Beau had mentioned it when he’d called. She nodded. “Milford was one of the people the senator hired me to check into. He thought he was being followed. He said someone had been asking questions. Milford was the foreman of Alamo, the senator’s construction and development company. He was fired a few months back. Senator Reese thought he might be holding some kind of grudge.”
“And now Milford’s dead.”
“Yes, and Beau was set up to take the blame.”
“You seem sure of that. You don’t have any doubt of Beau’s innocence?”
She stiffened. “No. Do you?”
Temple relaxed. “I’ve known Lincoln Cain and Beau Reese for years. I don’t believe Beau killed anyone. We just need to prove it. Or in more legal terms, make sure the policecan’tprove it.”
“We need to do better than that. Beau’s reputation will be ruined unless he’s completely exonerated. To do that, we need to find the killer.”
“It would certainly be the best solution.”
“What evidence do they have against him?”
Temple tossed her a look. “Besides being found at the murder scene? The second one in a week?”
“Besides that.”
“The police found the weapon, a Smith and Wesson forty-caliber semiauto. It was on the floor under the kitchen table. The good news is, the gun was wiped clean, no prints, nothing. So far Beau’s only connection to Milford is that the victim worked for the company owned by Senator Reese and his ex-wife.”
Surprise lifted one of her eyebrows. “Charlotte was the senator’s partner in Alamo?”
“That’s right. Beau says he isn’t sure what happened after the divorce, whether one of them bought out the other or they still owned it together.”
She wondered why Beau hadn’t mentioned Charlotte’s involvement, but then they hadn’t had time to work the Milford angle yet.
She glanced toward the door leading to the holding cells, willing Beau to appear. “Will you be posting bail? How long before you can get him out of jail?”
“Chief Warren isn’t ready to charge him. Too many loose ends. In a high-profile case like this, the DA wants to be sure he’s got all his ducks in a row. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but until it does, they’re letting him out. Beau has agreed not to leave town.”
The attorney glanced toward the door and smiled. “Here he is now.”
Cassidy turned to see Beau walking toward them. Instead of his usual straight posture, his shoulders slumped and a curl of black hair fell over his forehead. She wanted to go to him, put her arms around his neck and tell him everything was going to be okay.
Instead, she stood quietly next to his attorney. Her heart constricted when he reached for her, pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair.
“I was an idiot,” he said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t kill Milford. I hope you know that.”
Her hold tightened. “I know you didn’t kill him. You were clearly set up.” A shudder of relief ran through his body. Cassidy leaned back and finger-combed the dark curl away from his forehead.
Beau looked at Temple. “We finished here?”
“For now.”
Beau took her hand. “Let’s get out of here.” The three ofthem walked out of the police station and headed for the parking lot.
“Why don’t we go back to the house where we can talk,” Nate suggested. “We need to develop a strategy. Unfortunately, I don’t have much time. I’ve got to get back to Dallas.”
“You aren’t staying?” Beau asked.
“They haven’t pressed charges. There’s nothing I can do for you here. I’ll come back if you need me.”
Beau nodded. Cassidy spotted her silver hatchback parked in the lot. She had worried the police would hold it as evidence.
“They’ve already searched the Honda,” Nate said. “They didn’t find anything so they released it.” He pulled her keys from the pocket of his suit coat and held them out to her. “I gather these belong to you.”
