“One of the ER docs liked to play grab ass with the nurses,” Morgan said. “Lisa asked me what to do about it. That was maybe a year, year and a half ago. I had a conversation with the man about what a sexual harassment suit could do to his career, not to mention his marriage.”

“And he stopped?” Mendez asked, making notes.

“He left. Took a position on the East Coast.”

“That must have been some conversation,” Vince said.

“I make a living persuading people to see things my way.”

“You must be very good at it.”

“I do all right.”

“Ms. Warwick hadn’t said anything to you about any problems recently?” Mendez asked.

The lawyer shook his head. “I hadn’t seen her for a while.”

“She never called? You never ran into each other?” Vince asked. “Never met for coffee, anything like that?”

Morgan narrowed his eyes slightly. “What are you getting at, Detective?”

“We have reason to believe Ms. Warwick was seeing someone before her death,” Mendez said, watching him.

“I’m a happily married man,” Morgan said. “Lisa was a casual acquaintance. I’m very sorry that she’s dead, and it tears me up to think of what she must have gone through. She was a sweet, gentle person.”

“But you weren’t romantically involved,” Vince said, finding it curious Morgan hadn’t said so himself.

“No.”

“You know we have to ask,” Vince said apologetically.

“I understand that, yes.”

“Can you tell us where you were Monday night through Tuesday midday?” Mendez asked.

“I was at home Monday night. I left early Tuesday morning—around five—to drive to Sacramento.”

“We’ll talk to your wife, of course,” Vince said.

“Of course. I don’t have anything to hide.”

“You didn’t get back until last night?” Mendez asked.

“That’s right.”

“Did you know your daughter had found the body?”

“Yes. Sara—my wife—called and left messages at my hotel. I spoke with her later that evening.”

“But you didn’t come home.”

“I was in the middle of some very important business regarding funding for women’s shelters,” Morgan explained. “Wendy seemed to be fine, considering. Sara was shaken up but able to handle the situation. It didn’t make sense for me to drop the ball and go home.”

“You’re very dedicated to the center,” Vince said.

“They do important work that saves women’s lives and helps them make their lives better.”

“But you’re a man.”

Morgan raised his eyebrows. “Therefore I shouldn’t care about battered women? That’s a hell of an attitude.”

“I only meant that it isn’t often men get involved in women’s issues,” Vince said.

“Abuse isn’t a women’s issue, Detective. Abuse impacts families. Families aren’t gender specific.”

“Does it bother your wife that you give so much time to the center?” Mendez asked.