The Innocent Woman

morning?” Stams said sarcastically.
    “Hey, cut us a break,” Steve said. “If she’d gone home and gone to sleep, you’d be griping at us for withholding evidence.”
    “Let’s not go off on a tangent,” Dirkson said. “Right now, I’m concerned with the witness, Branstein. As I understand, Miss Garvin, while the two of you interviewed him, you actually called on him first.”
    “Right,” Tracy said. “Mr. Winslow was conferring with his client, it was late, and I didn’t know when he’d be back. I didn’t want to let the witness get away.”
    “How did you know he was a witness before you talked to him?”
    “Do you prefer the words potential witness ? No one’s taking this down, are they? Do I have say alleged before every statement for fear of being misquoted?”
    “There’s no reason to take that tone,” Dirkson said.
    “Oh, come on, Dirkson,” Steve said. “Have you ever been arrested?”
    “No, I have not,” Dirkson said. “Nor do I intend to be. I’m a law abiding citizen.”
    “May I quote you on that come next election?” Steve said. He held up his hand, pretended to read newspaper headline. “D.A. scoffs at doctrine of innocent until proven guilty—statements imply stigma of guilt attaches from moment of arrest.”
    Dirkson exhaled. “As you said, it’s late and we’d all like to get home. The witness Branstein—when you interviewed him, I understand he described two people. Is that right?”
    “Yes, it is,” Tracy said. “That’s the information I thought Sergeant Stams should have.”
    “Uh huh,” Dirkson said. “Tell me, did you recognize either of those two people?”
    “It’s so hard to recognize someone from a description.”
    “I’m sure it is. He described a woman and a man, did he not?”
    “That’s right.”
    “The woman came first?”
    “Yes, she did.”
    “And then the man?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Do you recall the description of the man?”
    Tracy frowned. “It was more of an impression than a description. I think he said he looked like a hippie and his first thought was he was a customer for the shop. I’m afraid he didn’t see him that well.”
    “Uh huh,” Dirkson said. He picked up the phone from his desk, said, “Is he here yet?” He listened a moment and said, “Bring him in.”
    Minutes later the door opened and a cop ushered in Oliver Branstein.
    “Are these the two you told me about?” Dirkson said.
    Branstein looked back and forth from Tracy Garvin to Steve Winslow. “Yeah, that’s them.”
    “They’re the ones who came and interviewed you tonight?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Asked you if you’d seen anyone going into the jewelers upstairs while you were working in your music store?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “There’s no doubt in your mind that these are the ones?”
    “None at all. That’s her, all right. In fact, she looks exactly the same. He’s dressed differently, but I still recognize him.”
    “Dressed differently how?”
    “Well, he’s sloppy and his hair’s uncombed. He looks like he just got out of bed. I suppose I look that way myself, because I just got out of bed. I don’t see what was so important you had to drag me down here this time of the morning. I mean, I already told you everything I know.”
    “I’m very sorry about that,” Dirkson said. “But if you’d just bear with me a few minutes longer. You say Mr. Winslow was dressed differently when he called on you—could you tell me exactly how?”
    “Well, he was wearing a jacket and tie and his hair was combed.” Branstein shrugged. “In fact, I had no idea his hair was long. He does look different now, but it was definitely him.” Branstein cocked his head and looked at Steve Winslow accusingly. “You didn’t tell me there’d been a murder .”
    Dirkson held up his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Branstein, I think that will be all for the time being. Officer, if you’d take Mr. Branstein out. I’m sorry, Mr. Branstein, but you’re just going to have to hang in here a little longer.”
    The cop led Branstein out. When the door closed behind them, Dirkson said, “Well, well, what an interesting situation.”
    “It may be interesting to you,” Steve said, “but frankly I’ve heard it all before.”
    “I’m sorry if I’ve bored you,” Dirkson said. “Perhaps we can liven things up later on. For the time being, do you have any comment on Branstein’s statement?”
    “I think you might thank us for bringing it to your