tone, staring directly into Colin’s face. “I’m going to nail Delia McCall to the wall for this murder and I need you to solidify her guilt, not help the defense get her off.”

“I’m not helping the defense, I’m trying to find out what really happened,” Colin shot back, not liking the ADA’s insinuation.

“You know how it works, Colin, you bring me your best suspect and I get you a conviction. It’s my job to win this case, not wonder if the defendant is innocent.”

“That’s the difference between us, Allison.” He glared at her sternly. “I’m not after the win, I’m after the truth.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Chapter 20

As much as Colin wanted to find Emily and explain himself to her, he needed to find Anna Petrova and question her. It being Thursday afternoon, he figured she’d be at work at Heaven Scent, unless Emily had told Delia that her husband had gotten her assistant pregnant and Delia had fired her. Colin figured he’d have to find out for himself, so he headed over.

On second thought, she probably already knew.
It made sense to him that Delia could have heard Ricardo and Anna arguing about the affair and the baby, just like the housekeeper overheard them. He envisioned Emily telling Delia about Anna and the pregnancy, and Delia feigning a look of surprise. Then he assumed she would turn on the waterworks, and Emily would feel the need to give her a hug and calm her down.

Even though Emily had a hard time believing Delia could have done such a thing, Colin was not so sure. He was not emotionally invested, like she was. He was more intent on following the facts, wherever they led. Emily would have to learn to do that too if she was going to survive in this racket.

Colin parked his car and went into the Heaven Scent offices. He told the receptionist who he was, flashed his badge, and asked to see Miss Petrova. The young woman called Anna, then told the detective where he could find her.

As Colin approached Anna’s desk, he announced himself. “Is there some place we can talk?” he asked.

“Sure, we can go in Ms. McCall’s office. She’s home sick for a few days,” Anna said.

She ushered him into the office and shut the door, then she motioned him to take a seat at one of the two chairs across from Delia’s desk.

“Tell me, what can I do for you, Detective?”

“I have a few questions for you about the murder of Ricardo Vega.”

“All right,” she said, her eyes took on a worried look. “Do I need an attorney?”

“I don’t know, do you?” he responded, pulling a small notepad and pen out of his jacket pocket.

“I guess not.” Her eyes darted from him to the window and back again.

“I’ve recently learned that you were having an affair with Ricardo Vega. Is that true?”

“How did you find out?”

“That’s not important. Is it true?” he asked again.

“Yes,” she replied and looked away. Colin couldn’t tell if it was because of shame or guilt.

“And you are now pregnant with his baby?”

“How do you know these things?” she snapped, as her gaze shot back to Colin, her voice sounding like her throat had tightened.

“Is that true?”

“Yes,” she looked down as she worried her hands in her lap. “Does Delia know?”

“I’m afraid so, Miss Petrova.”

Her hand flew up to her mouth. “No wonder she’s working from home.”

“The housekeeper said that you came to the house the night Ricardo died, that you and he argued about your relationship and the pregnancy. She said you slapped his face then he hit you back.”

Anna sat still, wide eyed and silent.

“Is that true?” Colin pressed.

“I can see where you’re going with this, but I did not kill him. He was alive when I left.”

She watched Colin make some notes on his pad. “I did not kill him!” she shrieked. “I thought you already arrested Delia for killing Ricardo. I don’t understand why you’re asking me these questions.”

“I’m just trying to sort things out, get at the truth.”

“The truth is Delia overheard Ricardo and me arguing. I know she did. We heard her upstairs calling for him. She said something like, ‘Ricardo, who’s down there with you?’ That’s when Ricardo told me I had to leave, that he’d take care of things.”

“You’re sure that’s what she said?”

“Yes.”

“And Ricardo said he would take care of things?”

“Yes, that’s right.” The anxiety seemed to leave her face, being replaced with a new resolve.

“Do you know what he meant by that?”

“I assumed he meant he would tell her about us and that he wanted a divorce. What else could he have meant?”

Colin did not answer her, but steered the interview in another direction to read her reaction. “I have reason to believe that after you left the house you drove around the corner and went back into the house through the rear door, that you may have killed Ricardo Vega because he wouldn’t leave his wife.”

The worry returned and her eyes got big again. “I already told you I did not kill Ricardo, I loved him, and he loved me.” She stood up and opened the door, suggesting he leave. “I don’t think I should answer any more of your questions without an attorney.”

“I understand. I think I have enough answers for now.” He had to put that accusation out there, for Emily’s sake, to see how Anna would react to it. He rose, too, and walked toward the door. “Please stay in the area. If I have any more questions, I’ll let you know.”

Colin knew if Allison Laraway got Anna on the witness stand and she repeated this statement about Delia overhearing their argument, it would not bode well for Delia. As much as he hoped to find something that pointed to her innocence, for Emily’s sake, if Anna Petrova was telling the truth, maybe Delia truly did do it.

* * *

Emily was at home getting ready for her weekly dinner with the girls. Every Thursday night they tried to have dinner together, potluck style, at one of their homes. This week it was Emily’s turn to host the supper, and the theme was Mexican food.

