“We’ll check it out,” McDonald said. At that point, I realized that I’d have to come clean to the O’Riley’s about my personal life, who Lisa was and how I met her. While I was sure they already knew some of it, because of all the press, I had never said anything to them directly about my past and how it played into all this.
I did not look forward to that reality.
There were three other dates that Lisa claimed she was with me that conflicted with my calendar entries. One was an evening that I had surgery late.
“I went right home after I finished checking on patients,” I said. I shrugged, because I had gone right home and after showering, went right to bed. I’d played racquetball with Dave that morning and was exhausted after a long day of surgery.
I couldn’t prove Lisa hadn’t come home with me. Except…
“There’s a security guard on staff at my building in Chelsea. There’s also video of the block but would they still have it on hand or would it have been written over? I can’t imagine tapes would still be available this long after the date…”
I glanced between McDonald and St. James.
“Would the guard remember me coming home alone?”
St. James shrugged.
“Is it even still the same man?" I added. "I haven’t lived there for a year or more.”
“We’ll check it out,” McDonald said, “but from what I am hearing, there’s at least a few days you can’t prove you weren’t with Dr. Monroe. Am I right?”
“She can’t prove she was with me either,” I said, my voice defensive. “It’s her word against mine.”
“Precisely,” St. James said.
“Dr. Morgan is a highly esteemed neurosurgeon," Lara said. "He owns a business and runs a charitable foundation. He’s very respected.”
“He’s also involved in a subculture that often involves sexual violence,” St. James said pointedly.
“It’s entirely consensual,” Lara protested. “Everyone involved in the lifestyle signs contracts to that effect when they become involved. What they do is not illegal.”
“It’s also not respected or esteemed by the general population,” St. James said.
“Are you going to charge Dr. Morgan with a crime?” Lara said, her voice icy. “If not, we have to go.”
“No, we’re not going to charge Dr. Morgan," Mc Donald said testily. "Not at this time. We wanted to check out the new dates Ms. Monroe provided." He turned to me. "You’re free to go, but please, don’t leave the state. We may have more questions.”
“Of course,” I said and stood up, buttoning my jacket. “I understand you’re merely doing your jobs.”
With that, I helped Lara with her coat and we col
lected up our papers. I kept the copy with the new dates Lisa had claimed we had been in contact.
“If you can think of anyone else who can confirm they were with you on those other dates, you have my number," McDonald said with a perfunctory smile. "Give me a call.”
“I will,” I said and forced a smile back that I didn’t feel any more than he did.
Lara and I left together, my hand on Lara’s waist as she led us down the hallway to the exit.
“Well, I’m glad that’s over,” I said with a sigh. “I hope that they’ll realize she lied about the dates. There’s no way she was at that fundraiser. I never saw her there. I was with Dave the entire night.”
“Don’t worry,” Lara said. “I’m sure we’ve provided enough for them to stop looking at you as a suspect. Dave will corroborate your story.”
I nodded. Dave was another person I'd have to come clean to. Although we'd been friends for several years outside of work, I had never divulged anything about my secret life. He knew what was being said in the news articles, and he was trying to play it down to the board members and donors but I would eventually have to provide an explanation.
I opened the door, and together, Lara and I left the precinct. As I walked down the steps, I felt a little less gloomy.
We stopped on the street outside the precinct.