Related Clues:

• Excuse of a sort
• Crime story?
• Home sick, maybe
• Defendant's testimony, maybe
• Not present
• "I was walking the dog at the time," e.g.
• ''Airtight'' story
• Accusation beater
• Out of one's class, say
• Perp-to-cop story
• It could clear you
• "Perfect murder" component
• What an accused perpetrator needs
• Cover, so to speak
• Perp's story