Double Take Chapter 2

"No. Too many friends. Too many memories."

"I see. Did you see anybody at Makaha?"

"No. When you look like this, you keep to yourself."

"Where were you the evening of November 27th?"

"What day was that?"

"Thursday."

"Flying back to LA."

"I mean before then. At around seven o'clock."

"In my room at the Royal Hawaiian."

"Can you prove that?"

Sandy paused. "I guess not. But let me ask you. If you had a face like this, wouldn't you stick to your room?"

The lieutenant stared at Sandy's hideously broken nose. Surely someone would have remembered seeing a man who looked like this if he were anywhere near the murder scene. "Do you have any idea who might have killed Mr. Cruz?"

"Like I said, he had a lot of enemies, but I don't think that any of the surfers I know would have it in them to kill somebody. What happened to him, anyway?"

"He was shot twice. Once in the penis, and once in the face."

"Ouch."

"We think his killer was a woman."

"Talk about a bad date."

The lieutenant tried to keep a straight face. "Do you know any women who might have wanted to do this to him?"

"God, I hope not."

Lieutenant Goering closed his notebook. "One more question. Why haven't you had your nose fixed?" This time the lieutenant looked him square in the eyes.

Sandy shook his head sadly. "I was planning on suing Buster, and the lawyers told me I'd get more out of a jury if I came into the courtroom looking like this."

The lieutenant got up to leave. So much for Detective Halani's motive. "Well, Mr. Lane, I want to thank you for your cooperation. You've been most helpful."
Sandy got up and showed him back through his condo and out the door. Most of the feminine do-dads that Ashley had lovingly decorated his place with were buried in the box with the rest of his old clothes. "Goodbye, Lieutenant."