Page 105 of Homecoming

“Lives in Madison, Connecticut, where they grew up and works as a plumber. I’m going there today to do some more digging and talking to people in town to get a handle on him and them as a couple. I’m also trying to figure out where he was last weekend. I should have more for you later today.”

“This is great, Carter. Thank you. We’ve got the probable cause hearing on Thursday.”

“I’m on this full time.”

“Thanks again.”

“You got it.”

“Making some progress, bossman?” Walter asked.

“Maybe.”

Dan spent the rest of the ride poring over an updated police report that he’d received from Detective Cosgrove in his email earlier that morning. The only thing that had changed was two more eyewitnesses asserting that they’d seen Keith with Tanya after the bar closed, which wasn’t really relevant as far as Dan was concerned. He was fairly confident that Keith would be willing to concede that he’d walked with Tanya to the wharf area on the waterfront, where they parted company.

Walter pulled into the public safety complex a short time later, and Dan gathered his things. “I’ve got to be in Ellsworth by one.”

“No problem. I’ll wait for you right here.”

“Thanks, Walter.”

Inside, he asked to see Keith Ballard and was ushered through a security check and into a small airless room like hundreds of others Dan had been in during his career.

Keith was brought in a few minutes later.

Dan barely knew him, but at first glance, it looked as if Keith hadn’t slept in days. In some ways, he was glad to realize the ordeal was taking a toll on Keith. A little less arrogance and defiance would be helpful to his cause. His hair, which was standing on end, was more of a dark blond than Kara’s reddish blonde. He had blue eyes that were bloodshot and a ruddy complexion.

“Thanks for coming in,” he said when he sat across from Dan.

“Sure. What can I do for you?”

“I… Well, I need your help.”

“Okay.”

He finally made eye contact with Dan. “That simple? I ask, and you say okay?”

Dan shrugged. “That’s why I’m here. To help you and Kirby get out of this mess, but Kirby would have to approve me representing you as he’s my client.”

“Matt has no fucking clue what he’s doing.”

“And that surprises you?”

“Not so much. I’m sorry I was a dick the other day, but I’m kind of in shock that I find myself in need of your services.”

“I’ll do whatever I can for you, pending Kirby’s approval.”

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Keith leaned across the table,his expression fierce. “Even if Kirby doesn’t agree, and he might not, we didn’t doanythingto Tanya. I need you to believe me when I tell you she was fine when we left her.”

“I do believe you.”

“Really?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

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