Morgan Pierce interview #2

Wednesday, December 18, 2019 – 3:01 p.m.

Morgan Pierce was Caroline Jordan's employer.

Detectives Armstrong and Murphy re-interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants:

• Detective T. Armstrong
• Detective S. Murphy
• Morgan Pierce

Detective Armstrong: Let's get going.

Morgan Pierce: I just got out of here. Why did you call me back in? I don't know any more now than I did yesterday.

Detective Armstrong: Please state your name and address for the record.

Morgan Pierce: I'm Morgan Pierce, and I haven't moved. 1502 Madison Avenue, Oxford.

Detective Murphy: We've been hearing a lot about the full-time elf position from your employees.

Morgan Pierce: Okay?

Detective Murphy: Why did you decide to give it to Caroline?

Morgan Pierce: She was the best one for the job. She worked hard. She proved herself. No one else came close.

Detective Murphy: Really? We heard you'd promised the job to Nancy Ford.

Morgan Pierce: Nancy? No. Don't get me wrong. She works hard too. But her people skills … well, she doesn't have the magic touch with customers like Carly did.

Detective Murphy: How do you think someone could've gotten the idea that the job was Nancy's?

Morgan Pierce: I may have…

Detective Murphy: You may have what?

Morgan Pierce: I may have kind of put it out there … in a way. Like an incentive? Maybe she misunderstood?

Detective Armstrong: You know, more than one of your employees is under the impression that you gave Carly the job because you wanted her to go out with you.

Morgan Pierce: What? No, that's not what happened at all.

Detective Armstrong: You sure about that? You weren't trying to get on her good side? Maybe make her feel like she owed you something?

Morgan Pierce: No!

Detective Murphy: Last time we spoke with you, you mentioned that you were going to ask Caroline out. Did you?

Morgan Pierce: No, I didn't.

Detective Murphy: Why not?

Morgan Pierce: It just didn't work out.

Detective Armstrong: We've been putting together a timeline for that night based on witness accounts, and it seems like you were the last one to leave the party, Mr. Pierce. That makes you the last one to see Carly alive.

Morgan Pierce: Who told you that?

Detective Armstrong: Several people.

Morgan Pierce: I really don't think that's correct.

Detective Armstrong: Hmm, last one to leave, didn't ask her out even though that was your plan. Don't you see how this looks?

Morgan Pierce: I didn't kill her!

Detective Armstrong: I think you're lying, Mr. Pierce. Your story isn't adding up.

Morgan Pierce: Okay, okay, I did lie — but not about killing her.

Detective Murphy: Why did you lie?

Morgan Pierce: I was afraid. I wasn't thinking clearly. It all happened so quickly. I didn't know what to do so I ran.

Detective Armstrong: You asked her out and she said no, so you stabbed her?

Morgan Pierce: No! Everyone was leaving. Caroline said she had a headache and needed to go to bed. I still wanted to ask her out, so I went into the bathroom to wait for everyone else to leave. I thought maybe if no one else was listening, she'd be more receptive.

Detective Armstrong: Sure you did.

Detective Murphy: Then what happened?

Morgan Pierce: When it was finally quiet for a few minutes straight, I cracked the door open to check. I still didn't hear anything, so I came out. I called out to Carly, but she didn't answer.

Detective Murphy: Why are you shaking? Are you all right?

Morgan Pierce: I saw her there, laying under the tree. Her eyes were staring right at me. I saw the blood and the knife. She was dead! I panicked and ran out the door. That's when I hit the mailbox.

Detective Armstrong: Yesterday, you claimed she was alive when you left.

Morgan Pierce: I was scared. I lied. I'm telling you the truth now. I swear it.

Detective Armstrong: That's what they all say.

Morgan Pierce: I didn't kill her. I wouldn't! I really, really liked her. I wouldn't do that to anyone, especially her.

Detective Murphy: Please sit back down. You have to see this from our point of view.

Morgan Pierce: I know it looks bad. That's why I didn't want to tell you.

Detective Murphy: What did you hear while you were hiding in the bathroom?

Morgan Pierce: I wasn't hiding. I was waiting.

Detective Murphy: Fine. What did you hear while you were waiting in the bathroom?

Morgan Pierce: I don't know. People talking. The door closing a few times when people were leaving. Nothing weird.

Detective Murphy: Who was talking?

Morgan Pierce: I don't know. A bunch of people at first. Then I could hear a couple of girls talking and Carly laughing. And then it was quiet.

Detective Murphy: Which girls were talking?

Morgan Pierce: I couldn't tell. It was hard to hear through the door.

Detective Murphy: Could you hear what they were saying?

Morgan Pierce: No.

Detective Armstrong: So your story is that you could hear people talking and Carly laughing, but you can't say who any of those people were.

Morgan Pierce: Right.

Detective Armstrong: And when you came out of the bathroom, Carly was already dead, but somehow even though you heard all those other things, you didn't hear anyone stabbing her to death.

Morgan Pierce: That's the truth!

Detective Armstrong: Do you hear yourself? How can you expect us to believe this crazy story? Especially when you just told us moments ago that you lied to us before?

Morgan Pierce: I'm not lying now.

Detective Armstrong: If you were, would you tell us?

Morgan Pierce: I didn't kill Carly. Why won't you believe me?

Detective Armstrong: What if I told you we have your fingerprints on the knife that killed her?

Morgan Pierce: I'm sure you do. You probably have everyone's fingerprints on it. We all touched it. It doesn't mean I killed her!

Detective Armstrong: Convince me.

Morgan Pierce: I don't have to take this. I've already told you the truth. If you don't believe it, that's your problem.

Detective Armstrong: If you can't convince us, it could become your problem.

Morgan Pierce: No way. I'm done talking to you. Get me a lawyer.

Detective Murphy: I don't think that'll be necessary. You can go.

Detective Armstrong: For now.

Interview ended – 3:38 p.m.