Page 78 of In Cold Blood

“Where were you last night?”

“What?”

He got this sinking feeling in his gut. Had the owner of the island caught him on camera?

“Last night,” Hendrix repeated, turning toward him straight-faced. Gone was the smile, the warmth he’d seen when he’d first been introduced at Kerri’s.

“At my father’s for supper.”

“And after?”

“Here. Why?”

Hooking one thumb on his service weapon, and the other inside his ballistic vest, Hendrix shifted from one foot to the next. His gaze roamed. “There was an incident in town last night. Investigator Owen Parish was involved.” He paused as if expecting Noah to fill in the details.

“And?”

“I was hoping you could tell us.”

“Tell you what?”

“Your name came up on his phone. You spoke briefly. What was that about?”

“Um. Right. Yeah. He called me late last night. Wanted me to meet him. Said he had something to show me.”

“And? Did you meet?”

“No. It was late. Even if I wanted to go, which I didn’t becauseI was meant to see him and Thorne today, I didn’t have a ride. My truck was trashed last night.”

“By who?”

“Didn’t Thorne fill you in on the fiasco?”

“No. So how did you get home?”

“My sister.”

“So, she can confirm you were hereallnight?”

“No, she left. But my neighbor saw me last night and…” He thought about Alicia. Now he kind of regretted not kissing her. That would have been a solid alibi. Still, it was better than nothing. “A friend of mine. Alicia Michaels dropped by.”

“You know her?”

Noah nodded. “We go back. She owns this place.”

“Is that so?” He looked around again, striding over to the table and scooping up a home magazine, and flipping through it. “You and Parish have known each other for a long while, correct?” He glanced at Noah.

Noah folded his arms and leaned against one of the posts in the cabin.

“We worked together for four years until he transferred to this region.”

“And that relationship wasn’t a good one from what I hear.”

Noah’s eyebrow shot up. He could tell where this was going.

“We didn’t see eye to eye, deputy. Just like you might not agree with those you have to rub shoulders with at the Sheriff’s Office. Just like most who work with people. I’m sure you have a couple that you don’t jell with.”

He tossed the magazine down. “Can’t say I do. I get along with everyone.”