“I could stay here on my own,” I tell him. “If you need to get back to work.”
“And miss the look on his face?” he grins in that mischievous way that is so irresistible. “No way, baby.”
I chuckle. He smiles at me.
“Do you know I love it when you laugh?” he asks.
“No,” I blush. The effect this man has on me is incredible. “Tell me more.”
This time, it’s his turn to chuckle, and I could tell him the same but the moment I lift my gaze, I realize that Puttner is back. He sees me first, then he notices Dominic by my side. He doesn’t seem to like it one bit.
We both get up at the same time and walk over to him.
“Good day, detective,” Dominic says, and I allow him the lead. I’m just here to enjoy the show. “Could we talk to you?”
“Sure,” he says looking around him. “Follow me.”
He starts first, and we go after him, as he leads us to the same interrogation room that I ended up in when I was here for the first time. Only now, the feeling of being there is completely different. I don’t feel frightened at all. I don’t feel cornered. I don’t feel like I have to be here at all. I am here because I want to be by Dominic’s side, especially when he shares the news that would get this guy off his back.
Detective Puttner closes the door behind us, and this time, Dominic and I sit on the two chairs next to each other, while Puttner is the one opposite us. From a certain perspective, it seems that he is the one being interrogated this time, by us. The thought makes me smile. Serves him right. That is the same thing I thought when Detective Lowe approached me from behind, lacking everything from manners to proper police conduct.
“Well, now…” he tells us, sounding suddenly pleased with himself. “How can I help you?”
Here, I think that Dominic would gloat. I know I would. I would wave that little slip of paper in front of this guy’s nose, making a spectacle of myself if necessary. He’s entitled to it. But he doesn’t. I guess I should have known that.
Instead, he just takes the proof out of his pocket, and slides it across the table, towards the detective. He eyes the little piece of paper suspiciously.
“You asked for proof of alibi, other than Lilly’s corroboration that I arrived home when I did,” Dominic says calmly, like the winner that he is. “Here is the speeding ticket that I got that very evening, just two streets away from home. That should help my case a little, no? That is, that means that there is no case against me, is there?”
Detective Puttner inhales deeply, and to both our surprise, doesn’t even reach for the ticket. He remains leaning against his chair, as if he’s carrying the whole burden of the world. His face proves the same point. He looks like a man, beaten and bedraggled, a man who spent one year too much being a cop and seeing things no man should see. I wonder how far he has until retirement.
“I’m glad you’re here, actually,” he says, ignoring everything Dominic just told him. “I’ve been meaning to call you this morning to come down. It seems you beat me to it.”
Dominic doesn’t say anything, but I know he’s as confused as I am. Doesn’t this mean that it’s finished, at least as far as Dominic is concerned?
Fear creeps up on me, and I wonder if something else happened, something we know nothing about, something that will make this situation ten times worse than it was before.
Suddenly, I feel a gentle touch on my thigh. I look down. Without turning to me, Dominic put his hand on my leg. I don’t know if it’s for his comfort or my own. It doesn’t matter. I want it there. Now, we’re both focusing on the man opposite us and what he is about to tell us.
Detective Puttner clears his throat a little before continuing.
“Certain evidence has come to our attention last night,” he tells us. “Evidence that makes this proof you have unnecessary.”
“I don’t understand,” Dominic frowned. “I thought you needed me to prove my alibi.”
“We did,” the detective nodded. “Before we ourselves realized that we were focusing on the wrong guy the whole time.”
“Seriously?” Dominic asks again. And I want to ask that same question, but I allow Detective Puttner to clarify, while he obviously has a flair for drama, keeping us in suspense for so long, instead of just coming out with it.
“Your business rival arranged the whole scenario himself,” the detective finally reveals the whole story.
My eyes widen in shock. I have to admit that this explanation was the last thing I expected. When I turn to Dominic, I see that he shares my incredulity. We were both certain that someone did kidnap him.
“Why would he do that?” The sound of Dominic’s voice is filled with disbelief. He can barely get a word out. I know the feeling. There are so many questions.
“Because his company is in debt,” Detective Puttner explains, “and I’m talking a lot of debt. Millions of dollars.”
“I’ve heard rumors, but…” Dominic says, slumping back down into the chair, as if the weight of this newfound knowledge was too heavy.