Deep Waters

alibi."
    Elias smiled slowly. "Got a better one for me?"
    "I've been thinking about it." She glanced over her shoulder, apparently making certain that no one had entered the shop. Then she leaned closer to Elias and lowered her voice. "We can tell Tybern that we just decided to take a stroll while we waited to see what happened on the beach."
    "A stroll?"
    "Right."
    "In the fog?"
    "Right."
    "You don't think that sounds a little weird?"
    She scowled. "Dozens of people were out of their cars, milling around."
    "Most of those who were out of their cars were hanging around the fence, watching the action on the beach."
    Charity threw up her hands. "Who's to say some of them weren't taking a casual stroll in the fog?"
    He was beginning to enjoy himself. "What about the woman we saw coming out of Swinton's motor home. Do we mention her?"
    Charity nibbled on her lower lip. "Damn. That's a tricky one."
    "It gets trickier. If we mention her and where we saw her, then we admit we were hanging around that section of the campground. Gwendolyn's motor home wasn't far from Swinton's."
    "Maybe we shouldn't mention her. After all, we have no idea who she was. Could have been anyone."
    "Lie to Chief Tybern? Charity, I'm shocked."
    "This isn't a joke, Elias. Gwendolyn Pitt was murdered last night, and you and I were engaged in what most people would call an illegal activity at the time."
    "What's this 'we' stuff? I was the only one inside that motor home."
    "I was the lookout, remember? I'm just as involved in this as you are. We're in this together."
    He smiled slowly. "I'm touched."
    "I'm glad you find this amusing. I certainly don't."
    "You know what your problem is, Charity?"
    She eyed him with deep suspicion. "What?"
    "You don't realize that the truth is most visible in a still pond."
    "Meaning?"
    "Meaning that we answer any question Chief Tybern asks with the truth."
    "But, Elias—"
    "Relax. Tybern isn't going to throw either of us in jail." Elias paused. "But for the sake of discussion, let's say he tossed me into the slammer. Would you come and visit me?"
    "Are you kidding?" She gave him a sugary smile, "I'd bake you a cake with a file in it."
    "I'm flattered."
    "Don't be. I'd do whatever it takes to get you out because I know I'd be stuck with Crazy Otis until you were free."
    Otis snorted.
    Elias met Charity's eyes. "There is just one thing we should get clear before the interview with Tybern this afternoon."
    "Yes?"
    "Let me do the talking when we get to the part about the B and E stuff."
    She looked uneasy. "Think you can come up with a good story?"
    "If I can't, I'll let you step in and save me."

10

    The sea tastes as salty as blood. Life depends on both.

    —"On the Way of Water," from the journal of Hayden Stone

    Hank Tybern glanced at his notes through a pair of reading glasses that rode low on his nose. "Let me see if I've got this straight. You went to Rick Swinton's motor home shortly after eleven. Saw an unidentified woman leaving—" He broke off and looked at Elias across the desk. "You're sure you don't know who it was?"
    Charity held her breath. Thus far Elias had done all the talking. She had to admit that the interview had gone very smoothly. As smooth as the surface of an untroubled pond.
    "Positive," Elias said. "The hood of her jacket was pulled up to cover her head. The only reason we could tell that it was a woman was because of the way she moved. Although the fact that she was coming from Swinton's trailer was also a strong hint."
    Hank grimaced. "Yeah, I've heard the rumors about his womanizing. Okay, so you checked inside the motor home to see if Swinton was there, and then you went back to where the cars were parked on the bluff to find Newlin. You heard the screams and took off with the others to see what had happened. Joined the crowd in front of Gwendolyn Pitt's motor home, went inside, and saw the body. That about it?"
    "That's it," Elias said easily. "Charity and I were together the entire time."
    "Fine. It doesn't help me out a lot, but that's not your problem." Hank's wooden chair squeaked as he settled back into it. "Anything else about the murder scene, itself, that you noticed which you think might be helpful?"
    Elias reflected briefly. "I think I told you everything. Swinton was there ahead of me. He was crouched on the floor near the body. The Voyagers who had accompanied him were standing outside together with some other people. That empty tape player in the drawer was the only thing