Christine sat back in her chair, trying to regain her composure. His outburst rattled her because it was so sudden.

“I’m sorry,” Zachary said, seeming to recover. He exhaled loudly, pushing his blond bangs from his cut. “I’m at the end of my rope. I’m losing it. I didn’t mean to snap. I have to get out of here. I don’t know what to do.”

“It’s okay,” Christine said, though it was anything but.

“You don’t believe me? Is that why you asked? Why don’t you believe me?”

“I need you to tell me the truth,” Christine said, because it was exactly how she felt.

“I told you the truth,” Zachary shot back, but Christine could see him avert his eyes for a moment.

“If you’re lying, come clean with me now. We can’t help you if we don’t know the facts. Is the neighbor right, that she saw you?” Christine kept her tone soft. If she had learned anything as a reading teacher, it was to create an atmosphere that was safe enough to make, or confess, any mistake. “Tell me the truth, Zachary.”

“Okay.” Zachary swallowed hard, pursing his lips. “I did see Gail Thursday night, but that was the first time, ever.”

“How did that come about?”

“The exact same way I told you. I met Gail in the cafeteria on Thursday, that was the first day I met her. Same time, all else the same. I was trying to get Dr. Malan-Kopelman in the morning, but I missed him in surgery. I didn’t get the order until Sunday, I kept at it.” Zachary rubbed his face, wincing. “I saw Gail again on Sunday, but Sunday wasn’t the first day we hooked up. Thursday night was.”

“Why did you lie?” Christine kept the judgment from her tone.

“Because of Hannah, my girlfriend. I didn’t want her to know that I cheated on her twice.”

“What difference does that make? Cheating once is bad enough, isn’t it?”

“Once could be, like, a slip-up, a mistake. But twice, I don’t know, I knew she’d think it was worse. Not that it matters now.” Zachary paused, his shoulders letting down. “I knew we were in trouble when she went to med school and I didn’t. She got distant. At first I thought it was that our schedules were different, she was working all the time or in the lab, but it wasn’t that.”

“What was it?” Christine didn’t know if he was deflecting or being honest.

“A medical sales rep isn’t the same thing as a doctor, not to women. Especially not to women doctors, like Hannah. I felt like I got demoted in her eyes, and she looked for the upgrade.” Zachary slumped. “Hannah’s gone, so maybe I got what I deserved.”

“I don’t think that,” Christine said, wanting to build on their rapport. “But I’m surprised that given the break-up, she would lend you the money for your retainer. She dropped it off last night, a cashier’s check.”

“I’m not surprised.” Zachary managed a smile. “She really cares about me, or she feels guilty because she dumped me. I’ll pay her back, and she knows that, if I get out of here. I loved Hannah, and if I could’ve had her back, the way she used to feel about me, I would’ve been totally happy.”

“How can I reach her? I’d like to speak with her.”

“Why?” Zachary frowned.

“She was your girlfriend. Who knows you better than your girlfriend?”

“I don’t see the point.” Zachary frowned again. “She’s done enough for me, lending me the money.”

“I’ll know the point after I speak with her. I’m trying to turn over every stone for your case. She might have facts to help your defense.”

“Christine, if you want to help my defense, talk to my boss. His name is Tim Foster and he’s right in town. The Brigham offices are right outside of West Chester on Cardinal Street.”

“Okay, I’ll see him first then.” Christine made a mental note to squeeze him in before she went to Zachary’s apartment. “But how do I reach Hannah? I’d still like to speak with her.”

“No, don’t, please.”

“I have to.” Christine thought a moment. “You were dating her during the time of the other murders, weren’t you?”

“You mean the other two nurses?”

“Yes.” Christine felt bothered he didn’t say their names, which she remembered. “Did you know them?”

“No, not at all. Bethesda General and Newport News are my accounts, but I didn’t know those nurses. I never met them.”

Christine couldn’t tell if he was lying, but his plaintive expression looked so genuine, especially with the bruises. “Did you hook up with nurses at Bethesda General and Newport News Memorial?”

“I don’t know, I’d have to think about it, but not those nurses.” Zachary spread his hands, palms up. “Look, I’m not perfect. I’m a single guy, I hooked up on the road, when I was with Hannah. She was the one who turned away from me. I was just hanging on because I wanted to be with her. Sometimes you don’t get what you need from someone you love. That’s the truth.”

Christine felt the words resonate but tried not to let it show. She knew exactly how Zachary felt, now that Marcus was turning away from her.

“I’m not proud of it, but I’m not going to apologize for it, either. But I didn’t kill Gail or anybody else. I’m not a serial killer. I love nurses, I would never kill nurses.”

“McLeane was killed in January and Allen-Bogen in April.” Christine didn’t have the exact dates since she didn’t get to finish her bulletin board. “You were with Hannah during that time, and at some point, I’ll have to talk with her about where you were those nights and establish an alibi.”

“But she might not meet with you. Her parents want her to distance herself from me, and she’ll be hard to get ahold of. Med school is super busy. You’ll have to catch her between classes.”

“Where does she go to school?”

“Temple. It’s all the way in town. Philly.”

“I’ll drive in.” Christine got her golf pencil and notepad from her pocket. “What’s her number and email?”

“But please, don’t push it if she doesn’t want to meet you.” Zachary rattled off a number and email address, then glanced behind him as the guard approached, signaling the end of their visit. “Christine, just know, I didn’t kill anybody. I would never kill anybody. I’m completely innocent, and I need you to believe in me and get me out of here. It’s worse than before, in ad seg.”