Being state attorney put a sizeable hammer in Lawrence Moran's hand. His office had no lack of possible targets to hit. Goddard had observed the merciless Moran using the law to come down hard against minor offenders and unwary letter-of-the-law violators. He noticed Moran seemed to enjoy swatting little flies with his big hammer. He seemed to relish those opportunities where he could convict the likely innocent on a technicality. So much power made it an unfair fight.
Although Goddard had to live with it, he usually didn't have to deal closely with him. Usually Person A shoots Person B, Goddard arrests Person A, a trial is scheduled and Goddard goes home. The Towson case was going to be different. Could be complicated, and he didn't like having Moran so involved in the investigative part of it.
Moran wanted a meeting, so Goddard drove back to the station and headed for the chief's office. As he opened the door, he could hear Moran's high-pitched voice criticizing the chief for the lack of progress. He was accenting his complaint with his fist in the air. "Get in here Goddard. My desk is piled high with pink call-back slips from state and national media. I need something to tell them. I could be forced into a news conference at any time."
"You'd love those TV lights and cameras," Goddard said.
"The chief just told me that nothing resulted from the search of Barner's house. Where was Loraine Dellin during all this?"
"I just talked with her. She admits to being at the motel Saturday morning. The murder had to be between 2:15, the time noted on Barner's service receipt and six. She was seen at the museum at three and at five. The museum's shift change is at four; she arrived on one guard's shift and left on another. So she could have left in between. She could have left the museum after three, shot Towson, and come back before five."
"Let's go back to Reid, I like him," Moran said. "Please assure me we still have him nailed. You know, Tallahassee keeps asking me if I need any backup for this case, and I tell them I have it under control. Do I have it under control, Goddard?"
"It's circumstantial but pretty good. Loraine admits to having sex with Reid. He told her she wouldn't really love him as long as Towson was alive. There's your love triangle, your threat and your motive. The affair goes on for at least a week. On the morning of the murder, they meet again at a motel. He admits there was a gun there. There's your means. We know they argued. Later that day Towson is found murdered."