Dear diary

Monday 22nd May 07:17

"Something's come up, I've got to go" Steve called excitedly through the crack in the bathroom door. Gulping down the last of his coffee he stood his mug down in the kitchen and picked up his keys. As he was unlocking the front door Cheryl appeared wrapped in a towel,

"What happened?" she asked nervously.

"Rod just called, Matthew Green is in custody," he gabbled.

"Where did they pick him up?"

"The front desk" Steve grinned, and on Cheryl's confused gaze he added "he walked in off the street, said he wanted to turn himself in."

"Oh?" she smiled and stepped forward to kiss him goodbye, "take it easy."

"Yeah, yeah, see you later" Steve called as he bounded down the steps letting the door slam closed behind him.

Monday 22nd May 11:16

"Arrogant little son of a ……"

"Take it easy Rod" Steve heard himself say.

"Take it easy!" Brown blasted again, "This stinks, he's in there yanking our chain Sloan. I tell you, I'm buying none of it, not one iota. No way, because this stinks, this whole story of his just…."

"Stinks" Steve finished for him.

Rod Brown crushed the paper cup he was drinking from and tossed it towards the waste paper bin. It bounced off the rim and landed on the floor, "stinks" he muttered as he and Steve made their way back to the interview room.

Matthew Green sat with his lawyer at the far side of the table. He looked up as the two men entered the room and Steve thought that if Corrine was wanting a change from Max she couldn't have chosen any better; in terms of colouring and build Matthew Green was as far removed from Max Simmons as you could get. Steve and Rod each took a seat and began the tape recorder. Steve recited a few details and Rod jumped straight,

"Mr Green, if you can, once more, just so my partner and I are completely sure of what you are telling us here, your version of events in your very own words." Rod sat back and laced his fingers behind his head. Matthew Green was not amused by the sarcasm and responded in a concise monotone.

"I showed up at work on Thursday at my usual time, eight thirty, and was summonsed to Mr Emerson's office. Craig was not at all happy, it seems Max had finally announced to him and Michael that he was going to quit SKE. For reason's known only to himself, Craig laid the blame for his decision at my door. I think he was under the impression that Max couldn't stand to work with me knowing that I'd slept with Corrine, Mrs Simmons. It was rather flawed reasoning because one, if Max truly felt that way he could easily have had me fired weeks ago. Two" he continued "the affair was long since over, and three, let's just say I wasn't Corrine's first fling with a member of SKE staff." Green took a sip of water and carried on.

"But, Craig told me to clear my desk, that he wanted me gone; I presume he hoped that with me out of the picture Max would reconsider. I argued that it was unfair dismissal but Craig isn't dumb, he made sure he had enough against me on paper to cover up the real reason for firing me. So that was it, after all I'd given to SKE I was out of the door and out of a job. I didn't bother to clear my desk I just took off." Until this point Matthew Green had seemed quite composed but Steve now noticed the sweat starting to form on his brow.

"I drove around for a while, trying to calm down"

"You were angry" Rod observed.

"Yes, of course I was angry. I didn't know what to do and then it struck me; Max is…was the fairest person I've ever know, and I was quite sure he had played no part in the decision to sack me. So I decided to go and see him, to explain the situation and to get him to talk to Craig Emerson. I drove over to the house, but nobody was home. I waited outside for a while but nobody showed up. The longer I sat there the worse it got and that's when I did something stupid." He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I have a key for the Simmons' house, Corrine gave it to me when we were……. seeing each other. I let myself in, switched off the alarm and started wandering around. I really didn't have any plan going in there, I just found myself snooping about you know?" Green chewed his lower lip "I….I went upstairs into Lexie's room"

A flash of anger crossed both Steve and Rod's faces and Rod warned Green "that's a girl we'll talk about later"

Green struggled to hide a guilty look, turned to his lawyer for guidance but none was forth coming. With a slight tremor in his voice he continued, "I opened the drawer on her bedside cabinet and saw her journal lying in there so I took it out, started leafing through it."

"Seeing if she gave you marks out of ten?" Rod taunted and Green's lawyer objected. Rod shrugged and growled, "Go on."

"I flicked through and there it was, written as plain as day, the code to Max's safe. I couldn't believe how dumb Lexie had been to write it down like that but I guess she's…."

Steve finished the sentence in his head 'she's only a child.'

"You have to understand I was acting out of character" Green rationalised "I did not plan to rob Max Simmons but it was like divine intervention or something, finding the combination like that. I decided to waste no time, in case somebody came back or I chickened out. I knew where the safe was, I'd seen Corrine get jewellery out of there before though she'd always been careful to make sure I never saw her use the code. I opened it up and took everything that was in there except the gun, I had no need for that. I left the house and drove up the coast, booked into a hotel under a false name in case the police were onto me. I counted the money and realised it wasn't going to make me a millionaire so I went out and got absolutely trashed, slept 'til the following lunch time."

"What time did you leave the Simmons's house?" Steve asked.

"Approximately ten thirty." Steve and Rod knew it put him well out of the time frame for the murder.