After getting the rice started in one pan and the refried beans in another, she set about concentrating on the table decorations. The colorful placemats and napkins she had picked up on a vacation with Evan in Puerto Vallarta covered the table and complemented her yellow retro Deco plates.

The doorbell rang as she set down the last yellow plate.
They’re early.
Emily ran to the door in her bare feet and could see through the small rectangular windows at the top of the door that it was Colin who had come to see her. Forcing a smile, she opened the door.

“Hello, Colin.”

“Hi, Emily. Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure, come in.” She moved aside and he stepped in. Why couldn’t he just call if he wanted to talk about the case? But maybe it wasn’t the case he wanted to discuss—maybe it was what she had witnessed between him and Allison Laraway.

“What is it?” she asked, standing in the entry, purposely not inviting him in to sit down.

“I just came from interviewing Anna Petrova and I thought you should know what I learned.” His voice matched the serious look on his face. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but I figured you’ll find out anyway once Alex gets a copy of my report, that is if Allison doesn’t hold it back until trial.”

Maybe they should sit down if it was going to be as bad as it sounded. “Why don’t we go in here and have a seat?” she offered, motioning to the sofa. He followed her into the living room and sat down beside her.

“This won’t get you in trouble, will it? I mean, you telling me what you learned?”

“It could,” he replied, frustration vibrating through his words. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m cut out for this job. I want to find the truth and let that be the center of our justice system, but there are so many freakin’ rules we have to play by. It doesn’t seem to matter who is actually guilty or innocent, but rather who can hire the best lawyer and who is better at playing cat and mouse with the facts.”

“I’ve thought that myself,” she agreed. “So, what did Anna say?”

“Now, I know Delia has become a friend and you believe her when she says she didn’t kill her husband, but—”

“What did Anna say?” she yelled, full of urgency. She didn’t mean to raise her voice, but he wasn’t getting to the point fast enough for her.

“She said she’s certain Delia heard her and Ricardo arguing, that she called to him from the top of the stairs as he was ushering Anna out the front door.”

“That doesn’t mean Delia killed him,” she said, still defending her friend.

“What else could it mean, Emily? Delia said she never knew anyone had come to the house, and that she was in her bathroom, out of earshot of what was happening downstairs. Now we know that just isn’t true.”

“Assuming Anna is telling the truth,” Emily pointed out.

“Well, yes, there’s that. But why would she lie about that?”

“Wouldn’t she lie if she’s the one who killed him, to cast blame on Delia?” she asked, grasping for any explanation that would clear her friend.

“I guess so, but look, let’s say you were on the jury and you were told that the wife likely overheard the husband arguing with his lover about their affair versus the mistress who left while he was alive, as verified by two witnesses. Which story would you be most likely to believe?”

“I see what you mean. It doesn’t look good for Delia, does it?” Emily stood up, a sign for Colin to leave. She didn’t know what else there was to say. “I appreciate your stopping by to tell me. I’ll be sure to pass this along to Alex.”

“Is something burning?” he asked, sniffing the air.

“What?” She thought for a second. “Oh, no! My rice!” She ran to the kitchen and Colin followed.

“Shoot! My Mexican rice is burned. I’ll have to start all over.” She grabbed the pan and stuck it in the sink, running water over it.

Colin looked at the table set with brightly-colored place settings. “Expecting company for dinner?”

“Yes, the girls are coming over for our weekly potluck. They’ll be here any minute, so if you don’t mind...” She hoped he got the hint it was time for him to make his exit.

“Maybe
they
will invite me to stay. I am a little hungry. What are they bringing?”

Maybe they will invite you to stay? Is that a dig that I did not invite you?

“We’re doing Mexican food tonight, but I’m sorry, you can’t stay. It’s just for the girls.”

“But I like Mexican food,” he said playfully.

“Don’t you have to get to Bar deNay’s for drinks with your friend, Allison?” She hoped he picked up on the sarcastic attitude in her words.

“Yeah, about that.”

Emily crossed her arms and looked at him, waiting for an explanation.

“You got it all wrong, Emily. It wasn’t what it looked like.”

“Really? You guys looked pretty cozy to me,” she said, getting a couple of glasses out of the cupboard and setting them on the table.

“She asked me to meet her for drinks, but I didn’t say yes.”

“Colin, I don’t have any hold on you.” She reached in the drawer for a large spoon, trying not to be drawn in by his sultry hazel eyes. “We’ve only been out on one date. If you want to go out with her, who am I to stop you?” Emily turned and lifted the lid to stir the simmering refried beans.

He stepped behind her and laced his arms around her waist. “What if I want you to stop me?” He whispered in her ear then kissed her gently on the side of her neck, sending a tingle through her body. Her heart began to pound in her throat. She felt lightheaded and leaned into his embrace.

Emily turned around, getting drawn into those sexy eyes that she had tried so hard to avoid. “What are you saying...exactly?” she murmured with hope on the tip of her tongue as she spoke.