The Pursuit of Lies, A Romantic Suspense Novel (Book #4, Paradise Valley Mysteries)

by Debra Burroughs

  ~*~

  Colin and Emily stood on the brick porch of Isabel and Alex’s beautiful home, almost wishing they were somewhere else—namely still at Emily’s house. But knowing their friends went to a lot of trouble to throw them an engagement party, here they stood, ringing the doorbell, dreaming of the time they could go back home and be alone again.

  Isabel answered the door and the sound of music, laughter, and conversation poured out of the house. “Trying to be fashionably late?” She paused for emphasis. “Come in, come in. Everyone’s excited to get the party started.”

  “Sounds like the party has already begun,” Colin remarked as they stepped through the doorway.

  “Well, almost everyone is here. Even Peter flew in from Seattle today to be here.”

  “Peter came all that way?” Emily was surprised.

  “Well, truth be told,” Isabel said, “I think he wanted an excuse to see Maggie again.”

  “Now that sounds more like Peter.” Emily chuckled. Colin helped her as she shrugged out of her coat and folded it over her arm.

  “Em, you look lovely,” Isabel said, admiring her black dress, before directing her attention to Colin. “Your friend Ernie and his wife aren’t here yet, but as far as I can tell, everyone else is.”

  “Colin!” Alex called out as he came barreling down the hallway toward them. He stuck out his hand and Colin shook it. “Good to see you, man. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks,” Colin replied. “We appreciate your having this party for us.”

  Isabel took Emily’s coat from her and handed it to her husband. “Alex, why don’t you take Emily’s coat and hang it up for her?” Isabel grabbed Emily by the hand. “I’ll take these guys back to the party.”

  Most of the guests were congregated in the open great room area where the kitchen was divided from the living area by the massive granite-topped center island. Emily and Colin made their rounds and greeted each friend with a handshake or a hug, accepting their congratulations and well wishes.

  Camille had put out her usual spread of delicious and decadent finger foods and the guests filled their plates. The happy sounds of eating and mingling with good friends filled the house.

  “Colin,” Peter greeted as he shook Colin’s hand. “Congrats, buddy.”

  Maggie snuggled up to Peter, with her hand threaded through the crook of his left arm. “I told him he didn’t have to fly down here all the way from Seattle for this party, but he insisted.”

  “Yes, I’m sure he did,” Emily said, tilting her head and grinning at Peter. “We appreciate your coming.”

  Camille and Isabel set out several bottles of chilled champagne and fluted glasses on the center island, for the upcoming toast. At the sound of metal lightly clinking against fine crystal, the crowd hushed and all heads turned toward the noise.

  Alex had drawn everyone’s attention to himself to announce the toast. “If each one of you could grab a glass of champagne from the kitchen, I would like to offer a toast for our good friends, Colin and Emily. After the toast, we’ll have them begin the dancing by them starting off with a dance to their favorite song.”

  The chatting resumed as people streamed to the kitchen, while Camille and her husband, Jonathan, filled the flutes with champagne. Colin looked at Emily and she thought she heard a slight groan escape him.

  “It’ll be fine,” she whispered. “Just close your eyes and pretend we’re back at my house.”

  After all the guests had their bubbly in hand, the conversations died down to let Alex make the toast. In that quiet pause, the doorbell rang.

  “That must be Ernie and his wife. I’d hate to have them miss this part.” Isabel rushed to the door.

  She was right, it was Ernie, but he was alone and not dressed for the party. Isabel walked him back to the great room.

  “Colin, I need to talk to you right away—in private.”

  His face was as serious as Emily had ever seen it, almost ashen.

  “Okay.” Colin handed Emily his champagne as he turned to Alex. “Mind if we use your office?” It was located right off the entry and would provide privacy from the guests.

  “No problem,” Alex replied.

  Before Ernie and Colin made it to the office, the doorbell rang again, followed by a loud knock.

