I think …’
‘Is she ever secretive about who she’s calling or texting?’ said Ren.
‘She isn’t allowed to be,’ said Erica. ‘Cathy and Dale got her the phone and they explained to her very clearly that the only reason she has it is so that her parents can be in contact with her at all times, and that we all know she’s safe. I know that Cathy told her about the rapist that’s out there, so Laurie was aware that she had to stay safe, and that we would be worried if we didn’t hear from her.’
‘Mrs Whaley – what happened back there with Cathy Merritt?’ said Ren.
‘I know that didn’t look good,’ said Erica, ‘and you’re probably thinking all kinds of things about Mark … but it’s just not how it seemed. I think that was a rant from somewhere in Cathy’s past. I met Mark when he was in recovery. I guess I see him how Cathy did when she first met him. He’s a wonderful guy. So I understand, to a point, how she could be so bitter that he left. I think she’s still hurt. She sees it that he cleaned up his act for me, even though he was doing it for himself. Mark’s been through a lot. Yes, he was an alcoholic, but he’s in recovery – he’s been sober for six years. And even still, Cathy didn’t want him having access to Laurie.’
Ren nodded.
‘Mark is a good person,’ said Erica. ‘I’ve never seen anything other than that. He told me all about his past, he’s always been honest about it. He was a different person back then.’
‘OK,’ said Ren. She stood up and thanked her.
Bob was with a detective in the hallway when she walked out. The detective nodded at Ren and took her place in the room.
‘Well, Mrs Whaley’s still drunk,’ said Ren.
‘I thought she might be,’ said Bob.
‘Do you know what’s sad?’ said Ren. ‘Millions of women will hear about this on the news, about the mother who was down in the restaurant getting drunk while her children were upstairs. And, really, there are lots of people everywhere who could just as easily be in the same position. Guilty, Your Honor. Of socializing.’
13
The Safe Streets team had made a command center out of the same office they had used for the Jean Transom investigation.
‘It’s like we never left,’ said Ren. She glanced at Colin. ‘Except you’re not at cat lady’s desk.’
‘Cat lady appears to be gone,’ said Cliff. ‘There’s no sign of any kitty pictures anywhere.’
‘She’s probably lying dead on her apartment floor and they’re chewing on her remains,’ said Ren.
‘So …’ said Gary. ‘Erica Whaley?’
‘Well, I’m not convinced of the whole notion of being scared sober,’ said Ren.
One look at myself at 3 a.m. in a bar-room mirror would solve all my problems if that were the case.
‘I think she’s telling the truth in as much as she can,’ said Ren, ‘but attention to detail won’t be her strong suit, and that’s really agitating her. Not to mention the showdown with her husband’s ex.’
‘Which lady is telling the truth about Mark Whaley?’ said Gary.
‘I’m guessing they both are,’ said Ren. ‘But despite her big defense of him, Erica Whaley still suspected him of having an affair.’
‘What’s your reading?’ said Gary.
‘I’m not sure about the affair,’ said Ren, ‘but I am sure that he is lying.’
‘What makes you say that?’ said Colin.
‘My gut,’ said Ren. ‘And a few other things.’ She read from the statement she had taken. ‘Exhibit A, when I asked him what time he left the table, and what happened, he said “I guess … eleven thirty? And then I came back down to Erica.”’
‘And?’ said Colin.
‘Think about it,’ said Ren. ‘The sitter has possibly taken your child. Wouldn’t you analyze every single second of your last encounter with her, then recount the entire thing? Mark Whaley fast-forwarded to getting back to his wife. He skipped the entire time he was in the room i.e. the last time he saw the sitter, and his daughter. That usually means that someone has edited out their bad behavior in some way.’
‘You don’t think it was just that he’s a nervous wreck?’ said Bob.
‘No,’ said Ren. ‘I also asked him was there anything out of place in the kids’ room. He answered: “Absolutely not. Nothing.” Who is absolutely sure of what is or isn’t out of place in a hotel room they’ve just been in a couple of hours?’ said Ren.
Bob nodded. ‘Hmm.’
‘It was like he wanted me to get out of that room, figuratively,’ said Ren. ‘Also, twice he answered my question with questions, as if he was stalling for time. Literally. Stalling for the time it took to come up with a time. Another weird thing was that twice he mentioned the sitter was wearing sweats. It’s kind of random. Oh, and then there was his pause after suggesting fifteen minutes, then quickly giving twenty as an option, which, I would venture is because he figured his wife would be in the other room telling a version that wouldn’t have added up. My conclusion is … there are two gaps in his story. At least.’
‘What do you think is at the root of them?’ said Gary.
‘That I don’t know,’ said Ren. ‘Maybe his wife is right – maybe he is having an affair. I don’t know …’
‘Maybe he stashed the mistress in another room,’ said Bob.
‘Is there a Mrs Smith on the guest list?’ said Ren.
‘Did you ask him to take a polygraph?’ said Gary.
‘I thought I’d wait a little while,’ said Ren. ‘I didn’t want to freak him out right away, but if anything else shows up …’
‘Let’s go to the hotel,’ said Gary.
He nodded toward Colin, Robbie and Cliff.
Robbie picked up his camera.
‘You do the room,’ said Ren. ‘I’ll follow you. I want to go talk to the desk clerk first. The statement he made earlier is … a little odd.’
Jared Labati was slouched in a chair in the office behind reception at The Merlin. He was staring at the floor, stretching a rubber band between his thumb and forefinger.
‘I already gave a statement,’ he said.
‘Not to me you didn’t,’ said Ren. ‘So, Jared, did you see anyone come in or out of the hotel after the Whaleys checked in?’
‘Just guests,’ said Jared, ‘and whoever they were meeting
