Page 19 of Homecoming

“I’m hanging by a thread.”

Dan knocked on the door, which was opened by another officer. Dan was glad he could go home to Kara and tell her the case against Kirby was all but nonexistent. Hopefully, he would have it resolved within a day or two and get him out of lockup.

He returned to the conference room, where Cosgrove pored over a stack of pages. “You should know that Kirby had no contact with her at all. After Keith texted for a ride, Kirby asked if they should give her a ride home, Keith said she was all set, and that was the extent of Kirby’s involvement with her. He can also attest that she was alive when he and Keith left her on the sidewalk.”

“Yes, I have his statement.”

“How can you hold him when you have nothing to tie him to her murder?”

“I have an eyewitness who saw them with her.”

“Kirby was neverwithher.”

“So he says.”

“You can check his phone records to confirm that what he told you is true.”

“We’re working on that now.”

“I’m filing an emergency motion to dismiss the charges against him.”

“Knock yourself out.”

Dan had nothing to say to that, so he left, determined to get the motion to dismiss filed immediately. He sent a text to Walter, letting him know he was ready for a ride.

Be there in five, boss.

While he waited outside the station, Dan texted Judith.Keith declined representation. Met with Kirby and will file an emergency motion for dismissal today. He had no contact with the victim and was only there to pick up Keith. His case should be easily resolved—I hope. More to come.

Keith DECLINED representation? Is he serious?

Yes, he was quite serious that he didn’t want me anywhere near the case.

I’ll talk to him.

Dan was happy to let Judith deal with her son—and he’d be happy if he didn’t have to. Either way, he’d do whatever the family wanted. His goal was to get both brothers out of jail and see the charges dropped as soon as possible so he and Kara could go home to await the arrival of their baby.

Walter pulled up to the station’s main door a few minutes later. “Where we headed, bossman?”

“How do you feel about a walk downtown? And you can call me Dan.”

“I like bossman. It suits you.”

“All right, then,” Dan said, amused.

“I’m up for a walk. Where’re we headed?”

“I want to see the bar, the sidewalk where Keith was seen with the murder victim after the bar closed and the beach where the body was found.”

Walter pulled into a guest parking spot and said, “Right this way.”

Chapter

Six

“What’s the word around town?”Dan asked as they headed toward the downtown area.

“It’s all they’re talking about.”

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