“Yes,” she answered. “Trivial Pursuit, Scattergories. We have ‘no media’ nights where we just hang out—no phones, no TV, just live, personal interaction.”

“And your kids will vouch for that?” Jessie asked, wanting to get away from the humanity of the suspects and keep them on the defensive.

“If they have to,” Gayle replied. “I’d rather protect them from this if possible. Maybe you can check my phone GPS or something instead? But if you require it, then yes, they can vouch for my whereabouts.”

“And what about you, Councilman?” Dolan asked, turning his attention back to Milton. “Who in San Diego can vouch for you?”

“I don’t know,” Jerebko said uncertainly. “I went there for a conference in the afternoon. But I didn’t see many people after that.”

“Maybe at the hotel you stayed at? Perhaps the front desk agent who checked you in?”

“It was pretty crowded,” he said unconvincingly. “I doubt he’d remember me.”

“All right,” Dolan pressed. “Then just give us the hotel name and we’ll check it out for you.”

“I don’t recall it offhand,” Jerebko replied. “But I can get it for you.”

“You don’t have a receipt, Councilman?” Dolan asked skeptically.

Jerebko looked at him angrily.

“Why do keep saying ‘councilman’ like it’s a bad word?” he demanded.

“I’m just trying to get to the bottom of things, sir,” Dolan said calmly.

Of course Jessie knew that wasn’t the case. As she’d suspected, he was using the title because it reminded Jerebko that he held the public’s trust and that in some way, either large or small, he had broken it. He knew that would eat at the guy and possibly force him into a mistake of some kind. It finally seemed to be working.

“I think it’s time you left,” Jerebko said, seeming to regain some of his authority.

“I think it’s time you came with us,” Dolan replied quietly, quickly undermining it again. “You can do that as a respected public official, quietly and voluntarily coming into the station to help out with an ongoing investigation. Or we can do it more formally. I can read your rights and take you into custody. You can request a lawyer. Of course, the media might somehow find out about all this and stake us out as we brought you through the front door of the police station. That would be unfortunate. It’s your call, Mr. Jerebko.”

The man stood there, weighing his choice. As he did, Dolan added something that surprised Jessie.

“A bit of advice,” he said quietly. “If what you’re hiding is anything less than murder, you’re better off coming in of your own accord. Whatever it is, we can probably work it out. If you killed her, you may as well let me arrest you and call your lawyer once we get there.”

Jerebko looked at him with the most hangdog expression Jessie had seen in a long time. Then, in almost a whisper, he replied.

“Can I go to the bathroom first?” he asked pathetically.