“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

The cop stared. “Why did you give her a ride to the station? It’s only a few blocks from your bar.”

“I didn’t want anything bad to happen to the girl,” Conor said. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them.

Jackson pounced. “Why would you think anything bad would happen to her?”

But the damage was done. “My little sister was attacked in a parking garage when she was in college. So I’m well aware that this city isn’t as safe as it should be. Young girls shouldn’t trust anybody.”

The cop stared. Conor stared back.

Jackson switched gears. “How’d you get that scratch on your face?”

Oh shit. Conor had forgotten about that. “After I got home, I found an injured pit bull in the alley behind the bar. A kid came looking for her. Considering she looked like she’d been in a dogfight, I declined to give her back. He pulled a knife on me. I disarmed him, but he managed to nick my face.”

Jackson tilted his head. “What happened to him?”

“I punched him in the nose, and he left.”

“Two fights in one night?” Jackson’s brow rose. “Do you have a history of violent behavior, Conor?”

The question felt loaded, and Conor didn’t respond.

Damian cut in. “Both the incidents my client described were clearly self-defense.”

Jackson nodded. “But you were a fighter at one time?”

“Amateur boxer,” Conor clarified. “But I’ve been out of that for years.”

“Detective,” Damian said. “I don’t see how my client’s sporting activity is in any way related to the events of Monday night.”

“She called your cell,” Jackson said.

“I asked her to call me when she got home,” Conor answered.

“Let me summarize the situation for you.” Detective Jackson raised a fist. “You were the last person to be seen with Zoe Finch. We have a witness who saw an altercation between you two in front of the station. The transit surveillance videos do not show Zoe entering the station. You have a scratch on your face. The last call on Zoe’s phone records is to your cell.” He ticked off each point by extending a finger until he ran out of digits.

Altercation? Oh no. Someone had seen him startle Zoe with that tap on the shoulder and misinterpreted the act.

Damian waved a hand in the air. “All of that evidence is circumstantial.”

Ianelli didn’t blink. “Now let’s get down to what was seized during the search. We found a bloody T-shirt in your hamper and long dark hairs both in your car and in your apartment. Was Zoe in your apartment, Conor?”

Conor reeled. How could this be happening? His voice sounded far away when he answered. “Just for a minute. I had to run up to get my keys. It was raining, so she followed me.”