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“Because,” I reminded him, “he was making out with someone else’s girlfriend.”
“Not only did you find the truth, but you found out what happened to the money.”
“It wasn’t difficult. It was a matter of retracing everyone’s steps and then realizing that it was misplaced, not stolen.”
“Everyone was angry and divided, and Doug was nearly expelled.”
The accusation had torn the school apart and caused a lot of friction, but in the end, all was well.
“What does that have to do with this?”
“If you believe that Sergio is innocent, you won’t stop until you find the truth. No matter how many hurdles Sergio puts up. And if you tell me he’s guilty as sin and I’m a bleeding heart for wanting him to be innocent, I’ll believe you.”
Andy knew me better than I thought he did.
“What’s your theory about the hoodie?” I asked. “Was the test flawed? Inconclusive?”
“I think,” he said quietly, “that he knows the killer. That he knows the killer had worn his hoodie. He didn’t think about it until he saw the picture of our suspect. He’s protecting the killer. Maybe a close friend? Someone he works with? I don’t know. I can’t imagine confessing to a murder I didn’t do even if it was to protect my mom, and I’d do nearly anything for my mom.”
“Okay,” I finally said after thinking about everything Andy had told me. “I’ll do it. I’ll find the truth. And if it’s not what you want to hear, you’ll have to live with it.”
“I appreciate your honesty, Margo,” he said. “Here’s a copy of everything I have about the case and Sergio’s life.”
I took the file folder. It was thin and wouldn’t take me long to read.
Andy continued. “We’ll have to be a little...sneaky. Sergio’s public defender is Cheryl Osterman. She won’t let me talk to him without her being present, and if Cheryl knows that I’m questioning the confession, she won’t keep it to herself, which will put my job on the line.”
I wondered if Andy had considered his job would be on the line if I proved Sergio Diaz was innocent. I’d learned in my quarter century on the planet that secrets had a way of getting out when you least expected.
“I know what to do,” I said.
“You do?”
“I am the PI, aren’t I?”
He looked skeptical.
“You just said you trusted me,” I said. “So trust me.”
“Okay,” Andy said with a sigh.
I hoped Andy was right and that Sergio was innocent, but I doubted it. Weak alibi, beef with the store, juvie record—sure, it was a big step going from petty theft to robbery-homicide, but most crimes were stepping stones.
“I need to see the security footage.”
Andy frowned.
“You’ll have to show it to the defense eventually.”
“He confessed. There is no need.”
I stared at him.
“Okay. Tomorrow. But—you can’t come in as a PI or anything. Maybe pretend you’re dropping something off from my parents. I’m sure people in my office know you.”
“I’ll be discreet,” I said.
“Thanks, Margo. I really appreciate your help.” He smiled, reminding me how handsome Andy Flannigan was. Too bad there was no spark, because he was a good guy.
