Dale nodded. “You think the case is going to stay this big?”
I stared at him. You killed a beloved actress and her best friend. Hell yeah, I do. “I think it’s likely, yes.” I mentally reviewed the information he’d given me. We’d covered all but one area. The coroner wouldn’t be able to narrow down the time of death to any less than two hours. But if the time of death was more than two hours after Dale left, we’d have a shot at selling his defense. “So you left immediately after the fight?” Dale nodded. “You know what time that was?”
He shook his head. “Late. After midnight.”
“Where’d you go?”
“I went home.” Dale sighed. “And yes, I live alone.”
It figured. “An apartment or a house?”
“A house.”
Getting worse. “Run into anyone on the way? See any neighbors when you got home?”
“No and no.” He sighed. “I know. It’s a shitty alibi.”
“The kind innocent people usually have. At least that’s what I tell my juries.” I gave him a little smile. His smile was strained. “Have you heard about any of the evidence they found yet?”
“No.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “It’s crazy to be on this side of a case.”
I didn’t say, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” He didn’t need any more depressing news right now. “Let’s take tonight to think about this. In the meantime, speak to no one. Not the press, not another cop, not your friends. For now, you have no friends. Not even Rick Saunders.”
He looked upset. No, more than that. He looked wounded. “You’re not going to take my case?”
I’d been more than ambivalent about it before. But in that moment, I knew what my answer had to be. “I will take your case. I just wanted to give you the chance to sleep on it.”
A look of relief spread across his face. “I don’t need to; I already know. You’re the one I want.”
I stood up and held out my hand. “Then I guess we’re in business.”
Dale got up and gave it a hearty shake. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”
With the decision made, my wheels started turning. “You’ve got two exes and a daughter. Anyone lighting candles and chanting for your death?”
Dale gave a rueful smile. “Put it this way, they won’t go out of their way to hurt me, but I wouldn’t recommend you put them on the stand.”
“What about your daughter, Lisa? Any child-support issues floating around?”
Dale looked insulted. “No. Never.” He saw my expression. “Tracy never even had to ask. I paid in full and on time.” His face immediately darkened. “But if you’re thinking of putting her in front of a camera, the answer’s no. I won’t have Lisa dragged into this.”
