“Okay, so that puts you leaving shortly after six thirty,” he said.
“That sounds about right.”
“It took you just under an hour to get there, but two to get home. Why?”
Julia sucked in a breath as she slid her eyes closed. “I…needed some time. I went to the park, took a walk, then went home.”
“Needed some time?”
“The conversation didn’t go as I hoped it would. I just…needed to collect myself.” The story would feed into the case they were building against her. Upset woman needs to suppress her shock and upset after murdering someone.
“Needed to collect yourself. Got it. All right.”
“Is that all, detectives?”
“No,” the man answered. “It’s not. Can I see your hands, please?”
“My hands?” Julia asked, her eyes flicking to Mitchell.
“What’s the point, detective?”
“Looks like Mrs. Knight fought her attacker. I want to see if there are any wounds on Mrs. Harrington’s hands or arms that would be consistent with this.”
Mitchell nodded and motioned for her to proceed. Julia’s features pinched as she lifted her trembling hands and placed them on the table.
The detective’s eyebrows lifted before he glanced to his partner. “Mind telling us where you got those scrapes on your hands?”
“I was trapped in a fire night before last. I…sustained them escaping.”
“A fire. You’re really unlucky. How did that happen?”
“Just an accident.”
“This is the fire over at the old Victorian manor?” he pressed.
She nodded. “Yes. It’s well-documented. I was in the emergency room for smoke inhalation, though I was fine.”
He jotted a note down. “I’ll be sure to check that out. Now, let’s go back to–”
A knock at the door interrupted his questioning. Julia took a moment to breathe as the questions let up. A uniformed officer poked his head inside.
“Detectives, can I see you both for a moment?” the officer at the door asked.
The detective collected his folder with a snide grin. “Excuse us, won’t you?”
As the door slid closed behind them, Julia slid her eyes closed.
“You’re doing well, Julia, though I really wish you would just admit you didn’t do this.”
“I will just…not right now, okay?”
“The longer you delay this, the worse this looks for you. If you try to reverse course later and claim innocence, it could go very badly for you.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” Her heart pounded as she made a difficult choice, but she stuck by it, her fierce protectiveness of Sierra making it easier for her.
The detective poked his head back in the room. “We’re finished with Mrs. Harrington right now.”
“Then you’re releasing her?” Mitchell asked as he rose.
