Detective Ames: This phone was found in a bag in your garbage the day after the Roberts murder.

Kip Evander: I’d like to know why you searched my client’s garbage.

Detective Ames: We received a tip.

Evander: From whom?

Detective Ames: An anonymous tip.

Evander: So someone could have placed this broken phone into the Pollitt family’s garbage can and then called you and here we are, with these ridiculous accusations. I want to thank you both for the early Christmas gift.

Detective Ponder: Is that what happened, Mr. Pollitt? You’re being framed?

Pollitt: I don’t understand what this phone has to do with anything.

Detective Ponder: We found a matching phone, a cheap one that Danielle Roberts used, at the site where her body was found. It had only one number called in it. She bought both phones at a local drugstore—prepaid ones. Sometimes in movies, they call them “burners,” because you use them up and throw them away.

Pollitt: I’m familiar with the concept.

Detective Ponder: You know, even with a cracked SIM card, we can determine if this phone you destroyed was the one phone she called.

Evander: You have no reason to suspect my client in this crime. A phone proves nothing.

Detective Ames: Your client had a long relationship with the deceased due to her work, and they had known each other for a long time.

Evander: So? She knew lots of people. She had lots of friends.

Detective Ames: How would you characterize your relationship with Danielle Roberts, then?

Pollitt: She was a family friend. She was a neighbor.

Detective Ames: Were you particularly close?

Pollitt: What are you asking me?

Detective Ames: Were you having an affair with her?

Pollitt: No.

Detective Ames: Then why did you need a phone?

Pollitt: (pause of several seconds) She approached me once, a couple of weeks ago, at a party at her boyfriend’s house. I was in the backyard, drinking a beer. She hinted that she would be open to seeing me. I was shocked, frankly, and I said no. I’m happily married, and I had no interest in her. She slipped the phone in my pocket.

Detective Ames: Did she ever approach you again?

Pollitt: Yes. I still said no.

Detective Ames: Why not just throw away the phone and tell your wife?

Pollitt: Danielle played a singular role in our lives, having helped us get our son. I didn’t want Iris to know her friend had behaved this way. And keeping the phone around seemed to placate her.

Detective Ames: Or give her hope. Weird how there are no sexy texts. Usually when you’re offering to have an affair, there’s flirting.

Pollitt: We didn’t flirt.

Detective Ames: So, she had an unrequited passion for you?

Pollitt: She had a boyfriend who was my friend. I don’t know what their set of issues was.