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“You’ve been planning this for months, haven’t you? Planning to get rid of Neda!”

A look of panic had appeared in the man’s eye. “Who have you been talking to?”

“Don’t mind about that. Why don’t you tell me what happened yesterday morning?”

“Nothing happened. I did my job, like I always do.”

“So is your job to rob and murder your clients, Raban?”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you what happened. You barged into Neda’s house, because you knew that she kept a big stash of cash in her safe. And you wanted that money, didn’t you? You needed that money. And when she refused to give it to you, you shoved her out of the way, she hit her head and died. And that’s when you knew you were in big, big trouble.”

Raban had been listening with widening eyes as the Chief painted a word picture of the events as they’d transpired. But now he blurted out, “But that’s not true! I didn’t even see her yesterday! I was at Janette’s. I told you this,” he added, addressing Chase.

“I know you did, Raban,” said Chase calmly. “But you were seen at Neda’s. Someone saw you and heard the argument.”

“So you see, son? There’s no use denying,” said Uncle Alec, spreading his arms. “We have a witness.”

“Who’s the witness, Max?” asked Dooley.

“God,” I told him.

“I didn’t know Uncle Alec could speak to God,” said my friend, darting a reverent look at Odelia’s uncle.

“He can’t, but he’s trying to get this guy to confess, so he’s cutting a few corners.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”

“I’m sure it is, but so is murdering people, Dooley.”

“What witness?” asked Raban suspiciously. “What are you talking about?” Clearly the man was no fool, and knew when he was being played.

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t tell you that,” said the Chief.

“Look, whoever this witness is, they’re lying, okay? Cause I wasn’t there. Last time I saw Neda was Monday last week. And she was all right when I left there that day.”

“But why would this witness lie, Raban?” asked the Chief, as he darted a quick look at Odelia, who shook her head.

“I don’t know. To frame me?” He leaned forward and now placed a hand on Uncle Alec’s desk. “It wasn’t me, Chief.” Then he seemed to get an idea. “So maybe this person, this witness, saw someone that looked like me. A lookalike. That’s possible, isn’t it?”

“Unlikely,” said Uncle Alec with a shake of the head. “Our witness specifically named you, Raban. This person knows you and is absolutely certain that it was you they saw.”

“But… it can’t be, I’m telling you.” The gardener was getting a little worked up now, and was patting the desk with the palm of his hand. “I’m being set up here, man. Set up!”

“Easy, Raban,” said the Chief, watching the gardener closely. “No need to get upset.”

“You think? I’m being framed for murder, man—a murder I didn’t commit!”

“Are you sure, Raban? Because I have to tell you, our witness has a solid reputation in this town.” Once more he directed a quizzical look in his niece’s direction and again Odelia nodded, to indicate she was sure the gardener would soon crack under the strain.

But Raban wasn’t cracking. Instead, he was doubling down. “I’m innocent, man, I’m telling you. Innocent!” He was getting louder and more upset by the minute.

“I believe him, Max,” said Dooley. “He looks very convincing to me. Uncle Alec’s witness must be wrong.”

“There is no witness, Dooley. All we’ve got is a confession we can’t use, since Father Reilly refuses to come forward. So we need to get this man to confess to us somehow.”

“Oh,” said my friend. “Well, I don’t think he will.”

No, it certainly looked that way.

Now Chase leaned over the guy.“Look, Raban,” he said, adopting that deep gravelly tone he does so well. “If you don’t tell us the truth things don’t look good for you. Judges don’t look favorably on this kind of obstructive behavior. So you better start talking and you better start talking now, you understand?”

“But I didn’t do it!” Raban cried, rocking back and forth. “Why don’t you believe me? I got nothing to do with this murder business. I’m being set up—by my enemies!”

“What enemies?” asked Odelia, who seemed to take pity on the guy.

“Where do I start? There’s so many of them!”

“Look, Raban, why don’t you take some time to think about what Chief Lip told you? We’ll take a break for now, and then once you feel ready, we’ll resume this conversation.”

Uncle Alec was shaking his head, and Chase also looked perturbed. I think they thought if they kept leaning on the guy, he would crack and give them his confession.

But Odelia took the gardener’s arm and he got up. “Can I go home now?” he asked a little piteously.

“We’re going to give you a little time to yourself, so you can have a good think.”

And so Raban was taken away to a cell, where he could have his‘good think’ in peace and quiet. Before he left with one of Uncle Alec’s officers, though, he said, “Can you please ask Father Reilly to come and see me? I’ve got something important to tell him.”