Page 101 of A Murder is Going Down

‘You said there was what Haruto saw, Aunty Sam sneaking around, Ben and Felix messaging andthe Adam thing. What’s the Adam thing?’

Bugger.

I’ve blurted it out in annoyance, forgetting for a moment that Patrick didn’t know about Adam not recognising Felix in a photo.

‘Is that what I said?’ I ask, stalling.

‘You know you did. I only had one coffee this morning or I would have caught it earlier.’

‘One coffee? I’m worried about you.’

‘My caffeine addiction is not the issue here. What’s the Adam thing?’ Patrick asks.

‘I thought you weren’t interested,’ I say, but I’m still stalling, because of course we all know I’m going to tell him what Lilia found out. Actually, I’m going to do more than that: I’m going to tell him what I think it means. I’ve been wanting to confide in Patrick all this time and here I am, having my hand forced.

‘Adam never met Felix,’ I say, slowly, because I’m still trying to think it through. ‘Lilia showed him a photo of Felix and—’

‘When did she evenseeAdam?’ Patrick asks.

‘She ran into him at a coffee shop,’ I say, which is the truth. Then, under Patrick’s sceptical gaze I add: ‘I think she was stalking him a bit. Anyway, so she showed him a picture of Felix.’

‘Why would she do that?’

‘She was trying to show him a photo of Aunty Sam. Felix also happened to be in the picture.’

‘Why was she showing him a picture of Aunty Sam?’

‘To see if it really was Aunty Sam he saw the night of the party,’ I snap. ‘Stop interrupting, I can’t think.’

‘You’re saying Adam looked at the photo of Aunty Sam and … what? Was it really her he saw that night?’

‘Yes, but that’s not the point.’

‘Your aunt being at Felix’s house the night he died isn’t the point?’

‘No. He recognised Aunty Sam, but he didn’t recognise Felix.’ I wait to see if Patrick gets it.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Adam didn’t know who Felix was,’ I say, as slowly as I can, to make sure he hears every word.

‘And?’

‘Lilia thinks it means that Adam wasn’t there that night at all.’

‘Okay.Shit.’ There’s a wariness in Patrick’s voice I don’t quite understand. He almost sounds scared.

‘Adam didn’t lie,’ I say. ‘He was there that night. It wasFelixwho wasn’t there.’

‘But he must have been there – he died. Maybe Adam’s got that face blindness thing? You know, the thing Brad Pitt has where he can’t recognise faces.’

‘I hate Brad Pitt,’ I say automatically.

‘Me too,’ Patrick says. ‘Team Angelina.’

We sit down on the couch, cleaning forgotten.

‘Adam met someone that night, but it wasn’t Felix,’ I continue. ‘It’s the only explanation that fits all the facts.’