  “Who could that be?” Isabel asked, eyeing her husband before she sprinted down the hallway to answer the door again.

  She looked through the peephole before opening the door. “What the heck?” She swung the door open. Standing on her porch were four uniformed officers flanking a man in a suit.

  “I’m Detective Roberts, ma’am, of the Boise Police Department, and these are State Police. We’re looking for Colin Andrews.”

  Emily rushed to the entry to see what was going on.

  Colin stepped up to the doorway. “I’m Colin Andrews. Detective Colin Andrews of the Paradise Valley Police Department.”

  “Yes, we know that. We need you to come with us.”

  “What’s this about?” Colin glanced over at Ernie, then back to Detective Roberts.

  Emily moved to Colin’s side.

  “We need to ask you some questions regarding a murder. Can you step outside?”

  The rest of the guests had filled the hallway from the great room to the front door. A collective gasp could be heard after Roberts’ announcement that a murder had happened.

  “Whose murder?” Colin asked.

  “We’d rather not talk about it here,” Detective Roberts said, looking past Colin to the crowd gathering behind him.

  Colin glanced at Emily before stepping over the threshold and onto the porch. “Who’s dead?”

  Roberts leaned forward and spoke in a low tone. “ADA Allison Laraway.”

  “Allison’s dead?” Colin gasped. He gazed wide-eyed at the detective, then turned and looked at Emily as she stood in the doorway behind him.

  “Oh, my God,” Emily said, her hand flying to her chest.

  He whipped back around to face the detective and his entourage. “I just saw her not that long ago. I can’t believe she’s dead.”

  “That’s why we’re here, Andrews. Now if you’ll come with us, we’d like to talk to you about it.”

  “Am I under suspicion?” Colin took a small step back.

  “I’d rather we spoke privately, not in front of this crowd, if you don’t mind,” Roberts said.

  Alex squeezed past Emily and stepped up to Colin’s side. “I’m Alex Martínez, his attorney. Colin, do you need me to go with you?”

  “Sounds like you’d better,” Colin said.

  “Detective, is he under arrest?” Alex asked.

  “No, he’s just wanted for questioning at the moment.”

  “You don’t have to go with them,” Alex asserted.

  “I’d rather get this cleared up as quickly as possible.” Colin looked over his shoulder at Emily.

  “I’d like to take Andrews with me, Mr. Martínez,” Detective Roberts said, “but you can meet us down at the station.”

  Emily stepped out and flung her arms around Colin’s neck, hugging him quick and hard.

  “Ernie,” Colin turned and looked to his friend, “take care of Emily for me?” He flashed Emily a weak smile before walking down the steps.

  “You got it, boss.” Ernie ushered Emily back inside and closed the door.

  Emily rushed to the formal living room window and watched as Detective Roberts held the car door open and Colin ducked into the backseat.

  Why would the police want to question Colin in ADA Allison Laraway’s murder? What could he possibly know?

  Chapter 4

  Emily stood riveted, staring out of the massive living room window at the driveway, unable to pull herself away.

  Isabel and Camille had herded the guests back to the great room as soon as the police took Colin outside. The news reporter in Peter resisted following the crowd, until Maggie took him by the arm and pulled him away.

  The light from the table
lamps in the living room was low, casting a tranquil ambience over the room. Emily sensed Ernie somberly moving to her side.

  “I tried to warn him, Emily.”

  She swallowed hard, shaken by what just happened. She turned toward Ernie after the taillights of the last police car disappeared around a corner. “You knew?”

  “I caught wind of it a little while ago. The chief pulled me into his office as I was leaving and gave me the heads up. The Boise detective called him out of professional courtesy, I guess.” He shrugged.

  “Why didn’t you phone Colin?”

  “I tried his cell, but it just rang and went to voicemail.”

