Maxwell didn’t say anything, just held Marcus’s gaze.
“May I ask why?”
“MayIask why you’re asking me?”Maxwell replied.
Marcus grinned, affecting the same affability Maxwell showed a moment ago but keeping his eyes flinty.“Sure.She was found dead by her receptionist last night.”
Maxwell showed the first sign of real emotion, a flash of something that looked more like disappointment than fear but had elements of both.“Well, shit.That’s not good.”
“Definitely not,” Marcus agreed.“I don’t suppose you have an alibi for last night?”
Maxwell shifted in his seat.“No, unfortunately I don’t.I was working another case, and that involved not being seen so I could take pictures of a certain individual.Legally,” he quickly added.“It was in a public place.But yeah, if I’m going to make money at this job, it’s important that most peopledon’tknow where I am.”He smiled, trying for sheepishness.“Kind of sucks when I need to prove I didn’t kill someone.”
“Yeah, puts a damper on things,” Marcus said.“Did you kill her?”
“No.”
“Figured you’d say that.So, what were you doing at her office?”
“Investigating her.”
“For what?”
“A client.”
Marcus kept his smile but hardened his eyes a step further.“As you alluded a moment ago, Mr.Maxwell, you are a person of interest in three murders.”
Maxwell flinched.“Wait, what?Threemurders?”
Marcus studied the man's face carefully.His surprise seemed genuine, but another skill a good P.I.had to possess was the ability to lie.It was hard to tell if Mr.Maxwell was telling the truth right now or just demonstrating his prowess."That's right.Dr.Patricia Hammond, Richard, and Vanessa Carlton."
A flicker crossed Maxwell’s face at the mention of the Carltons’ names.He flattened it immediately and leaned back in his chair with a whistle.“Wow.That is pretty crappy.”
“Yeah, most people aren’t big fans of getting killed.”
“I can imagine not.”He folded his hands on the desk again, still meeting Marcus’s eyes.“I’m not sure how I can help you though, Special Agent.”
“Can you tell me where you were Saturday night?”
Maxwell chuckled.He lifted his hands and let them drop.“I was home.”
“Can anyone verify that?”
“No.”
“Hmm.”
“Where wereyouSaturday night?”Maxwell challenged.“Can anyone verify that?Or where billions of other people who don’t feel a need to record their every waking moment were on their nights off of work?”
“Fair enough.How did you know the Carltons?”
“I didn’t.”
“Sure, about that?”
Maxwell’s jaw tightened.“I’m not going to keep repeating myself, special agent.I’ve already answered that question.”
Marcus watched him for a moment.He held Marcus’s gaze, and the flicker Marcus saw earlier didn’t reappear.Marcus wasn’t going to worm that out of him right now.“All right.Tell me why you were investigating Dr.Hammond.”
