Page 9 of Alibi for Murder
Home delivery almost any time of the day or night was an amazing thing. “I’m good with whichever is handy.”
Once they were settled with plates filled and drinks handy, Steve suggested, “Why don’t you start at the beginning and tell me what’s going on.”
After her call, there hadn’t been an opportunity for him to do any sort of research or to call anyone from the agency who could do a bit for him this evening. Ultimately, he’d decided to wait and hear what she had to say first.
Walking into the situation cold wasn’t a big deal, he’d known her most of his life.
He watched her face as she spoke, going over the visit from the two federal agents. Allie really looked so much like the young girl he’d known in high school with her fresh, makeup-free face and ponytail. Unlike him, she didn’t seem to have aged at all. Her voice still had that lyrical rhythm to it. He liked the sound of it. And when she got going with a story, her face came to life, emotions on full display. Her memory appeared to be outstanding as well. Her account of the conversation held with the agents was very detailed.
“I did a little looking into the murder,” she said as she poked at her rice, the momentum of her retelling slowing down. “Thomas Madison was a big deal—a partner at Ledwell. You probably don’t remember, but that’s where my father worked when he died.”
“Ledwell.” Steve nodded. “I’m familiar with the company. Fortune 500. Hot investment even all these years later. They’ve held their own in a very competitive marketplace.”
“I found that surprising as well. Usually someone else comes along who is a little better, but no one has been able to get ahead of Ledwell in the AI race. This murder has sent shockwavesthrough the industry and Wall Street, which I suspect is part of why the FBI is involved. Fraser and Potter said Madison was part of an ongoing case, so my guess is their case had something to do with the research currently being conducted at Ledwell or something from recent years.”
Steve chewed thoughtfully for a moment. “Ledwell is the one that won that huge government AI contract just last year.”
“You’re right, and I’m sure you’ve heard about the various issues coming to light. There’s a lot of controversy in the AI arena right now. According to Google, Ledwell is pushing back on any new restrictive legislation. They’ve basically had free reign until recently, and they’re not taking the changes well.”
Steve reached for his cell, tapped the notes icon and started a list. “We’ll put AI R&D at the top of our list of motives for the situation—not necessarily for the man’s murder but for whatever is happening behind the scenes right now that may have impacted in some way the event or events that culminated in his death.”
Allie set her fork down, and her shoulders sagged with the way she let go a weary breath. “I’m so glad I found you and that you came.”
He grinned. “Of course. It’s what friends do.”
Maybe friends was a stretch considering the time gap, but she no doubt understood his intent.
They ate in silence for a while. Steve watched her. She ate with considerably more enthusiasm now that her trouble was on the table. It wasn’t every day someone was visited by the FBI and accused of the murder of a man she didn’t know in a place where she hadn’t been in years. She had every right to be upset and defensive. He appreciated that she had enough faith in him to sound reasonably relaxed and open in spite of the concerns likely reeling in her mind.
Steve pushed his plate aside and settled his forearms on the table. She did the same, her gaze on his, searching. The pulse at the base of her throat fluttered again. She was visibly braced for his conclusions.
“I don’t practice criminal law or really any other at this time,” he explained. “I primarily counsel and advise the agency on operational matters. I can represent you if that’s what you want.”
“Yes!” Her relief was palpable. “Please. Thank God.”
He smiled. “Our first step is to learn what the FBI believes and what the two agents working the case wish to prove with their visit to you. Are you their only suspect? Is closing the case quickly more important than digging around for other possibilities? I want to meet with Agents Fraser and Potter and get a feel for where they are with all this. Once we discover what precisely they want from you and what they hope to gain by pushing for the search of your property, we’ll have a better handle on just how bad the situation is for you.”
Her shoulders sagged again. “The woman in the video is me. I’m reasonably confident it is,” she admitted. “But I was not there last week or any other day in the past five years.”
“Videos can be doctored—made to show what the editor wants others to see.”
She nodded. “I’m aware, and I considered that might be the case.”
“There’s also the possibility the video is from when you worked at the hospital. The room number may have been altered for the purpose of making it fit the narrative they wanted to present. The big question in my mind is why are they so convinced it’s real? The Bureau has the ability to determine if the video has been altered. I’m guessing that not showing that card gives them leverage—something to use to get what they want.”
“It must have been altered. There’s just no other explanation.” She bit her lip as if considering whether to say the rest of what was on her mind.
“Do you have other thoughts about how that happened?”
She shook her head no. “I was thinking that it might be a good idea to go through the house. Maybe see if I can find anything at all related to Ledwell or this Thomas Madison. But I was worried it would make me look guilty if they showed up with a warrant and I’m in the middle of tearing the place apart.”
“It’s your home,” he pointed out. “You can search it any way at any time you choose.”
She looked away a moment, the heavier worries seeming to catch up with her once more. “I don’t understand why this is happening.” She set her gaze on his. “I’ve lived right here my whole life. I don’t know this victim. I don’t see how someone could have picked me out and decided I would be the person they used to get away with murder.”
“Obviously it’s someone who needs an alibi and is aware that you worked at the hospital before and that there was a connection—your father’s employment with Ledwell. If he or she is involved with AI, chances are we’re looking at someone with above average intelligence. Perhaps even a fixer or…” He shrugged, almost hated to bring this up. “Or maybe an assassin whose skill set includes cleaning up after him or herself. You would be part of that clean up.”
“My God, I hadn’t even considered anything along those lines.”