  “He must have turned the volume down because of the party.” She turned back to the window and stared out to the street. “Alex was about to offer a toast for our engagement, then we were going to dance.” Her throat tightened as she spoke and tears filled her eyes. She thought about their practice dance at her house, only an hour ago, and suddenly she missed his powerful arms around her and the sensation of his lips tenderly kissing her neck as their bodies swayed together. A tightness gripped her chest.

  “Sorry I didn’t get here sooner, but I doubt it would have changed anything.”

  Emily shook her head, trying to shake off the shock that had settled over her. She turned back to Ernie. “Why would they possibly think Colin had anything to do with Allison Laraway’s death?”

  “They must have some kind of evidence pointing to him, or at least that he might know something about it. The chief didn’t say.”

  “This doesn’t make any sense.” Emily’s voice quivered as she fought back the tears. She wrapped her arms protectively around herself, shuddering at the eerie chill that rippled over her.

  Isabel entered the living room and draped an arm around Emily’s shoulders. “We’ll figure this out, Em. I’m sure Alex will call with an update as soon as he can.”

  She turned into Isabel’s shoulder, and the tears she was fighting so hard to contain broke free. Isabel wrapped her arms around Emily and let her cry.

  “I’m going to go down to the police station and see what I can find out.” Ernie zipped up his jacket.

  “I’m going with you.” Emily pulled back from Isabel. She wiped the tears from her cheeks, pushed her hair back from her face, and drew in a deep calming breath. “I need to know what’s going on, too.”

  “Emily, no. Stay here with us,” Isabel pleaded. “Alex and Ernie will find out what’s happening and let us know.”

  “But—”

  “No, Em,” Isabel insisted. “As your friend, I’m telling you, you’re too close to the situation, too emotional right now. Give the guys a chance to do their jobs, then we’ll see what the next step is.”

  “But, Isabel, I need to know what this is about. Allison Laraway is dead and they seem to think Colin had something to do with it. I’ll go crazy if I can’t help sort things out in some way.”

  Ernie put his large hand gently on Emily’s delicate shoulder. “I promise, Emily, I’ll let you know as soon as I know something.”

  “But, Ernie—”

  “Emily, please,” Ernie pleaded, pulling his hand back.

  “All right, I guess I have no choice.” She raked her fingers through her curls and took another deep breath. “This has to be some kind of horrible mistake.” She glanced from Ernie to Isabel and back again. “Colin is one of the good guys.”

  “I know, I know.” He nodded. “We’ll figure it out.” He dug his keys out of his pocket. “I’d best be going.”

  Ernie said his good-byes and slipped out the door.

  The moonlight streamed in through the window. With an arm laid loosely around Emily’s shoulders, Isabel stood by her as they watched Ernie walk to his car and drive away. “I’ll send everyone home, Em. There’s no need for them to stick around now.”

  Emily nodded.

  “Although, I might have trouble getting rid of Camille and Maggie.”

  “You all went to so much trouble. I’m so sorry.” Emily’s eyes welled up again. Through the window, she gazed up at the stars. “It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way.” Her voice was eerily haunting, even to her own ears, her mind a thousand miles away.

  “Why don’t you go upstairs to the guest room and wait for me while I clear everyone out. Then we can talk, if you like.” Isabel lightly patted Emily’s back. “You’re welcome to stay here, you know.”

  “I know,” she replied softly. “I think I will, at least for the night.”

  ~*~

  Seated in one of the interrogation rooms at the Boise police station, Alex stood up as a uniformed officer brought Colin in, followed by Detective Roberts. Still wearing his black suit and white dress shirt, Colin felt uncomfortable and shaken. He couldn’t believe what he was being accused of.

  It felt like a bad nightmare. One minute he was standing next to the love of his life, about to toast their engagement, and the next minute he was being practically dragged out of the house, all-but-accused of a heinous crime against a woman with whom he only had a passing relationship.

  If anyone could help Colin out of this mess, it was Alex Martínez. He was a top criminal attorney in the Boise area and they had become good friends over the past year. Having come directly from the engagement party as well, Alex remained dressed in an expensive-looking navy blue suit that set off his thick, graying black hair.

