CHAPTER 65 - Rita

CHAPTER 65RitaIT’S EARLY EVENING BY THE TIME DR. WESTMORE ARRIVES AT THE STATION. We have her escorted to an interview room, and Joe and I join her. This is as frazzled as I’ve seen the doctor. Her hair looks like it needs a good brushing, her clothes are wrinkled, and she smells distinctly of cigarettes.“Any news?” she asks.“No,” I say. “Where’s your husband?”She pulls her phone from her purse, scans the screen. There’s a furrow between her eyebrows as she types. “I’ve left him several messages.” Her red-rimmed eyes meet mine. “He’s not always where he has a signal, but he’ll get back to me as soon as he can, Detective.” She sticks her phone in her jacket pocket. Her fingers twitch as if yearning for a cigarette.I ask her again where they were after the party last night, and she insists they were at home. That’s it. She’s his alibi.Dr. Westmore clears her throat. “You must know something by now.” Her voice escalates. “Corrine’s frantic.”“We’re doing everything we can,” Joe says, his dark eyes intently assessing her.“Well, I can’t imagine where Molly could be.” She wrings her shaking hands. “I need to go,” she says, and stands abruptly. “I can leave, can’t I?”“Yes. But call as soon as you hear from your husband,” I say.She nods. From the lines on her face to her body language, she looks about a whisper from a breakdown.“I’ll be at Molly’s house,” she says. “I told Corrine I’d meet her there.”“She could probably use the company,” Joe says.Dr. Westmore nods and hurries down the hall.