Haley flopped onto the sofa.
Morgan sat on the other leg of the L. “First, I want you to relax and tell me everything you remember about last Friday night. Start from when you left the house. No detail is too small. Just picture it in your mind and tell me what you remember.”
“I’ll try.” She took a deep breath as if preparing herself. “Piper and I took an Uber to Beats. It was her birthday, otherwise I would have stayed home. I don’t like clubs much.” Her story didn’t waver as she described having an alcohol-free cocktail and dancing with Piper. “Then I ran into Noah. He consulted on a new website for the bank. I’d met him a couple of times.” She paused, plucking a tissue from a box on the end table. “I liked him—too much, I guess, because I let him buy me a drink, then I totally blew off Piper to dance with him. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Do you know what time that was?”
“Maybe ten?” Haley didn’t sound sure. “I wasn’t paying attention to the time.”
Piper had remained at the bar for about an hour after Haley deserted her.
“Then what happened?” Morgan asked.
“He bought me another drink. We ate nachos. We danced some more. Then it all starts to get fuzzy.” Haley frowned. “Yesterday and today, I’ve been remembering pieces of the evening, but I still have significant blank spots.” Haley closed her eyes. “I tripped on my way out of the club and banged my leg. It hurt, so when we got to his place, I asked him for an aspirin and ice.” She opened her eyes. Her expression turned bittersweet, then confused, then devastated. “He was really nice. I don’t understand what happened.”
“Is that the whole memory?” Disappointment filled Morgan as she noted the explanation for the bruises on Haley’s leg. She’d been hoping Noah had gotten violent, not that he’d been sweet.
“No. He took me to his house, put me on the couch, and got me an ice pack. Then I wanted something salty. I took extra medication because salt cravings are a warning sign that I need it. Noah brought me water and some chips. We went into the family room. Noah turned on the TV. But I don’t remember what was playing. We were kissing . . .” Her face darkened. She shuddered. “Then I have a big blank space until I woke up.”
Shivering, Haley pulled a fleece blanket bearing a university logo across her legs. “The rest of the weekend is fuzzy. Even finding Noah doesn’t feel like it was real. Everything until I was treated at the hospital is hazy. I haven’t felt that Addison’s brain fog in a long time. I never let myself get that sick.”
“Have you ever passed out from drinking alcohol before?” As much as Morgan hated it, Haley’s entire life and lifestyle would be under scrutiny.
“Yes. Once.” Haley sniffed. “After a frat party freshman year. There were tequila shots and beer and something the fraternity called jungle juice, which tasted like spiked fruit punch. I blacked out. But I had a lot more than two drinks, and I vomited for an entire day afterward. When I woke up at Noah’s, I was confused and foggy, but I wasn’t hangover-sick like that.” Haley’s posture stiffened with resolve. “I couldn’t have passed out drunk and not been violently ill the next day.”
“I agree.”
But was Haley being truthful? Her story was bizarre, and she wouldn’t be the first defendant to lie to her attorney. She wouldn’t even be the first client to lie to Morgan this week.
Morgan moved on. “Do you have an ex-boyfriend?”
Haley cocked her head. “Yes. Kieran Hart.” She spelled the name for Morgan. “And now that you mention it, he was at Beats Friday night.”
“Did you argue?”
“No. He said hi. I ignored him, and that was the end of it. We haven’t talked in more than six months, but there was no way I was opening up any line of communication with Kieran. When we were going out, he would text me constantly. He always had to know who I was with and when I was going to be home. I asked him to stop. When he wouldn’t, I shut that relationship down.”
“Was he ever violent or abusive?”
“Not exactly, but he was very controlling, and he lost his temper really quickly.” Haley twisted the tissue. She clearly had something to say that she was uncomfortable discussing. “This is really embarrassing.”
“Everything you say to me is in confidence. I won’t repeat it to anyone unless it’s essential for your defense. That said, it’s best I know everything that someone else might bring up against you. The more honest you are with me, the better I can defend you.”
Haley nodded. “I’d spent the night with Kieran. When I got up in the morning, he’d already left for the office. That wasn’t uncommon. He works long hours.” She looked away. “He left a rose, a croissant, and a thermal pot of coffee for me on the nightstand. I wanted to thank him. I went to his study, intending to write him a note. Kieran is very meticulous. When he comes home at night, he heads right into his study to stow his briefcase. I was looking for a Post-it when I found a photograph of me in his pencil drawer. He’d recently bought one of those retro Polaroid cameras. I was asleep in his bed. Naked.” Her face flushed.
“Did you confront him about the picture?” Morgan asked.
“I did. I called him immediately. He said he took the picture because he thought I was beautiful and didn’t think I’d mind. It wasn’t like he was posting it online. The photo was for his eyes only. We were lovers, so why did it matter if he had a nude picture of me?” Haley’s eyes flashed with anger. “When I said I didn’t appreciate him photographing me naked without my consent, he said I was a prude. I broke up with him right there and then, over the phone.”
“How did he take it?”
“Not well,” Haley said. “He texted and called me for a long time. But I don’t need a man I can’t trust in my life.” Haley tossed her crumpled tissue in a trash can next to the couch. “He didn’t understand why I felt violated.”
Morgan drew a box around Kieran Hart’s name. Was Haley’s ex at Beats by coincidence or had he followed her? “Do you have a picture of Kieran?”
Haley shook her head. “The police took my phone . . . Oh, wait. I have a cloud backup account.” She got up and went to a sleek computer on the desk and opened it.
“Didn’t the police take your computer?” Morgan asked.
“Yes. My mom bought me a new one. She knew I’d go nuts if I was totally cut off from the outside world. It’s bad enough that I’m trapped here.” Haley worked her keyboard like a pro. “Not that I’m not grateful to you for getting me out of jail. I am. So grateful. That place was . . .” Her eyes showed the disgust and fear she couldn’t seem to vocalize.
“I understand. House arrest is better than the county jail, but it’s not the vacation everyone thinks it is.”
A dozen keystrokes later, Haley emailed a photo to Morgan.
“Is there anyone else I should talk to?” Morgan asked. When Haley didn’t answer, Morgan prompted her with questions. “Did you notice anyone following you at the club?”
“No.”
“Is there anyone at your job who could be a threat?”
“No.”
“What is your boss like?”
“My boss is nice. She gives me space to do my job. I can’t think of anyone at work that’s a problem.” Haley yawned, and exhaustion dragged at her face. “I’m really tired, but I’m also wired.”
“I have one more question. Do you usually wear a medical alert bracelet?”
Haley nodded. “I do, but I can’t find it.”
“Were you wearing it Friday night?”
“I always wear it,” Haley said adamantly. “Always.”
“OK. Then that’s enough for now.” Morgan flipped the blank top sheet of paper over her notes. “Try not to think about the case any more tonight. Sometimes memories come back when you aren’t pressuring yourself to recall them. Do something that makes you relax and clears your head. Do not check your email or go on social media. In fact, I want you to deactivate your social media accounts for now.”