Strong Alibi by K.C. Turner (story reading txt) 📗

Martinez looked perturbed. “Where is the confusion? I set this up with you weeks ago and sent in my confirmation Monday just as you asked.”

Remaining calm, Investigator McMurphy said, “I never received that confirmation, Detective. Actually, I got word they were moving the hearing and I sent you an email with the new date and time. I assumed, since I still heard nothing, that Miss Strong here had changed her mind.”

Elizabeth felt a small sense of relief while Martinez became agitated. He grabbed his chin and paced towards the car, then turned back around to McMurphy. “So you never received my confirmation?”

McMurphy shook his head, “Negative.”

“I didn’t receive your email, Investigator.”

“I can only assume the email went through with no issue. I did not receive a Mailer-Daemon informing me otherwise.”

He grew more agitated, his dark brown eyes turning a deep yellow gold. “So when was the hearing pushed back to?”

“I’m afraid the hearing was held yesterday afternoon, Detective. I’m very sorry. I wish there was more I could do.”

Martinez bowed his chest and crossed his arms, cupping his unshaven face with his right hand. He took a deep breath before speaking. “I apologize for all the confusion, Investigator. I do appreciate you coming out here to let us know personally. We won’t take up any more of your time.”

After exchanging their goodbyes, Elizabeth and Martinez settled into the front seat of the Impala. “Damn it!” he yelled as he slammed his hand on the steering wheel, making Elizabeth jump. Her eyes scanned the perimeter; the steel doors, the guard shacks, the armed towers and the high fences with barbed wire. The pill she had taken earlier was definitely beginning to wear off.

“Can we please just get the hell out of here?”

He wiped the stress from his face with his hands and turned to her. “I’m so sorry, Liz. I messed up.”

“This wasn’t your fault. Why would you say something like that?”

“Actually, it is my fault. I depended on someone else to do my shit, to have my back.” He started the engine to the car and put it in gear. “That’ll be the last time.”

During the trip back to Silverton, Martinez explained how he asked Johnson to handle the request for him and had no idea what happened. He was furious that he hadn’t taken care of it himself or made the effort to try and confirm that the request had been sent and received. So much so, the entire hour long drive, he did nothing but continue to apologize. Finally pulling into the parking lot at the courthouse, Martinez parked next to Elizabeth’s worn Beamer.

With both hands still on the steering wheel, he looked out the windshield in disgust. “I’m such an idiot.” He looked over at her; she was gazing at him empathetically. “I’m sorry, Liz. Really, I am.”

Tucking her hair behind her ear, she shook her head. “Will you please stop saying that?” She took his hand from the wheel and held onto it. “Look, whatever happened, it happened. There’s nothing we can do about it now and frankly, if you couldn’t tell, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about going in the first place.”

“Yeah, well, Johnson has some explaining to do.”

“Maybe he got busy and it slipped his mind. Maybe the Chief snagged him up right after you that day and sent him off on some other wild detective outing. I’m sure there’s an explanation. Either way, it’s done. I’m sure we’ll know the results of the hearing soon enough. At least we got out of the office for the afternoon, right?” She smiled.

He squeezed her hand and smiled back, shaking his head. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

“I’m amazingly exhausted. I gotta get back to the office and then I’m going home and have plans with a nice hot bath, some music, and some wine.”

“Hmm, sounds like you might need some assistance,” he said flexing his eyebrows flirtatiously.

“I think I got it covered. But it is tempting.” It is so tempting!

Somewhat discouraged from being shot down, he understood. “Can I call you later?”

She leaned in closer to him for a kiss goodbye, “Of course.”

Chapter 6

Dragging herself down the hallway to the office lobby, Elizabeth reached the front desk. Andrea glanced up at her from behind the bulletproof glass window and buzzed her in. It seemed like a quiet afternoon. Everyone was too busy in their offices to notice her entrance. She didn’t much feel like explaining her ordeal anyway. Of course, she could never sneak past China. Today, she didn’t even try. Holding onto her bag strapped across her torso, she reached China’s office and leaned on the doorway. Feeling a presence, China spun around in her chair. She was pleasantly surprised.

“Hey! What are you doing back so soon? How did it go?”

Melting into the chair on the other side of China’s desk, she sighed and rolled her eyes. “It didn’t.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means it didn’t go. We drove all the way there, I swear I felt like I was going to vomit the entire drive, only to get there and find out the hearing was moved.”

“Awe honey, I’m sorry. So, when did they move it to?”

“Yesterday,” she said matter-of-factly.

“WHAT? I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you right.”

“Apparently there was an issue with the request getting there and an email got lost, I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t really care at this point. I obviously wasn’t meant to be there.”

China was beyond irritated, her eyes appearing black behind the slits of her eyelids. “How the hell do you lose an email? I call bullshit.” She looked at her watch; it was almost 2:30. “You wanna have a cigarette? You look like you could use a cigarette.”

Leaning her head back and gazing at the ceiling, she thought for a moment. “What the hell. Then I think I’m going to take off and go home. I have some personal time and I’m over it.”

They both rose from their seats