Tuesday morning three days after the murder, Ray woke up wondering about the woman turned away after visiting hours yesterday. Would she come back? He skipped the breakfast tray except for the coffee and eagerly awaited the jailer. At last, visiting hours. The jailer secured the handcuffs and escorted him to the visiting room.
She sat on one side of a long steel table in the sparsely furnished room. Against the wall, an officer sat on a high stool, and a sergeant was at a small desk positioned at the main door. Of course, Ray recognized her: the friendly stockbroker from the office, the party hostess, the one with short blond hair, Meg...what was her last name?
"Great that you came to see me. So, you bring greetings from the office, I guess." He was smiling for the first time since being jailed.
"Greetings from only me, I'm afraid. The company regrets ever hearing about you. I hate to tell you, but your boss has the word from upstairs-embarrassment to the corporation must end. Can't blame them. They're in the money business, and you're an alleged criminal. You'll be fired as soon as they can legally cover their butts."
"They sent you here to tell me that?"
"God, no. I'm on my own. I thought someone should let you know what was happening. The office is all abuzz. The talk is about how they actually worked with a murderer. Everyone has an opinion and a rumor to offer. Everyone's choosing sides. Your side is losing."
"I guess I expected that. When they find the real killer there will always be people who continue to dislike me because of the terrible deed that I was found innocent of doing."
"Too bad I accidentally got you involved with the murder victim's ex-wife at my party. I'm certain that's why the police are so interested in you. Did you notice I never introduced you to Loraine? I never dreamed she'd try to hook up with anyone, especially not you."
"You should have marked her with skull and crossbones. None of it was your fault. You didn't know Towson was going to be shot, and I didn't know I was walking out the door with his ex."
"I told her to bring a friend. She showed up alone and jumped on you as if you were the last train out of town. She was on the hunt, so she brought out the big guns. Don't tell me her short green dress with that neckline didn't do a job on you. I was watching. People were talking. Everyone knew she wasn't going to leave that party without a man. Most women her age were rooting for her."