“I’m not going to argue. You know why? Because it would sound self-serving, like I’m promoting my theory to protect my job. You’re the boss. You can believe anything you want. Audrey was an angel, falsely arrested, and falsely charged. She didn’t throw herself off the bridge, she tripped and fell.”

“Now you’re twisting my words. I accept Audrey stole things. I already gave you that the last time we talked. It’s this notion there was more going on, like this big conspiracy. The cop isn’t buying it and he should know, don’t you think?”

“Marvin, she had hundreds of dollars’ worth of stolen items in her underwear, which was specifically designed for just that purpose. Shoplifting wasn’t a hobby. She was a pro.”

“That doesn’t mean she was part of an organized ring. The cop pretty much said the whole idea was bogus.”

“Len Priddy would scoff at anything I said. You have no idea how contemptuous he is of me.”

“That’s what I’m saying. You go forward, he’s not going to cooperate, which means you and the cops are working at cross-purposes.”

“What do you want to do? Just give me the bottom line here and let’s get on with it.”

He shrugged, apparently not wanting to be pinned down without agonizing first. This was Marvin’s version of playing fair. “I thought we should toss around some possibilities, like maybe you could confine your questions to how she died and leave the other part to the police.”

“If you think her death was a homicide, the sheriff’s department is in a better position to investigate than I am. They’ll bend over backward finding out what went on. I’m coming at events from the other end, trying to figure out what she was involved in and whether that got her killed.”

He shook his head. “Doesn’t feel right to me.”

“It doesn’t feel right to me either.”

“There’s gotta be a compromise. We split the difference, as it were, so you get what you want and I do too.”

“This is a business arrangement. Compromise doesn’t come into it. I think it’s cleaner and more honest if we part company. No harm, no foul. You go your way and I go mine. We shake hands and walk away.”

“I have a lot of respect for you.”

“Uh-hun. Right.”

“No, I mean it. So how about this? Go ahead and work off the money I paid you and then we’ll talk. That way, I don’t come off looking like I’m disloyal or a cheapskate.”

“You’re not a cheapskate. Don’t be ridiculous. Who said that?”

“Diana mentioned maybe I was reluctant to cut ties because you might not give my retainer back and I didn’t want to be out the bucks.”

“Why don’t we leave her out of it, okay? Because here’s the issue as far as I’m concerned. I don’t think you should pay me when you’re so clearly convinced I’ve got my head up my ass. If you think I’m on the wrong track, it’s a waste of your money and my time to go on with this. It’s a vote of no confidence.”

“I have confidence in you, just not the tack you’re taking. Problem is, you could turn out to be right and then how would it look if I, you know, terminated your employment?”

“I can’t help how you look to other people. I can appreciate the bind you’re in and I’m letting you off the hook.”

“Then why do I feel bad? I don’t like feeling bad.”

“Fine. If it makes you feel bad, you don’t have to make the decision right now. Take your time. Whatever you want, I’ll be cool with it. We can’t keep going around and around like this.”

“In that case, I gotta go back to my original proposition. How about you work off the dough I paid you up front? You can spend your time any way you want. You don’t even have to itemize where you went or what you did. Your prerogative entirely. Money runs out, we’ll talk just like this and you can tell me what you found.”

“You don’t have to humor me.”

“No, no. That’s not where I’m coming from. I’m fine with this,” he said. “How much time have you put in so far?”

“I have no idea. I’d have to go back and calculate.”

“Then figure it out and whatever time you have left, use as you see fit. We have a deal?”

I stared at him for a moment. I didn’t like any of it, but I didn’t want Diana Alvarez and Len Priddy lording it over me.

I said, “Sure.”