Page 18 of Homecoming

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“Great, I won’t.” Dan went to the door and signaled to the officer who was standing in the hallway. “Keith Ballard has declined my representation. I’d like to confer alone with Kirby Ballard.”

“Let’s go,” the officer said to Keith.

“Be careful who you trust, little brother,” Keith said to Kirby. “The slicker the lawyer, the deeper the bullshit.”

“You ought to know,” Kirby said.

Keith didn’t like that, but he didn’t say anything more as he was escorted from the room.

“Thank you for coming.” Kirby fell into a seat across from Dan. He was tall and muscular like Keith, but as Walter had said, he lacked Keith’s sharp edges. He had a baby face and the same golden-brown eyes and reddish-gold hair as Kara. “I know this is the last place Kara wants to be.”

“She’d do anything for you. She said to tell you she loves you and knows you weren’t involved with this.”

“I wasn’t.” He leaned across the table. “I had nothing to do with her. Keith called me for a ride. I met him by the wharf where the cruise ships offload passengers and waited for him while he said good night to her. I asked him if she needed a ride, too, but he said she was all set. I didn’t like leaving her there, but Keith said she was a grown woman who could get herself home.”

Dan wrote down everything Kirby said. “How far was she from home?”

“I have no idea. I never spoke to her. I just saw her talking to Keith outside my truck. When he got in, I asked if he was sure we shouldn’t take her somewhere, and he said he was sure. What was I supposed to do?”

“Nothing you could do, but a witness saw you two with her, and now you’re caught up in this.”

“I had zero contact with her. That has to count for something, doesn’t it?”

“It will, for sure.”

“In the meantime, this will be forever attached to my name.”

“We’ll see what we can do about that. Try not to worry too much. There’ll be no forensic evidence tying you to her murder. I’ll file a motion to dismiss the charges against you.”

“How long will that take? I need to get back to work.”

“The judge is out sick and supposed to be back to work tomorrow. I’m on it. I’ll do everything I can for you.”

“Thank you, Dan. I really appreciate it. I know how difficult it must be for Kara to be back here. Tell her I said thanks for coming.”

“I will. Sit tight and don’t talk to anyone unless I’m with you. You got me?”

“Yeah, I won’t.”

“That’s really important, Kirby. They’re looking to make a case against you. Don’t make it easy on them.”

He nodded. “I hear you, man. I gotta get out of here.”

“I’ll file the motion to dismiss today and will be back tomorrow to update you.”

“Thanks again.”

“You got it.” Dan stood to leave. “Are you being held with Keith?”

“No, they have us separated.”

“That’s for the best. Don’t talk to him either.”

“I’ve got nothing to say to him on a good day. The only reason I went to get him when he texted me for a ride is I didn’t want him getting another DUI. He’s already got three, and it makes us all look like shit when he gets in trouble.”

Jeez, Dan thought.Three DUIs. That wouldn’t go over well with the judge, but Keith was no longer his problem. “I’m on it. Hang in there.”

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