"There must be some misunderstanding." Ray wondered if they had already picked up Loraine.
"How did you know there was a shooting, Mr. Reid?" Detective Goddard started typing on the keyboard and didn't look directly at him.
The detective tossed off the question so casually Ray wasn't certain if a response was expected. What was going on? They must have found Barner's body. That led to Loraine. She gave the police his name or someone saw him at the motel. How did they put all this together so fast? Or, more likely Tammy Jerrold is the one. She must have called the police; can't blame her for being suspicious. He must be careful about what he says. He decided to just not answer for now.
The detective studied the driver's license and continued entering data, "Previous address?" Ray told him. "Philadelphia, huh, what did you do up there?" He went on with the background questions: ever use an alias, any priors, ever do any time, present employment.
"I work at E.J. Bradford."
"You're a stockbroker?"
"No, I'm Back Office."
"What do I put down...back office?"
"That's what they call it, just put down, Office Manager."
"Family in Philadelphia?"
"No family, parents gone a few years ago. Just a sister now."
"What happened to your hand, been in a fight?"
"Slight burn, I got careless."
"We need your permission to look under that wrapping. We'll have it rewrapped, okay?"
"Just leave it off. It should heal okay now."
"How do you know Senator Towson?"
That was a surprise. "Towson? I met Towson at a party last week, why?" Towson must have called them, angry about the cup. Most likely, he has plenty of pull with the police, told them to harass him. But, all those cops swooping down just to throw a scare into him?
"Where were you this afternoon, Mr. Reid?"
No sense to any of this. "Why don't you just tell me what you want?" If they found Barner's body, what does that have to do with Towson? With each fragment of information he disclosed, another piece might fall off his innocent bystander argument. He wondered if Loraine had been able to get to a lawyer in time. That's what he should do. He could hear a lawyer telling him to shut up. "Should I have a lawyer?"
Those must have been the magic words. Goddard pushed back from his desk and stood. "You're not under arrest, but we're holding you overnight."
"You mean in jail? You'd actually lock me in a jail cell?" He felt his heart thumping. "Look, you don't have to do this. I'll tell you what. Just keep those papers right there. I'll come back in the morning, and we can settle the whole misunderstanding. Okay? What's tomorrow Sunday? Do you work Sunday? Is Monday better for you? You see, I don't really have much to do with all this. In fact, I was going to call you guys today."