“Review the security footage now,”Mia urged Wu. “It will prove that I was nowhere near the mulch yardtoday.”
“There are no cameras in the mulch yard,” Kevin toldWu.
“No, but there are cameras everywhere that I’ve been today.” Mia could see that Wu was listening. “You’ll be able to account for every moment of my day and know for certain that I didn’t go there. I rarely go there. The footage will also show that I haven’t been at the gardens since last Fridayafternoon.”
“We did check her key card,” Kevin said. “She didn’t come in through any of the staff entryways after clocking out Friday night. Surveillance would show whether she came in through any of the publicgates.”
“If you would check out what I told you Friday and review this security footage, you’ll see that I couldn’t have donethis.”
Wu’s gaze was inscrutable. “I’ve already followed up with the restaurant. The manager remembers seeing you there. We got your credit card and cell phone records this afternoon. They corroborate yourstory.”
“Oh. Good.” She let out a relievedbreath.
“We’ll look at this footage, see what we find. There’s a backlog at CBI’s lab, so it’s going to take time to get the DNA back on the blood. The driver’s license is valid, however, so I suspect we’ll find that the blood isMeyer’s.”
Mia couldn’t believe this. “Why would I bring incriminating evidence to myworkplace?”
“I don’t know. Maybe you were going to take it somewhere else and had to ditch it. Maybe you didn’t realize it would jam the machine and hoped it would get mulched.” Wu looked straight into her eyes. “Ms. Starr, I’d like you to come down to the station to answer some questions and give an officialstatement.”
Mia gaped at him, stunned. “You still think I did it. I was across town when he disappeared. You knowthat.”
“I don’t know anything at this point. I’m stillinvestigating.”
How could he say that when he’d verified her whereabouts and corroborated what she’d already toldhim?
She shook her head. “This is crazy. So, I’m supposed to follow you down to the station now—in the middle of theworkday?”
Kevin cleared his throat. “We’ve placed you on administrative leave for the time being. Until this situation isresolved—”
“You don’t believe me.” The realization put an ache in Mia’schest.
It wasn’t the first time a supervisor had let herdown.
“Mia, I don’t know what to think. Try to see this from my point of view. Evidence that ties you to a possible homicide was found on our premises. I can’t let negative publicity surrounding this case hurt this institution. People aren’t going to want to bring their grandmas and their children here if they think we hire criminals. When you’re cleared, you’re free to return. I’ll even give you back pay for the days youmiss.”
Mia supposed what he’d just said sounded fair to him, but to her, it meant temporary loss of income, embarrassment, shame. “It could take months for the police to resolve this, especially if they keep looking into the wrongpeople.”
“We’ll hold your job for you as we can—unless you’reguilty.”
Mia turned to Wu. “Am I underarrest?”
Hell, did she need alawyer?
Wu shook his head. “I just want to ask you some questions. I need your help to make sense ofthis.”
Kevin stood, held out hishand.
For a moment, Mia thought he wanted to shake her hand and wish herluck.
“I need your key card,” he said, his expressionhard.
DearGod.
“Right.” Unable to believe this was happening, Mia stood, lifted the chain that held her key card and ID from around her neck and placed it in Kevin’s upturned palm. “I didn’t have anything to do with this. I love my job here. I’ll beback.”
Kevin saidnothing.
Sharon stepped into Kevin’s office, carrying Mia’s backpack and parka. She handed them to Mia. “Here yougo.”