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and she pulled it free to try to limit the damage or whatever. Someone else put it there. This gets to a jury, the more uncertainty there is about who could have actually committed the crime, the likelier she’ll walk.”
    Bobby nodded, his expression suddenly serious. “Noted. The guy who I referred Larry to for defense does this all the time. He’s good.”
    “You can expect the cops to get around to this sooner than later. When they do, tell them the truth. But don’t volunteer anything. Only respond to their direct questions,” Black warned.
    “Yeah, got it. We done?” Larry asked, peeking at his watch.
    “Where is Bethany? I’d like to start with her,” Black said.
    Bobby sat back, a smile locked in place. “Larry doesn’t know.”
    “I can give you her number,” Larry offered.
    “Have you spoken to her since the murder?”
    Larry’s eyes darted to Bobby and then back to Black. “Yeah. She called.”
    “Do you know where she is?”
    Larry frowned. “Why, Mr. Black, I’d have thought you’d have known that harboring a fugitive is against the law.”
    “I didn’t ask if you were hiding her. And technically, until she’s charged she’s not a fugitive, she’s a suspect,” Black fired back. “Let’s stop dancing. I need to talk to her. If you want me to do my best, make it happen.” Black paused. “I’ll need half the fee up front.”
    Larry looked him up and down. “You take Visa?” he asked, then laughed and pulled a fat wad of hundreds out of his pocket and counted off two grand. Black gathered the bills and stuffed them into his jacket.
    “Fine. For starters, I want to interview everyone who was here last night.”
    “Right. I asked Mary Allenston, the night manager and bookkeeper, to come in a little early to meet you. She’ll ensure you get whatever you need.”
    “You close pretty soon?” Black asked.
    “At nine. So in about half an hour. You want me to stick around and grease the wheels?”
    “No, if Mary knows why I’m here, that’s fine. I’d rather not have anyone looking over my shoulder.”
    Bobby stood. “Anything else you need, buddy?”
    “A list of everyone with a key, and to talk to Bethany. Does Mary have access to the personnel files?”
    “Sure. So do I,” Larry said.
    “Let’s start there. I can read up on the staff and the victim while I wait for everyone to get here.” Black paused and leaned back. “So the big-box thing’s been good to you?”
    Larry laughed again. “You could say that.” He rounded the desk and led them out of the office, to another room with a computer monitor. He typed in a password and a few commands, and then moved from the screen. “That’s all the personnel stuff. Read away. I’ll call Mary and have her come get you when she shows up. I already told the security guy you’ll be in here, so he’ll leave you alone.”
    “That reminds me. How many security guards do you have at night?”
    “Just one. We’ve never had any break-ins, so it’s more about insurance than anything.”
    “Got it. All right, then. Who do I call if I learn anything?”
    Larry flipped a card onto the desk, next to the monitor. “Cell’s on day and night. Call anytime.”
    Black nodded. “You understand that I may not make any big discoveries? Fee gets paid either way, right?”
    Larry pursed his lips. “Sure thing, hot shot. But do your best. I hate to see Bethany put through the grinder. She wouldn’t do well in jail. She’s not…hard. That’s why I know she couldn’t have done this. She’s really sweet.”
    Black kept his face unreadable. “Right.”
    They left Black to his reading, and he was finishing up the victim’s file when Bobby returned. “Store’s going to close soon, so I’m out of here.”
    “I thought you already were.”
    “Yeah, well, I wanted to tell you to cut Larry a little slack. This is tough for him.”
    “You realize that if they charge her, his little roll in the hay is going to be public, right? No way