Page 82 of Liar's Point

“I’m trying to run a business here. My whole crew is day laborers.”

“And? So?”

“So, people at the jobsite see me talking to cops, my guys will up and disappear on me.”

She took a deep breath, trying to tamp down her temper. A horn beeped behind her, and she ignored it.

“It’s Shaunessy, right?” she asked.

He nodded.

“What is your first name, Mr.Shaunessy?”

He sighed. “Liam.”

“Step over here for a moment.”

A horn beeped again, and she glanced back at the black SUV waiting behind her. She wanted to flip them off, but instead she turned back to the witness.

“Mr.Shaunessy, like I said Monday, I’m conducting an investigation. In fact, it’s a homicide investigation. That means it doesn’t matter what you do or don’t feel like talking about at your jobsite. I need you to answer my questions truthfully. Do you understand, sir?”

He nodded.

“Were you at the beach near the lighthouse on Saturday evening?”

“I was there with my son.”

“And you were flying a remote-control airplane, correct?”

He frowned at this bit of information, then gave a stiff nod. “Yes.”

“And your dog was with you as well, correct?”

Another nod.

“While you were on the beach there, can you tell me if you saw anyone else, either on foot or in a vehicle?”

He heaved a sigh. Then he pulled his cap off his head and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.

“There were some joggers, I think.” He snugged the cap back on his head.

“Male? Female?”

“I remember one. A woman.”

“All right. What about vehicles?”

He looked down and pursed his lips. “I think there was a blue car parked a ways down from us. I don’t remember any people.”

“Are you sure? Think back.”

He shook his head. “I didn’t see anyone. It was just a car parked there between the dunes.”

She watched him, trying to tell whether he was being straight with her finally. She was so tired of BS that she wanted to scream.

She took a deep breath. “This remote-control aircraft you were flying—is that like a drone or—”

“It’s a stunt plane,” he said. “My son got it for Christmas and wanted to try it out.”

---