Despite herself, Iris nods. She is suddenly afraid of this woman. Steve is all bluster, but Carrie is the knife in the shadows. There’s something unconnected in her gaze, as if more than one voice plays in her head and she’s trying to decide who to listen to.

“We. Would. Be. Wonderful. Parents.” Carrie Butler’s dazzling smile was back. “We already were. That’s clear to most people. I don’t know why that was not clear to Danielle. Or you.”

“I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through,” Iris says. “I hope everything works out with your new baby. I just want you to leave my family alone.”

“If you don’t want people to think that your husband’s guilty, Iris,” Carrie says helpfully, “stop acting like he’s guilty.” She closes the door.

Iris stands there. Somehow, the answer to Danielle’s murder is with these people. She knows it in her gut.

Her phone pings. Julia, texting: have the police arrested Dad? Ned knows.

41

Excerpt of Transcript of TCSO and LPD Interview with Kyle Pollitt

Detective Ames: This is Detective Carmen Ames, interviewing Kyle Pollitt on January 8 with TCSO Detective Jamika Ponder. Also present is Mr. Pollitt’s lawyer, Kip Evander.

Detective Ponder: Mr. Pollitt, can you tell me where you were on the night of January 6?

Pollitt: Yes. I was at home with my family. We had dinner together, the kids went off to do schoolwork or play video games, my wife went to go read the novel for her book club, and I watched a basketball game on TV. Then I went up to my office to work for a bit.

Detective Ames: You keep an office on the second floor of your home?

Pollitt: Yes.

Detective Ames: And does this office face the street or your backyard?

Pollitt: The street.

Detective Ames: So you can see the street, and the sidewalk, from your window.

Pollitt: Yes.

Detective Ames: And presumably be seen.

Pollitt: Well, yes, but normally I have the shades drawn.

Detective Ames: Did you have them drawn that night?

Pollitt: I believe I did.

Detective Ponder: We have a witness who says they were open and they could see you in your window at one point.

Pollitt: They might have been open…at one point. I honestly don’t recall. There’s not much to see out on the street at night. It’s a very quiet neighborhood.

Detective Ponder: Did you see Danielle Roberts that night?

Pollitt: No.

Detective Ponder: Did you talk to her on the phone that night?

Pollitt: No.

Detective Ponder: Did you have a special phone with which to contact her?

Pollitt: Yes. She gave me a phone.

Ames: Do you recognize this destroyed phone?

Pollitt: I’m not sure how I would recognize something so pulverized.

Ames: Do you recognize it or not, sir?

Pollitt: I don’t.