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Markha froirlfriend, but she was starring into do He did it, I know he did, because I saw theether and you didn’t! Connie and Deborah were friends, I told you that, and Doc couldn’t stand Connie because she stood with Deborah against hi her acting career, I sahen they were together, and so did Connie" He was panting, beside hione because of that monster!"

The roo Markham drew himself up "Richards is a monster There is no doubt in my mind he murdered Deborah I’ll spend whatever it takes to prove it if you don’t"

And he turned his back on them

55

SANTA MONICA POLICE DEPARTMENT

333 OLYMPIC DRIVE

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

The Santa Monica police station was all lass, with a pool and fountain outside, but inside, it was all cop shop, with suspects and victier or misery, detectives on their cell phones or computers, their voices in constant conversation After introducing Cam and Daniel to the police chief, Jacqueline Seabrooks, Arturo stopped by his desk to pick up his laptop, then took theh the tay mirror that the room held a solid new table, a floor of shiny clean linoleum Even the chairs looked comfortable

Doc was the only one in the roo back at the khakis, a short-sleeve Hawaiian shirt, and Tevas on his long tanned feet His fingers were beating a light tattoo on the tabletop, clearly a habit he didn’t even realize he was doing He looked lost, defeated, still deadened with grief They watched him drop his head into his hands

Daniel said, "It looks to rief I’ve never known anyone good enough to fake that"

Cae of pity for him, closed it down She fairly itched to run the interview, but re local cops take the lead whenever possible Let them shine when you can, the FBI will make a friend forever And since Arturo had been the one to break Doc’s alibi, she sucked it up "Arturo, I’ve dealt with Doc only as a victied You interview hiave her a surprised look, slowly nodded "If he killed Deborah Connelly, he ht, would have, too, if she wasn’t sot a surprise for him I’ll check the recorder’s on" Arturo cracked his knuckles, and strode into the conference roo a red cape

He nodded to Doc, calmly pulled out a chair and sat down He didn’t say a word, only studied him Doc slowly raised his head, stared at him out of a face that looked sick and pale, that looked a decade older than when Arturo had seen him the day after Deborah had died He didn’t look like he cared about anything around hi in a police station He was only filling space, waiting Arturo felt ahiret for killing Deborah Facts were facts The guy had lied, pure and simple, no reason for it unless he’d killed her, sliced her neck open, trying to copy the Serial He continued to study him