“Well, at least that matches with Monte’s story. Except he’s claiming you were there, arranged for him to meet up with them. Because you had experience with explosives as much as he did—all of you did—and Des and Doreen were trying to get hold of some help on a job.”

“I don’t know anything about any of that.”

“Monte also says the deal was for the four of you to split a hundred thousand.”

“No way.”

“You know about the fifty thousand Desi got paid. The half he was supposed to share but didn’t.”

“No, I don’t.”

“But you can figure out what I’m talking about.”

“Some kind of payoff?”

“For expertise and equipment—vegan Jell-O, for example.” Silence.

“You do know what that is?”

“I’ve heard of it. A long time ago.”

“Never used it.”

“No way!”

“Makes sense, why would you … I just need to sort out Monte’s story from yours, he’s the one with the violent streak, he’d obviously say anything to save his own skin.”

“The guns are his, I’ve never owned a gun.”

“I’m sure that’s true—”

“I can’t stand firearms. That’s why I’m C.I.’ing, not working in the ballistics lab.”

“Makes sense… let me check something … okay, here it is. Speaking of ballistics, here’s a report. We found Monte’s box exactly where you said it was, so I know you’ve been truthful about that and I appreciate it. Unlike Monte, who’s spinning a yarn about having no clue. Like we’re not going to find it.”

“He can be that way.”

“What way?”

“Mindless. Denying.”

“I’ll bet … anyway, we found the box and recovered the .22 that was used to shoot Des Backer. Unfortunately it’s your fingerprints that are on it, not Monte’s.”

Silence.

“Lara?”

“That makes absolutely no sense.”

“That’s what I told the lab, so they ran the prints again—yours are on file because when you got the job they printed you and we obtained Monte’s when we arrested him. His are all over the box. And some of the other guns. But not that one.”

“Oh, wow—I just figured it out. After Monte came back he gave me the gun to put away. I didn’t want to be an accessory, even after the fact, but you don’t defy him. He’d just murdered two people, for God’s sake.”

“So you stashed the gun.”

“Right back in the box. I’m sure you found it on top.”

“That’s exactly where we found it.”

“I wanted it to be obvious. So if someone ever searched, they’d see it.”

“You figured we’d search.”

“I was hoping. Unfortunately, I wasn’t thinking straight, didn’t glove up. Not that I could’ve gotten away with it, Monte was right there.”