"And for the past three days?" Steve continued,

"Holed up in the hotel room like I've been telling you all morning. I took a stash of business documents, contracts and stuff from the safe with the jewellery and cash. I thought going through all that stuff maybe I'd find something useful, something to blackmail SKE with, something to make me rich so that I could leave the country, something that would at least let me get back at Craig Emerson." His eyes reddened "my phone must have rang a thousand times, but by then I'd heard about Max's murder on the news so I didn't dare answer it. I swear on my mother's life I didn't know he was dead until I saw it on TV; the house was empty when I did the robbery. They said the police were treating it as a robbery homicide and I just panicked. I was worried that somehow you'd worked out that I'd done the robbery, fingerprints or something, and that you'd presume I'd done the murder too. I became paranoid; too scared to go out in case the police were after me so I've been surviving on room service."

"So why turn yourself in now?" Rod growled.

"At first I toyed with the idea of going on the run, but there wasn't that much money in the safe you know, not enough to become a fugitive for. I was sure that at any moment you were going to come and break the door down but I was too scared to do anything so I just sat tight. Then last night, just as I was starting to think that you hadn't connected me to the robbery, that I'd got away with it, there it was, my face all over the news, wanted for questioning in connection with Max's murder! I knew it was only a matter of time before the hotel receptionist or somebody recognised me and turned me in. I didn't sleep a wink and that told me that I'm not cut out to be a criminal, so first thing this morning I caught a bus down the coast, I didn't want to be seen in my car. I came here 'cos on the TV they said to contact this precinct with any information."

Steve sighed. Matthew Greens story hadn't changed at all through detailed questioning and three full recitals. Much as he hated to admit it, Steve believed him.

Outside again Rod Brown was still in a rage "he still has no alibi" he reminded Steve, shaking his finger furiously, "he's a smart cookie with a clever story but he still has no alibi."

"Hotel confirms he checked in around one o'clock" Steve began "It's about a two and a half hour drive which fits in with him leaving the house at ten thirty. But that's not to say he didn't drive up there, check in, drive back to LA and murder Max. It's tight but he could have done it, and he admits having access to the property."

There was a moment's silence. "The little scumbag didn't do it did he?" Rod asked disappointedly.

Steve shook his head "We'll wait for forensics but no, I don't think he did."

Monday 22nd May 15:45

"Thanks for doing this" Steve smiled nervously at Cheryl as they stood by the fireplace in the Simmons' lounge room. "I just figured Rod wasn't really the right person to be questioning Lexie you know?"

"And you thought she may open up to a fellow female" Cheryl added.

"I thought she'd be less likely to try and hit onto you" he corrected her. "This is going to be ugly" he continued "questioning mother and daughter about the same boyfriend" he raised his eyebrows.

"What was Craig Emerson's excuse for not informing you about Matthew Green?" she asked as they waited for the two women to grace them with their presence.

"That he really didn't think it was relevant, he denied sacking Green over his affair with Corrine, claimed it was down to repeated misdemeanours and poor work record."

"With a file to back it up" Cheryl smiled.

"And as he'd been sacked, of course he didn't find it suspicious that Green hadn't been around lately." Steve added.

"But wasn't it Emerson who was calling him on his cell, trying to track him down?"

"Yes" Steve nodded. "The likely reason is that he did have some concerns over Greens possible involvement, but his story is that he simply wanted to know where to send Greens personal effects as he'd failed to clear out his desk."

"No way of proving Emerson had any suspicions or that he deliberately withheld information" Cheryl sighed.

Steve nodded towards the door as Corrine swept into the lounge, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Lexie will be down in a moment, can I get either of you a drink?"

Both detectives declined and after a brief and silent pause Lexie Simmons slinked into the lounge and stretched herself out on one of the sofas.

"Hi Lexie, I'd like you to meet Detective Banks" Steve began,

Cheryl stepped forward and extended a hand. "You can call me Cheryl,"

"And you can kiss my ass" Lexie fired back "I know exactly why you are here and you can…."

"Alexandria!" Corrine shouted "Lexie Simmons you apologise right now and sit up straight young lady." Turning to Cheryl Corrine added, "I'm so sorry Detective Banks."

"I'm so sorry Detective Banks" Lexie mimicked.

Cheryl let the air clear for a moment then sat in the chair closest to Lexie. "We want to ask you about Matthew Green" Cheryl began. Steve noticed how Corrine turned and looked out of the French Windows. Lexie dropped her head, "for now, all we are interested in is what happened here the other day" Cheryl explained. "What happened between you and Matthew Green doesn't need to be discussed unless you have something you want to tell us about him."

"I can tell you one thing" Lexie spat "he had no interest in an old slut like her" she jutted her chin to where Corrine stood. "He only went with you 'cos he thought he could get some money out of you."

"That isn't true" Corrine replied fighting back her emotions. She still faced the window "Matthew and I are both adults, we had a relationship. You on the other hand are a child and what he did to you was criminal."

"What he did to me was fantastic" Lexie replied salaciously "You are just a jealous old bitch." Steve sighed realising it was going to be difficult to get anywhere in this catfight.

