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Mitch swore under his breath, but Lachlan didn’t put up a fight. He got into the waiting patrol car and they closed the door.
Bethenny grabbed Lachlan’s keys from the bench, along with his wallet, and hurried out the front door.
The patrol car was driving away as she stepped outside. She ran down to Lachlan’s car and unlocked it, climbing into the driver’s seat. She was assaulted with the smell of soft leather and amber and she exhaled a breath, gripping the steering wheel and resting her forehead on it.
Her mind was reeling as she thought back over last night. Lachlan was not a killer, she was sure of it. She thought about the night they’d spent in the woods, and again, nothing raised alarm bells.
But pain, revenge... it could make people do crazy things.
Maybe the note was left to throw the investigation off course. Bethenny had to admit, if it was, it was a good tactic.
But leaving a print—even a partial print—on the murder weapon was just plain incompetence, and Lachlan wasn’t incompetent.
She sighed. She needed to think straight with a clear mind—his future might depend on it.
She turned on the ignition and put the car in drive. She lowered her foot on the pedal and drove to the police station as fast as she could without breaking the law.
The station was buzzing when she arrived. “Where is Lachlan?” she asked.
“Interrogation Room One,” an officer replied.
Bethenny shook her head as she marched forward. She didn’t bother to knock, opting instead to just swing the door open.
Lachlan’s eyes landed on her, and then he looked back to Mitch. “She doesn’t need to be here.”
“Really, an interrogation room, Mitch?” Bethenny asked. “Couldn’t you have done this in your office?”
“This is protocol,” Mitch said, matter-of-factly.
“She doesn’t need to be here,” Lachlan repeated, not looking at her.
“Actually, I do. If he’s under investigation, I should now be the lead—so I very much need to be here,” she said, pulling out the seat next to Mitch.
“Take a seat,” Mitch said, and Bethenny didn’t need to look at him to know he wasn’t thrilled with her attitude, but he didn’t dismiss her.
Lachlan still refused to look at her.
“I have nothing to add. I have absolutely no idea how my print got on that knife, but I did not use it to kill Jessica Mella,” Lachlan said, looking directly at Mitch.
“Where were you three nights ago?” Mitch asked.
“Home,” he said. “My security footage will prove it. Why?” he asked.
“Jessica Mella was killed three nights ago,” Mitch said.
Lachlan raised an eyebrow but said nothing further.
“I have a warrant to search your house. We’ll check your security footage,” he said.
Lachlan nodded. “Go ahead.”
Mitch nodded in return, then sighed heavily. “I’m sorry, but you understand I have to do this, right?”
“Right,” Lachlan answered, but it was clear to anyone listening that he was not at all understanding. Bethenny didn’t blame him—she wouldn’t have been thrilled about this either.
“Mitch, do you seriously think I’d leave my prints on the knife? I’m a homicide detective. I’d wipe the damn thing clean before I disposed of it. And I’d hide it in a better place than Louise White’s backyard,” Lachlan said, shaking his head.
“I have to investigate this regardless,” Mitch said.
