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“Probably not.” He loiters in the doorway while I ignore him, putting away my food. He crosses his arms and stares at me. “I don’t understand you. You were devastated at the death of your fiancé. I saw it. It was the main reason I never suspected you.”
“Are you telling me I’m a suspect now? Because that would be news for my lawyer.”
He shakes his head. “I’ve found no evidence you were involved, but you’re protecting the man who killed him.”
Alden’s voice is in my head.Just tell them the truth.
“He ran because he’s not Oliver. There’s been a huge mistake. Alden wasn’t the one who was killed in the robbery, Oliver was.”
Ramos stares at me for a long moment then rubs his hand across his face. “You realize how easy that would be to disprove? A DNA test.”
“I realize you need a basic biology class. Identical twins have identical DNA. Neither one was fingerprinted, and there are no dental records. He’s not hiding because he’s guilty. He’s hiding until he figures out a way to prove his identity.”
He sighs and the pity in his voice infuriates me. “He’s conned you. You were an easy enough target after everything you’ve been through.”
I take a deep breath and count to five to control my temper. “I’m not going to try to convince you and I’m not answering any more questions. Do your search and go. You won’t find him here.”
“No, I expect he’s trying to get as far away as possible. We’ll see how he does once we cut off the funds to his business and freeze his accounts.”
The other officer joins us and shakes his head at Ramos. Did they actually think they’d find him tucked in a closet or stuffed under a bed?
“If you’ve completed your search and I’m not being detained, I’d like you to leave. Now.”
Without another word, they walk out. After I lock the door behind them, my first move is to call Lowell and tell him what they said about freezing accounts.
“Stokes Brothers belongs to me as well. Can they do that?”
“They can freeze Oliver’s personal bank account but they’re more likely to track it to see if it could help locate him. As for the business, they could claim the income is facilitating his flight, but it’d need a judge’s order and I find that highly unlikely.”
“But not impossible?”
“No. I’ll look into what they’re attempting and get back to you.”
“What about the medical records? Have you found anything?”
“So far nothing that helps. I’m waiting on the file from their former pediatrician. I’m not confident there will be anything of value. They only went to her until they were three. The files from their other pediatrician and both of their current doctors don’t contain anything that can be used to set them apart. Same childhood vaccinations, both had chickenpox, both still have their tonsils and appendix. The forensic biologist is examining everything now.”
There’s nothing else he can tell me but to wait.
My next call is to Smith to advise him to pay whatever invoices we have outstanding and place any orders for supplies and parts they might need. I’m truthful with him when he asks why. It’s only fair. The threat of having the accounts frozen would affect their job security too. I also instruct him to move the next month’s payroll into my personal account so I know I’ll be able to pay them in the interim.
He agrees to get it all done immediately, then adds another layer ofwe’re fuckedto my life. “We had protestors out front today. Milo scared them off, but we’re also getting clients cancelling their service appointments. Probably because ‘hashtag don’t fund a murderer’ is trending, calling for a boycott of Stokes Brothers.”
“Well, that’s not even catchy.” Smith snorts out a laugh, and I ask, “Is it safe for you guys to be there? Do we need to close?”
“No, we’re good for now. Milo didn’t even want me to bother you with it, but this is your place now.”
“Thanks. Let me know if things get out of hand. If you feel unsafe.”
Stokes Brothers escaped the backlash last time, since I was the focus of the online hate and ridicule. Now it’s coming for all of us.
After we hang up, I sit at my counter, staring at two business cards. One is from a journalist with the Evansville Gazette. The other is from a producer of Wake Up Indy, a morning show based in Indianapolis but broadcast regionally.
Wait. That’s what Lowell told me to do.
All I’ve been doing is waiting. It’s time to try something else. This is being played out in the public eye. If we’re going to be judged in the court of public opinion, then I’m going to plead our case.
I’m aware it’ll draw more attention, but it could win some over to our side. If I can make them see we aren’t murderers, maybe I can save Stokes Brothers. Gnawing my lip, I pick up the card from Wake Up Indy and dial the number.
