Dead Woman Crossing by J.R. Adler (best management books of all time txt) 📕

“Could you bring a cup of coffee to Wyatt? He’s in the interrogation room.”

“Of course. But he’s not getting any baked goods. I don’t bake for murder suspects.” Barb twisted up her face and scurried off.

Sam and Kimberley entered the empty office. Ryan sat in a chair in the dimly lit room with his head in his hands.

“Did you call my dad?” he asked without raising his head.

Sam rolled his eyes. “Sit up, Ryan.”

Ryan sat up with a sigh, pushing his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, while he slid forward in his chair.

“Your dad is taking care of The Trophy Room. So, your worry should be about why you’re here.” Sam sat on a chair on the other side of the small room.

Kimberley sat next to him. She pulled a folder from underneath her arm and placed it on her lap.

“Why am I here?” Ryan asked.

“Because your alibi the night Hannah was murdered is a load of bullshit.” Sam leaned forward in his chair.

Ryan let out a chuckle and shook his head. “I didn’t have anything to do with Hannah’s murder.”

“Your story doesn’t add up. You said you closed up the bar at two a.m. and went to sleep, but we have a witness saying Wyatt Miller was at The Trophy Room until three a.m. So, was Wyatt with you?” Kimberley said, leaning back in her chair.

“Listen, I told ya, I was closing up the bar and then I went to bed. I don’t know the exact time. Could have been three a.m. Sometimes, Wyatt stays late and we just shoot the shit.”

“So, you’re saying you were with Wyatt?” Kimberley raised an eyebrow.

Ryan shook his head. “Yeah, but we didn’t have anything to do with Hannah’s murder. I hardly knew her.”

“Did Wyatt know her?” Sam leaned a little forward in his chair.

“Sure. I don’t know how well. We all went to high school together, but that was more than a decade ago.” Ryan scratched the back of his neck.

“Do you recall Wyatt receiving a call around three a.m.?” Kimberley stared at Ryan, looking for any tells of a lie.

“I don’t know. Maybe. If he did, he didn’t answer it.” Ryan shrugged his shoulders.

“Says here in this file of yours, you’ve had a couple of disorderly conduct charges as well as a DUI.” Kimberley scanned the file and looked up at Ryan.

“Yeah, so?”

“It seems like you are quick to anger, like you don’t make the most sound decisions, especially under the influence. Would you say that’s an accurate assumption?” Kimberley raised her chin.

“I know what you’re getting at.” He twisted up his lips. “Like I said, I didn’t have anything to do with Hannah’s murder.”

“You mentioned previously, you don’t sleep alone most nights.” Kimberley made quotes with her fingers. “Ever sleep with Hannah Brown?”

Ryan let out a groan. “No.”

“Ever pay Hannah Brown for any sexual favors?”

“What? No! You think I need to pay for sex?” Ryan let out a sarcastic laugh. “I think you two have nothing to go on and you’re reaching, barking up the wrong goddamn tree.”

“You know what I think?” Kimberley closed up her folder. “I think you’re spitting a load of bullshit, Ryan. First, you tell us you closed up the bar and went to bed at two a.m., now you’re saying you closed up but hung out with Wyatt until three a.m. Which is it?”

Ryan resituated himself in his chair, bringing his foot up to rest on his knee. He folded his arms in front of his chest and let out a deep breath, as if he were annoyed, refusing to answer the question.

“You know, whichever one of you talks first gets the better deal.” Sam looked directly at Ryan.

“I don’t need a deal. Didn’t do nothing wrong.”

“Think Wyatt will say the same?” Kimberley asked.

Ryan looked down at his lap and then back at Kimberley. “Yeah, I think so.”

Kimberley stood from her chair, sliding the folder back under her arm again. “I think you’re wrong,” she said over her shoulder as she left the room, letting the door close behind her.

Sam caught up to Kimberley outside. “What was that about? We were just getting started.”

“I’m tired of that asshole wasting our time. I want to interview Wyatt now.”

Without waiting for Sam’s approval, she turned away from him and walked into the interrogation room. Wyatt was seated in a chair and an empty mug of coffee sat on the table in front of him. He had his head propped up with his hand.

Kimberley took a seat across from him.

“Let’s cut the shit, Wyatt. Where were you the night of Hannah’s murder?”

Sam entered the room, closing the door behind him. He leaned up against the wall, one leg crossed over the other, his arms folded across his chest. Kimberley turned back and looked at him. He nodded approvingly. She gave a tight smile and redirected her attention back to Wyatt.

He picked his head up, his dead eyes locking with Kimberley’s.

“What is it that you want, Kimberley?” he asked.

“Tell me about you and Emily.” Kimberley leaned back in her chair, settling in for story time. She was going to drag this out until Wyatt was blue in the face.

“What do you want to know?”

“How’s your marriage?”

“Like any other. It’s fine.” Wyatt scratched at his chin.

“Is that why you’ve been coming home later and later? Because it’s fine?” Kimberley tilted her head.

“Is that why you’ve dragged me in here? Because I’m breaking curfew.” His voice was laced with sarcasm and annoyance.

“Sure, Wyatt. Your wife says you didn’t come home until after three a.m. the night of Hannah’s murder.” It wasn’t a question, just a statement for Wyatt to chew on.

He rubbed at his forehead.

“Emily doesn’t know what she’s talkin’ about.” His skin flushed, like all the blood in his body had settled to his face and neck. Kimberley wasn’t sure if it was because he was angry, or because he’d been caught in a lie. Either way, his body was telling a different story than his mouth