Page 33 of See You There

“And did he?”

“Yes.”

Luke saw Agent Perez’s jaw flex. He could make this easier, but from experience, he wasn’t going to volunteer information.

“What did Keller tell you?”

“He admitted he helped falsify my father's will, which led to me being disinherited.” Luke didn’t mention his siblings.

“That certainly sounds like a motive.”

Luke nodded. “I agree. But I needed him alive to testify to what he’d done in order to get the will overturned.”

“I’d like to see your receipts,” Agent Adams said.

“No problem.” Luke retrieved his phone from the counter and pulled up the rideshare app. “Do you want me to email them to you?”

Agent Adams produced a card. “Please.”

The Agent’s phone pinged, and he opened the email from Luke before raising his eyes back to Luke’s face. He angled his phone so his partner could see.

“You cut it close.”

Unease prickled at the base of Luke’s spine. He knew he was innocent, but he was also aware how easy it was for information to be misconstrued. Luke stayed silent as the two detectives watched him.

“Dr. Keller had a monitored home security system. The fire department received the alert that a smoke alarm was going off in his home ten minutes after the car service picked you up.”

Fuck.

“You could have set the fire and then met the car at the top of the driveway before any smoke was visible,” Agent Perez added.

Luke swallowed. “But I didn’t.”

“Did you have the notary lined up before you came to Rhode Island?” Agent Perez tilted his head.

“No, I wasn’t sure what Keller would say. I’d hoped to get some information that would then lead to proof. Whenhe confessed, I was shocked but knew I needed something admissible in court. That’s why I left.”

“It didn’t take you long to find them. Had you contacted either of them before going to Dr. Keller’s home?”

“No, but Google is an amazing tool.” He shouldn’t be sarcastic, but the fact they were pursuing this was annoying. “Without a sworn statement from him, I have no proof. Thelastthing I wanted was for him to die.”

“Maybe.” Agent Adams lifted his pen from his notebook. “But it’s equally possible you were so shocked by his admission that you lashed out and struck him. Realizing what you’d done, you started a fire to cover your tracks. As a defense attorney, you knew you would need an alibi, so you called the car service.”

“I would have to be an idiot,” Luke said through his teeth. “I’d introduced myself to the nurse, and she informed me she would be returning later in the afternoon. I was hoping she could be a witness.”

“You panicked.” Agent Perez shrugged. “I’ve seen people do dumber things.”

“I panicked, but within ten minutes I concocted an alibi, a cover story,andrecruited people to come back to the scene of the crime with me? You can ask anyone I interacted with. I ate lunch waiting for the notary to be ready. I’m sure the sandwich place has a video. You can see for yourself. I’d have to be extremely cold to pull that off, but you’re also trying to suggest it was a crime of passion. It can’t be both.” Luke scoffed. “I’ll forward the names of the restaurant where I ate and the woman I contacted. But unless you have further questions, this conversation is over.”

The agents rose to their feet. “We’ll be sure to share all of this with the Broughton Township. I imagine they will have more questions.”

After they were gone, Luke picked up his suit jacket and tie, carrying them to his bedroom. He’d fucked up. It was a rookie mistake. He’d let his ego overrule his head.

Luke didn’t have a genuine concern that he would be arrested, but even the optics of an inquiry would be bad for his business. He should call James. He groaned. Luke wasn’t in the mood for a lecture.

Adrenaline coursed through him as he slipped into shorts and a sleeveless shirt. He filled a water bottle before picking up his phone again. He typed out a message to his brother, telling him to take care of the photo situation.

Luke didn’t know if the GBI had approached anyone at the Atlanta Police Department for background on him. But if his name was being mentioned at APD, it would be best if James handled the negotiation. Predictably, minutes after sending the email, his brother called him.