“Are you from some newspaper?”
He frowned. He hadn’t driven all this distance to be grilled by a receptionist.
“I’m not going to discuss why I came with anyone but him. Just tell him it’s about the killer.”
“They already have the killer in custody.”
“No. They don’t,” he said, and watched the shock spread across her face.
“Have a seat,” she said, pointing to a bank of chairs against the wall, then grabbed the phone.
Andrew didn’t bother sitting down, which was just as well, because he heard footsteps approaching at a fast pace. Then a door opened behind the reception area.
It was Clayton.
“Come with me,” the chief said shortly, and led the way back to his office, then waved at a chair on the other side of his desk. “Take a seat.”
Andrew sat.
“Who are you, and what the hell do you mean, we don’t have Youngblood’s killer?”
“My name is Andrew Bingham. Up until a few days ago I was Nita Wayne’s guest at your local hotel, and on call at any time, night or day, to appease her sexual whims.”
Clayton blinked. “You’re a gi—”
“I prefer ‘professional escort,’” Andrew said. “At times I was also an escort for Charles Wayne.”
Clayton frowned. “Okay, fine. You got paid for sex. Now speak your piece.”
Andrew nodded.
“It has been my habit for many years to record my activities with clients. Not for blackmail. Never for that. But as a kind of insurance against winding up in a serious situation not of my making, if you understand my meaning?”
Clayton shrugged. “I’m listening.”
“The regular meeting place where Charles and I...indulged was the Wayne family lake house. In fact, it was Charles who suggested it, because he said the family never went there anymore. So he gave me a key, and at agreed-upon times we met and we played, and unknown to him, I recorded our activities. The equipment was motion-activated, so all I had to do was show up and let the party begin. A few days ago I had a falling out with both Nita and Charles, so I packed up my things, including the video equipment, and left town. I’ve spent the past few days in Charleston, going through the recordings, and in doing so I came across a piece of video that you need to see.”
Clayton threw up his hands. “I have no intention of watching two guys boink each other.”
Andrew frowned. “That’s not what’s on the disc.”
“Then what is?” Clayton snapped.
“It’s video of the man who, I’m quite certain, shot Stanton Youngblood.”
Clayton leaned forward.
“The hell you say! You aren’t trying to tell me you have video of the murder?”
“No, sir. But what I do have is video taken on the morning of the murder, showing a member of the Wayne family running into the house, taking a rifle out of a gun cabinet and leaving just as quickly. Forty-five minutes later the same man comes back, breaks down the rifle, cleans it, then puts it back in the gun cabinet.”
Clayton’s eyes narrowed. “Show me.”
Andrew nodded, opened his laptop, slipped the disc into the slot, hit Play and turned the screen toward the chief. It didn’t take long for Chief Clayton to get the gist of what he was seeing, and it was obvious he was as surprised as Andrew had been by who it was. The minute the video was over, he reached for the phone and called Constable Riordan.
A few moments later Riordan answered. “This is Riordan.”
“Chief Clayton here. I have just been given evidence that I would say clears Justin Wayne of Stanton Youngblood’s murder.”
“No,” Riordan said, and then sighed. “Well, hell. When are we going to catch a break on this mess?”
“Oh, we already caught it,” Clayton said. “My evidence gives you the identity and damning evidence of the killer’s culpability, and if I remember the transcripts of your interviews of the family, this completely refutes his alibi. Grab a pen and paper to take down the info you’ll need for an arrest warrant. I’ll be waiting for you here at the office. You can see the video for yourself before we bring the sucker in.”
“Who is it?” Riordan asked.
Clayton spilled the beans, and after he’d hung up, he leaned across the desk and shook Andrew’s hand.
“You did a good thing today, Mr. Bingham. I hope you don’t mind waiting here a little while longer. Constable Riordan may have a question or two for you himself. Since his office has the lead in the murder case, you will officially turn over your video to him.”
“No problem,” Andrew said. “In the meantime, may I ask for a cup of coffee? I didn’t eat breakfast this morning. A little anxious about coming here and all.”
“I’ll get your coffee. Feel free to enjoy the donuts and sweet rolls on the table at the back of the room.”
“Thank you,” Andrew said, and went to get something to eat as the chief poured him some coffee.