Love Notes and Murder -- JeffMads 50's AU

III

"My name is Maria Lewis and I am 25 years old."

That was our second questioning of the day. It had taken us a while to figure out where our Mr. Franklin lived, but his story matched with Thomas'. Now, we were in the back room at the diner where Maria worked.

"Can you tell us what you did on the night of July 4th?"

"Sure. I was at my friend's. Benjamin's. We watched fireworks out on his driveway. Then I went home with Thomas to his place."

Oh shit.

Seabury kept his cool. Maybe he didn't notice that Maria's story conflicted Thomas'.

"And you're sure that's what happened?" He asked.

She nodded, scooping come of her hair over one shoulder. "Uh-huh, pretty sure."

"Pretty sure?"

"Well, I did have a few drinks." She said it slowly and quietly.

"So what details are you only pretty sure about? Like where you went after the party?" Seabury shifted forward in his chair.

"Timing and whatnot. Couldn't tell you what exact time we left or got to Tom's, but I know I went there because we had macaroni and cheese together for breakfast the next morning."

"Are you two involved? Um... in a... relationship?"

A hand flew to her chest. "Oh, goodness, no," she laughed.

"We're also aware that you had former relations with Mr. Reynolds," I added.

Her confident nature vanished almost immediately.

"Right."

"We know you talked to the detectives that were originally on that case, but could you explain that relationship again?"

She shifted her eyes downwards. "Uh... so we started dating in the senior year. High school sweethearts and all that. We really thought we were going to get married, that was, until, 3 years later he got jealous with me hanging out with my guy friends. Things got a little out of hand; we argued and I had to end it.
"Then we had a year away from each other and coincidentally ran into each other at the supermarket and realized how much we missed the other. Then, we were together for another year before we came to the conclusion that we would be better as friends. And then we were good friends ever since."

She smiled an almost bittersweet smile.

"But you don't seem to be affected by the death too badly... am I wrong?" Seabury took the lead once more.

"It's been almost 10 months, I have to continue with my life. There isn't a day I don't think about him. What are you trying to imply?" She almost tipped her chair over with how fastly she stood.

"Nothing. Now, Miss Lewis, can you please sit down-"

"No. We're done here I've got work to do."

She strutted out of the room, as fierce as a raging fire.

"Welp." Seabury sat both hands on his knees. "Time to talk to that Jefferson character. I'll draw up a warrant."

***

I scurried after Seabury as he weaved in and out of desks, disturbing our colleagues.

I ran into him when he stopped abruptly.

"What's he doing here?" He nodded at a figure standing on the other side of the room that I couldn't see.

I peeked around him.