“And did you find her at Sun Valley Pres in front of room number four-sixteen?”

“Yes—well, no actually.” McKay paused a moment. “I went to room four-sixteen and no one was there. Then, a moment later, Marie came out of the broom closet opposite room four-sixteen.”

“Can you identify Marie once again for the record?” Marge asked.

“Marie Bellson.”

“Marie Bellson came out of the broom closet opposite four-sixteen?” Decker asked.

“Yeah, she was hiding there. She pulled me inside.”

“Did she shut the door?” Marge asked.

“Yeah, of course she shut the door. She had a dead body inside.”

Beltran said, “Lawrence—”

“Mr. Beltran, call a spade a spade. There was a dead body in the closet. Scared the shit out of me. Marie was in the process of putting it in a body bag when I got there. I almost bolted on the spot.”

“Why didn’t you?” Marge asked.

“Because Tandy…” McKay rubbed his hands over his face. “She had dope on me. She was blackmailing me—”

Beltran said, “Lawrence—”

“The sergeant knows all this, Mr. Beltran. Can you let me get my story out?”

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“Mr. Beltran, you said I’d get a year’s probation tops. That nothing I’d say would make it worse on me. Is that true?”

“It’s true, Mr. McKay,” Pomerantz said. “As long as we’re satisfied that your sole involvement in these activities was that of an accessory only.”

“What does that mean?” McKay asked.

Decker said, “We need to be assured that you didn’t know anything about the murder and kidnapping until after the fact, after the felonies took place.”

McKay was breathing hard. “I swear on my mother’s grave that I didn’t know a thing until Marie pulled me inside the broom closet.”

“Where was Tandy?” Marge asked.

“I don’t know. I never saw Tandy. She was gone when I got there.”

Pomerantz, Decker, and Marge exchanged looks.

“You never saw Tandy?” Decker asked.

“Nope.”

“And even though Tandy wasn’t there when you arrived, even though you saw a dead body in the closet, you didn’t run?” Decker said.

“I know that sounds crazy but…” McKay took a sip of water and looked at Decker. “Tandy had dope on me. You found out anyway. I should have saved myself some energy.”

Decker was quiet.

McKay continued, “Tandy knew I was…investing…pocket money from the folks at the home.”

“Embezzling, not investing,” Pomerantz stated.

“Misappropriating funds,” Beltran retorted.

“For godsakes, it was just pocket change. I know private nurses who steal behind their clients’ backs. At least my patients gave me the money.”

“Makes you a prince among men, Leek,” Marge said.

Beltran said, “Lawrence, just go on with your story.”