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Lancaster said calmly, “Which is why, when he was found dead, we thought we needed to talk to you. So that you could tell us where you were between around eleven and midnight.”
“Where in the hell do you think I was at that hour? I was in my bed asleep.”
“Can anyone verify that?” asked Decker.
“I live alone. I never remarried. That’s what having your family wiped out will do to you!” she added fiercely.
“What time did you get home last night?” asked Decker.
Richards took a moment to compose herself and sat back. “I got off work at six. Three days a week, I volunteer at the homeless shelter on Dawson Square. I was there until around eight last night. There are people who can vouch for me.”
“And after that?” said Lancaster.
Richards sat back and spread her hands. “I drove home, cooked some dinner.”
“What’d you have?” asked Lancaster.
“Oh, the usual. Smoked salmon on crusty bread with cream cheese and capers to warm up my appetite, then a Waldorf salad, some linguine with fresh clams, and a nice little tiramisu for dessert. And I paired that with a wonderful glass of my favorite chilled Prosecco.”
“Seriously?” said Lancaster.
Richards made a face. “Of course not. I made a tuna sandwich with a pickle and some corn chips. And I skipped the Prosecco and had iced tea instead.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I ordered something from Bed, Bath & Beyond online. You can probably check that. Then I watched some TV.”
“What program?” asked Decker.
“I was streaming.Outlander. I’m really getting into it. Season two. Jamie and Claire in France.”
“What was the episode about?”
“Lots of political skullduggery. And some pretty intense sex.” She added sarcastically, “Want me to describe it in graphic detail for you?”
“And then?” said Decker.
“I finished watching that. Then I took a shower and called it a night. I woke up when the police knocked on my door.Pounded, more precisely,” she added, frowning.
“You drive a dark green Honda Civic?” said Lancaster.
“Yes. It’s the only car I have.”
“And you live on Primrose, on the north side?”
“Yes. I have for about five years now.”
“You have neighbors?”
“On both sides of me and across the street.” She sat up. “One of them might be able to tell you that I was home last night. Or at least that I didn’t leave once I got there.”
“We’ll check that out,” said Lancaster. “Did you know Meryl Hawkins was back in town?”
“I had no idea. What, do you think he’d knock on my door and ask for a handout? I thought he was in prison for life. And I still don’t know why he wasn’t.”
“He was terminal with cancer, so they cut him loose.”
“Well, that seems shitty,” said Richards. “Don’t get me wrong, I hated the asshole. But they just kicked him to the curb because he was dying?”
