Guy from the gym?It takes everything she has not to turn to Scott and scoff. She’s never heard of any friend from the gym.But her loyalty kicks in. They must present a united front to the police. That’s what they do, her and Scott, stick together. Scott can explain later, when the detective is gone.
“We’ll need his contact info,” Detective Salazar says.
“Of course.”
“Did Mr. Khoury show up at the bar, later?”
Scott shakes his head. “No. If he came to the bar, I didn’t see him.”
“What about in the parking lot? Or the alley? Did you see him there?”
“No.” Scott’s voice is strained. “I told you. The last time I saw him was here, in the neighborhood. I left him at his house.”
“So you keep saying, but it is odd, isn’t it? That you were the last person seen with Anton Khoury and then you go to a bar, and he ends up in an alley behind that bar, dead.”
“Hold on a minute,” Aimee says. “Are you accusing Scott of having something to do with Anton’s death?”
“It’s fine.” Scott puts his hand on hers. “He’s just doing his job.” Scott leans forward, and Aimee can see his muscles tensing and relaxing under his T-shirt.
“It’s not that weird,” Aimee says, parroting some of what Scott said earlier. “There’s one bar within walking distance. It’s where Anton would go if he wanted to get a drink and didn’t want to drive.”
“And how did you get there?” Salazar asks Scott. “Did you drive?”
“No, I walked.”
“Did you take the cut-through that runs from the back of your cul-de-sac?”
Scott nods. “It’s the fastest way, yes.”
“Why don’t you tell me what happened when Anton came to the house. Exactly.”
“He was drunk. He was bleeding from his temple. I figured he fell and hit his head. He was babbling.”
“About what?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention. I was late, and I wanted to get going. I told him I was meeting someone at Villain & Saint and then I walked him back to his house. I walked him right up to his front door. I assumed he went back inside.”
“But you didn’t see him go inside?”
Scott shakes his head. “I don’t think so. He was kind of hanging out by the door, but like I said, I was late. I took off.”
“And that’s the last time you saw him.”
“Yes. That’s the last time I saw Anton Khoury.”
“How well did you both know Mr. Khoury?”
Scott and Aimee exchange a glance. “We’ve known Anton and Gwen for just over a year,” Aimee says. “They moved in last summer.”
“It’s really Aimee who is good friends with Gwen,” Scott says. “And with Lisa, who lives down the block. The husbands—me, Marcus, and Anton—all get along but I wouldn’t say we’re close friends.”
Aimee nods. “Our families go on vacations together and stuff like that.”
“Has he ever mentioned any problems with anyone? Someone who might have a grudge against him?”
“No, I can’t imagine anyone holding a grudge against him,” Scott says. “He’s a pretty quiet guy. Keeps to himself. He’s a writer. I think he mostly works from home.”
“And nothing unusual in the neighborhood lately?” Salazar asks. “Nobody lurking around who doesn’t belong?”