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“How can you be sure it was that date?” Dan appeared incredulous.
“Because August twenty-eighth is my birthday. What’s more, that particular birthday was my thirtieth, and up until the timethisguy walked into the office, it had been a really crap day. Even the boss forgot, and healwaysremembered.”
“I took pity on her,” Reynolds said. “I hung around until the office closed and then took her to dinner.” His eyes gleamed. “Hey, how about that? I guess Idoknow what time this was after all. Office closed at six.”
That smug expression was starting to piss Gary off.
“So where was this date?”
Sonia cackled. “Applebee’s Grill. Totally forgettable. Then he made it worse by inviting me back to his place.” She glared at Reynolds. “Come have a drink,” she mimicked. “Except a drink wasn’t all he wanted, which is why he got a smack in the mouth. And that’s also why I wasn’t keen to do him any favors by coming here, except he gave me this sob story about how the police were trying to frame him for murder.”
“Thank you for coming, Ms. Klopek.” Dan extended his hand, and Gary knew exactly what he was doing.
Sonia gave him a startled smile as they shook. “You’re welcome.”
“Is that it?” Reynolds stared at Gary. “Are we done?”
Gary glanced at Dan, who nodded. “Apparently we are. Thanks for clearing this up.”
Reynolds gaped. “Seriously? No more questions? You don’t want me to hunt through bank statements to prove we actually went to Applebee’s?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Dan said in a pleasant tone.
“Great. Then we’ll get outta here.”
Sonia smacked his arm. “You mean you’ll take me back to the diner before the boss gets in and I lose my job.”
“Sure thing.” Reynolds gazed at Gary, his eyes twinkling. “So long, Detective. Good luck with the case.” He strutted out of the interview room, Sonia following him.
When the door closed behind them, Gary glanced at Dan. “She was telling the truth?”
He nodded. “No doubt about it.”
“Then I guess we have to cross Reynolds off our list.” Gary sighed. “If ever there was a suspect that I really wanted to be guilty, it was him.”
“We still have Ian Gordon and Paul DiFanetti. Especially Paul.”
“True. Now all we have to do is prove it was him before he has us bumped off.”
GARY TOOKa bite of his sandwich, followed by a mouthful of coffee. “I’m going to call some of the numbers from Brad’s address book, starting with a Sean Nichols.”
“Why start with him?” Dan gave him a pointed look. “And should you be doing that at work?”
Gary gestured to his half-eaten sandwich. “I’m not working. I’m on my lunch break. And if Riley can call his girlfriend every break he gets, I can make a few calls. As for why I’m starting with Sean, I don’t have a reason. I just opened the book at random and stuck a pin in there.”
Okay, it hadn’t beenthatrandom a choice. Gary was certain he recalled Brad mentioning someone of that name a few times when he came home during his breaks.
He peered at the entry and dialed.
“Sean Nichols.”
“Mr. Nichols, you don’t know me, but—”
“Whatever it is you’re selling, I’m not interested.”
“Well, that’s good, because I’m not selling anything.”
“Then what can I do for you?”