  “Let’s all have a seat.” Detective Roberts dropped a folder hard onto the table, making a hand gesture directing Colin where to sit.

  Roberts was a tall man, mid-forties, average weight, wearing a nondescript sport coat and tie. He had a head of bushy brown hair and small brown eyes, situated close together at the top of a large, long nose.

  Alex had stayed close to Colin as the detective escorted him out of the house. Once they were away from the party guests, Roberts had formally announced to Colin that he was wanted for questioning in the murder of ADA Allison Laraway. The detective had read him his rights before tucking him into the backseat of his car, but Colin had not been able to speak to his attorney alone yet.

  The detective dragged a chair away from the table and sat. “As you know, Martínez, Andrews is a person of interest in the Laraway murder and I’ve already read him his rights. I have quite a few questions for him.”

  “Yes, I’m well aware.” Alex patted Colin’s shoulder as they both took a seat. “But I’ve had no time to speak privately with my client yet, Detective. Before you question him, I’d like a chance to do that.”

  Roberts looked from Alex to Colin, and pursed his lips. “All right.” He stood, shoving his chair back with some force. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “I’ll need more than just a few minutes.” Alex remained calm, but Colin could feel the underlying tension between the two men. They had obviously done battle before. “Give me at least twenty or thirty.”

  Roberts peered down at his wristwatch. “All right, we’ll be back in twenty.” He smirked at Alex, then motioned to the officer to follow him out.

  “And make sure that camera is off,” Alex shouted after him, pointing in the direction of the video camera mounted high on the wall.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Roberts mumbled with a dismissive wave of his hand.

  Alex watched the door shut all the way before speaking. “Why would they think you killed Allison Laraway?”

  Colin pushed his chair away from the table and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “I have no idea.” He shook his head as it hung low.

  “The truth.”

  Colin lifted his head and looked Alex in the eye. “Really. I have absolutely no idea.”

  “When’s the last time you saw ADA Laraway?”

  “Week before last we had a short meeting in her office about one of my cases she’s trying.”

  “Before that?”

  “Except for the last few weeks, I was mostly in San Francisco before that, for the past few months, but then you already know that.”
<
br />   “Work with me here, Colin. And you’ve had no contact with her except for the meeting a couple of weeks ago?”

  “Just by email a few times, but always case related.”

  “You have no romantic ties to this woman, do you?”

  “You know me, Alex. It’s only been Emily since I moved to Paradise Valley.”

  “I have to ask. You know Roberts will.”

  “The only time was…”

  “Was what? Tell me,” Alex demanded.

  “When I first moved here, Allison came on to me a few times. But I never responded, never took her up on it. We had drinks together at Bar deNay’s one night, but I made it clear to her I was with Emily.”

  “When was that?”

  “Before I went back to San Francisco.”

  “Did Emily know about that?”

  “I don’t think so. It was nothing. Just a couple of friends having a drink.”

  “You considered Allison a friend?”

  “A work friend, I guess. Is that bad?”

  “We’ll see.”

  Colin buried his face in his hands for a moment. Then he ran them through his hair as he straightened in his seat, letting out a cry of exasperation.

  “Calm down, Colin.”

  “What is going on?” Colin stood and paced the room. “And what about Emily? What is she thinking? That they’ve arrested me for murder? Murder!”

  “I’m sure Isabel and the girls are with her.” Alex patted the seat of the chair. “Come sit down and get a hold of yourself. Roberts will be back any minute and you need to stay calm.”

  Colin shrugged out of his jacket and hung it over the back of the chair before wiping his hand across his sweaty forehead. He took his seat and crossed his arms on the table.

  Alex laid a firm hand on Colin’s forearm. “Let me do all the talking. I don’t want you saying a word. We need to find out what they have, not give them anything more.”

  “You do believe me, don’t you?”