“Not once.”
“Let’s go back to Beth calling down from upstairs,” Reid said. “What did she say?”
Ackerley looked out the window again, then finished his iced tea. The waitress returned with a refill. Reid hadn’t touched his. He sat there staring at Ackerley, who seemed involved in some sort of internal debate. Reid waited for him to speak.
“I wouldn’t lie for him,” Ackerley said.
That got Reid’s adrenaline going. He watched Ackerley fidget with his spoon. “Did he ask you to?”
“Look, as I sit here right now, I believe I heard her voice. But ... I didn’t remember that right away. After we knew she died, I mean. We were rushing out of the house, like I said; Pete was so anxious to get going. And—I never would have thought it would be the last time. I wouldn’t have necessarily registered it.”
“Okay,” Reid said, nodding. “That makes sense. You were in a hurry.”
“Yeah, we were.”
“So,” Reid said, keeping his voice steady. “If you didn’t remember or register hearing Beth right away, how did that change?”
“Pete keeps reminding me she called down the stairs.”
“Reminding you,” Reid said, and now his heart was beating out of his chest. “So it might not have happened? He’s coaching you to alter your recollection?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Why didn’t she come downstairs, by the way?”
“Beth was in bed. She had edema in her legs.”
“Complications from the pregnancy,” Reid said.
“Exactly. So it makes total sense she wouldn’t come down to see us off. Pete said she wanted to get outside, back into the garden. She had been out earlier and gotten overheated. The day was so hot and muggy.”
That jibed with what Scotty had said.
“So Pete talked her out of it—he was afraid she’d get heatstroke. And that’s why she stayed in bed, didn’t come downstairs to see us off. But she did call down.”
“And what did she say?” Reid repeated.
“‘Have a great trip, Lee! Love you, Pete!’” Ackerley said.
“Did you hear that or not?” Reid asked.
“Pretty sure,” Ackerley said.
“Okay,” Reid said. “What about on the boat?”
“He was worried about her. We all understood—it didn’t seem strange or out of character. He’s a caring guy. He had messed up his marriage, and he was trying to put it back together.”
“What about his clothes?” Reid asked.
“Hisclothes?”
“What was he wearing on board?”
Ackerley gazed outside, into the branches of the big oak tree as if trying to remember. “I didn’t really notice.”
“Long sleeves, short sleeves?”
“I have no idea,” Ackerley said. Then, “Wait, hang on.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and began scrolling through.
