The Stranger in the Lifeboat

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Land
The ride back was mostly silent. As the sun fell, the exclusion zone took on
an eerie grayness. LeFleur never liked being here late. It was ghostly enough
during daylight hours.
“You understand I’ll have to hold you in custody,” he said. “Until I can
check your alibi.”
Dobby looked out the window. “Yeah. I get it.”
“I’ll have to charge you with something.”
“Whatever.”
“What should I charge you with?”
Dobby turned. “You serious?”
LeFleur shrugged.
“How about drunk and disorderly?” Dobby said, looking away. “I can do
that if you’re buying.”
“Fine.”
LeFleur was so tired, he had to blink his eyes open as they drove. The
adrenaline rush of the afternoon had evaporated, and his body felt like it had
been hollowed out. His hands shook on the wheel.
At this point, he didn’t know what to believe. Dobby had an answer for
everything, but he’d heard the whole notebook before having to explain
himself. Was he that clever? That quick with a lie? Or was it Benji, the
author, who was delusional? And perhaps responsible for the Galaxy’s
destruction?
Dobby had mentioned Annabelle, but after saying that she’d died from a
rare blood disease and that Benji had struggled to find money for her
treatment, he offered no more details. His patience for gunpoint had expired.
“I’m not saying any more until you swear I’m not a suspect. I can prove I
wasn’t on that yacht. Just get me back and let me make some calls.”
LeFleur reluctantly agreed. What choice did he have? Deep down, he