"Lexie" Cheryl interrupted "do you keep a journal?"

"Why?" the young girl demanded.

"Just answer the question" Cheryl replied sternly. Lexie seemed shocked to be spoken to in such a way.

From the window Corrine answered, "Yes she keeps a journal."

"How the hell do you know?" Lexie demanded.

Cheryl ignored the bickering and continued, "We'd like to see your journal Lexie."

"It's private!" she screamed, "You have no right to see it."

"Lexie grow up," Corrine growled, "if you don't show them the goddam journal they'll only come back with a warrant."

"I don't see the point," she screamed again, and this time it was Steve who butted in.

"Do you want to find out who killed your father?" On Lexie's slow nod he added more gently "then let us take a quick look at your journal."

Without speaking Lexie headed out of the room and Cheryl followed. Once they were gone Steve turned his attention to Corrine. "Mrs Simmons, did you give Matthew Green a key to the house?" She sniffed and nodded in reply "and you showed him how to work the alarm?" he asked again.

Corrine turned to face Steve and he saw for the first time how red her eyes were. "Yes detective, I gave that man free access to my home, to my family. I brought him here for my own selfish reasons yet I never suspected he had ulterior motives of his own. Now I find out he seduced my daughter, robbed us and in all likelihood murdered my husband. Whatever Matthew Green is guilty of Detective, I'm just as much to blame."

Cheryl returned alone and nodded to Steve "Mrs Simmons, Lexie is taking a lie down" she explained, "She's agreed to let me take her journal away." She paused "if she decides she wants to talk to anybody about this business with Matthew Green then you have my number."

"Thank you Detective Banks" Corrine replied turning again to the window "if you wouldn't mind showing yourselves out." Steve and Cheryl did as she requested, stepping through into the marble hallway and out into the midday sun.

"Greens story checks out" Cheryl began as she climbed into the car "the combination is written as clear as day in the back of Lexie's journal."

She started the car and Steve shrugged "Corrine gave Green the key and showed him how to work the alarm. I can't wait to give Rod the news, we both knew Greens story was mighty convincing but the Simmons ladies have just backed him up."

Monday 22nd May 17:04

"Come on Jesse" Steve implored, "Why can't you pick a suspect and stick with them?" The two men sat on the couch in the doctor's lounge drinking coffee. Mark sat at the table looking over some charts. "Yesterday it was Corrine, then it was Craig Emerson and Michael Kent…"

"Who's top of the list now?" Cheryl asked as she strode in closely followed by Amanda.

"Lexie Simmons" Jesse held up a finger "Lexie and Matthew Green were in it together."

Amanda rolled her eyes and took a seat beside Mark, Cheryl poured herself a cup of coffee and leant against the wall "and your theory is?" she asked.

Jesse didn't wait for a second invitation "Lexie was pretty angry with her old man for making her do that charity stuff, she wanted to get her foot in the door at SKE. It's also apparent that she and her mother are at loggerheads." He barely took a breath for fear that somebody would pick holes in his theory. "Matthew Green was jealous because Corrine wouldn't divorce Max to be with him. He also liked the idea of having money and thought that there was potential blackmail material along with cash in the safe. Green had access to the house but not the safe, but he knew that Lexie had a crush on him so he decided to exploit her to get the combination. Lexie's libido and her feud with her mother meant Green easily convinced her. Maybe he promised to get her into SKE unlike Max; maybe he just came clean and told her he was after her daddy's money. One way or another Lexie got her hands on the combination and passed it onto Green, he raided the safe like he said but he killed Max too" there was a pause as a confused look passed over Jesse's face "or maybe Lexie killed Max."

Everybody groaned. "It works" Jesse replied defensively.

"It works from the robbery point of view, but not the murder" Mark corrected him and the others nodded.

"Lexie was mad at her father but he was her best chance of getting into the acting business" Steve reminded him "and financially" he continued "she's not gained anything, all the money Max left for her is tied up in a trust until she's 21."

"All of this is having a terrible effect on Luis" Mark sighed, "Corrine says he's still not sleeping, not eating." He shook his head "I just hope the funeral tomorrow will give him some sort of closure."

"I just hope it doesn't turn into another clash between Lexie and Corrine" Steve added.

"Like mother like daughter" Cheryl agreed.

"You two are going to the funeral?" Jesse asked excitedly.

"Yes Jess, just the two of us" Steve answered calmly as Jesse sulked "Corrine agreed that as long as we didn't bother the mourners we could go along."

"It did take a bit of an exaggeration," Cheryl admitted and a guilty smile crept across Steve's face.

"Well, I just reminded her that Max's killer still hasn't been caught and that it's possible he or she would return to the scene of the crime on such an occasion."

"Steve that's terrible, frightening the poor woman like that" Mark chided his son. "It's good thinking too" he beamed "you'll need to keep your ear to the ground if you are going to figure out which one of that bunch killed Max Simmons."

"Just waiting for one of them to slip up dad" he assured him.

"Good luck" Mark smiled.