Patting her arm with a soft smile, Alex shook his head. "I didn't mean it that way. Maybe you're like unfinished business for Tenner."
"But why? If his beef was with my dad then he's finished! He killed him! Shot him dead! Why come after me too?"
"Hatred is an ugly demon." Alex shrugged. "It can drive people to do insane things."
Lucy cringed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Look it's only a theory, I'm just trying to understand the guy."
"Either way, it doesn't change the fact that he killed her parents and we need to prove that." Zach pointed to the open file on the table. "What do we need to make that happen?"
"Irrefutable evidence." Alex sighed.
"Does my testimony count?" Lucy's eyebrows lifted.
"Maybe. I mean, we'd have to prove you are actually Lucy Tate and somehow prove that you were there that night...and then also prove that you weren't guilty of the crime." Alex cringed.
Slumping down next to Zach, she rested her head in her hands. "I can't believe they think I did it."
"Technically your testimony should align with the evidence found at the crime scene, right? So if we can see the evidence, maybe your testimony could hold up in court."
She swallowed, her skin turning a sickly, pale color. "Court?"
Alex nodded, not looking up from the file. "As long as it hasn't been doctored." He flipped over the picture and smushed his thumb into William Tenner's face. "If this guy was working the case, we can't rely on anything. We really need to look over those reports. We need to compare your memories with his notes so we can figure out just how doctored the evidence is."
"How do we get access to those?" Lucy asked.
"Well, the crime's only five years old, so there'll definitely be records of it."
"Computer records?" Zach sat forward.
"Yeah." Alex nodded.
Grinning at Lucy, he reached for his phone on the edge of the table. "I know just the guy who can help us."
Chapter 9
LUCY
Elliot showed up within fifteen minutes, which I thought was a little miraculous since Zach's call actually woke him! He fumbled in the door, his rumpled clothes and tussled hair making me snigger. He flashed me a half smile that was forced and sat down, placing his laptop gently on the table.
"Who's coffee is this?" He reached for the cup.
"Mine." Zach looked bemused as he stood beside me.
Elliot grabbed the cup and skulled it quickly.
"He's not a morning person," Zach whispered.
"Then why is he here so quickly?"
"Because I want to save your stupid butt." Elliot growled. "Now stop talking behind my back and tell me what you want me to do."
Alex chuckled, slapping Elliot on the back and taking a seat beside him. "Nice to see you again, Mr. Strickland."
With a grunt Elliot opened up his laptop then grabbed a few other devices. I had no idea what they were. Zach and I took a seat opposite Elliot, letting Alex do the talking.
"So, Lucy...," his blue eyes flickered over mine before landing back on our computer geek, "...has remembered a few things."
Elliot's brown eyes, usually so hard hitting brushed over me gently. "Lucy. Nice."
I grinned, but it didn't stick around for long.
After a second Elliot paused, his forehead crinkling as if he remembered something. I dipped my head. Zach must have shown him the files. Was he about to lose it and storm out? I could hear him shouting, "Like hell I'm working for a parent killer." The door would then slam shut and I'd be left wanting to cry, yet again.
But none of that had a chance to transpire, because Alex drew Elliot's attention with a squeeze to the shoulder.
"She says her father was murdered by...a powerful man."
"Yeah." Elliot nodded. "A cop, right?"
Zach cleared his throat and reached for the photo. "Not exactly. He's Special Agent William Tenner of the FBI."
"The FB—What? You can't be serious." I kept my gaze steady on his, until his cynical glare popped wide and he slumped back in his chair. "Woah. Heavy."
"Yeah. Yeah, it is man." Alex shuffled in his chair. "Can you find out a little about him for us?"
That wasn't really why Elliot was here, but I did think it was a good idea to ease him in slowly. Besides, it was probably good that we found out a little about the man we were trying to take down.
Elliot's fingers clicked over the keys, the staccato sound making me nervous. A minute later he was wincing at the screen, making it even worse.
"What?" I didn't mean to snap.
"Um...Well, Mr. Tenner is now Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco branch of the FBI."