Mattress Mart Murder by Kayla Michelle

emotional day for me.  I just wanted it to end,” Jennifer replied. 
    “Were you sleeping with anyone?”
    Jennifer got short with the detective.  “I don’t see how that’s relevant.”
    “I’m just trying to see if you have anyone to corroborate your story.”
    “No.  I was at home alone,” Jennifer said. 
    “Uh huh.”
    Detective Thicke stared deep into Jennifer’s eyes, then moved on to Walter Gold. 
    “Mr. Gold, what’s your story?” the detective asked. 
    “I was at home,” Walter replied. 
    “That should be easy to verify.”  The detective turned to Deputy Stanton.  “Stanton, get Mrs. Gold on the phone.  Ask her if she can verify his story.”
    Walter quickly revised his story.  “I meant, I was at my rental property.”
    “How could you mistake your rental property for home?”
    “Well, because it’s kind of my new home for now,” Walter stammered. 
    “You mean your wife found out you had an illegitimate daughter and kicked you out?” Detective Thicke asked.
    Walter lowered his head.  “Uh, yeah.”
    “Alright.  Say I do believe you were at your rental property.  Do you have anyone to verify your story?”
    “No, not technically.  But I was there.”
    “At least that’s your story,” the detective said. 
    Detective Thicke then moved on to the mystery man.  “Jason Diamond, you just got out of jail recently, didn’t you?”
    Jason nodded.  “And I don’t ever want to go back.”
    “Where were you last night at the time of the murder?”
    “At the gym in my apartment complex.”
    “Do you have anyone to confirm that?” Detective Thicke asked. 
    “No, but that’s where I was.”
    Detective Thick stared him down, then moved on to Chloe. 
    “Ms. Cook, how about you?” Detective Thicke asked.  
    “I was at my mother’s birthday party.  Three different people can vouch for me,” Chloe answered. 
    “I’m going to need names and numbers to check your story out.”
    “Gladly.  Do you want them right now?”
    “I’ll have my deputy grab them from you when we’re done here,” Detective Thicke said. 
    “Alright.”
    Detective Thicke next turned his attention to Kristina. 
    “And you?” he asked. 
    “I was driving home,” Kristina replied. 
    “From where?”
    Kristina lowered her head. 
    “From where?” Detective Thicke asked again.
    Kristina looked around, trying to stall. 
    “Let me help you remember.  We received an anonymous tip last night saying they saw you drive away from parking lot at roughly the time of the murder,” the detective said. 
    “I was here, but I didn’t kill him,” Kristina insisted. 
    Everyone in the lineup gasped.
    Detective Thicke continued.  “Why were you here, Ms. Miller?”
    “I came to ask for my job back.”
    “What did Marty Diamond say to that?”
    “No,” Kristina revealed. 
    “Then what happened?” Detective Thicke wondered. 
    “I left.”
    “Do you expect me to believe that?” Detective Thicke asked. 
    Kristina nodded.  “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    “Because unlike most of the other people in this lineup, I didn’t lie to cover up where I really was.  I’m honest and upfront about the fact that I was here,” Kristina explained. 
    Detective Thicke remained critical.  “You’re seriously going to stand here and tell me you were here, but you didn’t kill Marty Diamond?”
    “Yes.”
    Detective Thicke stared her down.  “My team is running the murder weapon for prints.  It’s only a matter of time until we have the evidence we need to prosecute someone.”  He then looked around at the rest of the lineup.  “In the meantime, don’t anyone even think about leaving town.”
     

 
    Chapter Twelve
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Detective Thicke may have been done questioning the group, but Chloe was far from finished with him.  While the rest of the lineup couldn’t wait to get away from the scene of the crime, Chloe ran after the detective.
    “Detective Thicke, I have