Page 68 of Homecoming

“This is Elias Young with theMount Desert Islander. I apologize for calling so late, but I have a couple of questions after today’s court appearance. Do you have a minute?”

“I do.”

“You’re listed as representing Kirby Ballard. Who’s representing Keith?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Why are you not representing both of them?”

“Because Keith chose not to retain my services.”

“For real?”

“Yes.”

“Does Keith know who you are?”

“Probably. I’ve been married to his sister for a couple of years now, but I’ve only met him once before at our wedding.”

“Huh, personally, I’d jump at the chance to have you on my team if I were in his shoes.”

“I can’t speak for him. He’s not my client.”

“What can you tell me about Kirby’s whereabouts on the night in question?”

“He spent the evening at home and left only to pick up Keith in town to give him a ride home. He had no contact with the victim, except to ask his brother if she wanted a ride somewhere. Keith said she was all set. When they left, Ms. Sorenson waved to them from the sidewalk. I believe the place where she was staying was close to where they were.”

“The eyewitness report puts both brothers on the sidewalk with her.”

“Kirby never got out of his vehicle.”

“That’s something I hadn’t heard before now. Why do you suppose he was charged?”

“You’d have to ask the state police and attorney general about that.”

“Is there anything else you can tell me?”

“My client is an innocent man. He should never have been charged in this case.”

“Thank you for your time.”

“No problem.”

Dan ended the call, hoping he hadn’t made anything worse for Kirby by being blunt with the reporter.

Next, he dove into the police report, which laid out the timeline of events, including statements from witnesses that confirmed Keith and Tanya had danced for more than an hour,disappeared for a time together and then returned for last call. After that, they were seen leaving the bar hand in hand. Security cameras in town had recorded them walking down the hill toward the waterfront.

The eyewitness claimed that he’d seen Keith and Kirby standing on the sidewalk next to Kirby’s vehicle, talking to Tanya, yet Kirby claimed to have never left the vehicle. So how did this so-called witness see him on the sidewalk?

The autopsy report was next and detailed a blood alcohol level of 0.19%. He used his laptop to search for the legal limit in Maine, which was 0.08%, so Tanya was significantly over the legal limit for intoxication. She’d died from a blow to the head, but police hadn’t determined the weapon used. DNA found on her body and in her vagina had matched with the sample taken from Keith Ballard after he was arrested, which meant they’d had sex when they snuck off together.

His next move was to find Tanya on social media. He located an active Instagram account full of photos with friends and family, including her brother and his fiancée taken at an engagement party for the couple earlier in the summer.

Tanya had long blonde hair, blue eyes and a gorgeous smile.

Had Keith realized she was only twenty-one? He wouldn’t have known that just by looking at her because Dan would’ve guessed her to be in her mid-twenties at least.

His heart ached for her family as he read some of the tributes to her that’d been posted.

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