“Yes, he did. But other people could have visited him. Obviously, someone else did.” Julia’s tone was as sharp as her gaze at me.

“Obviously.” I looked at Justin. “When was the last time you used your cell phone?”

Justin didn’t meet my gaze. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and stuck his hand in his jeans pocket. He pulled out my cell phone and returned it to me without a word.

“Thank you.” I put the phone on the table. “Now how about answering my question?” My tone was as cutting as Julia’s had been, moments ago. Justin’s lack of response annoyed me.

“Don’t speak to him that way.” Julia glared at me. “He’s done nothing wrong.”

“I didn’t say he had.” I returned Julia’s fierce look. “But he needs to answer my question. It’s important.”

Julia leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest. I thought she was going to speak again, but after an intake of breath, she remained silent.

I repeated my question to Justin.

Diesel rubbed his head against Justin’s chin, and the boy finally looked at me. “I dunno, sometime this afternoon, I guess.”

“Do you have your cell phone now?”

Julia watched me intently.

“No, sir.” Justin pushed his dark bangs back from his face. “I lost it.”

“Why is this so important?” Julia leaned her elbows on the table, her hands clasped together. “People lose cell phones all the time.”

“Because they found Justin’s cell phone with Godfrey’s body.” I watched them both carefully to gauge their reactions.

Julia blinked rapidly, and Justin remained mute.

“Justin, was Godfrey alive when you left him this afternoon?” I made my tone neutral, unthreatening.

“Yes, sir,” the boy said.

“But you went back to his room and found him dead. How long was it between the time you left him and came back?”

Justin thought for a moment. “About an hour, I guess.” He glanced at his mother, clearly concerned about something. She avoided his gaze.

“Why did you go back?”

“I wanted to talk to him some more.” Justin focused on me again. “He didn’t answer when I knocked, so I used the key and went in.” His voice caught. “I thought maybe he’d gone somewhere, and I was just going to write him a note. But . . .” His voice trailed off, and I thought he might start to cry.

“When he found Godfrey’s body,” Julia said, her expression bleak, “he got out his phone to call someone. But he panicked.”

“And he dropped the phone and didn’t retrieve it.” I could picture it very easily.

“Yes, sir,” Justin said. He had his voice under control. “I was really scared. I got out of the hotel, but I didn’t know what to do. So I went across the street and sat there until you came.”