He was here looking for clues and a fresh perspective but under the guise of writing his next series.
No reason to ruffle feathers in the area...unless he had to.
He’d emailed the courthouse asking for the records under his pen name. Rory Rene. Even explained the reason for accessing them, to learn more about the case for a novel based on it.
Maybe he thought that would have given him an edge rather than being an annoying family member requesting more information.
Like his mother had done for years.
The Sheriff’s Department was used to his name. They returned his messages eventually. With the same canned response. The case is still open but no new leads. He was positive no one was even trying.
He looked at the wall to see where to go, then made his way in that direction.
“Can I help you?”
“Hi, I emailed two weeks ago, then again last week, and called a few days ago. I’m looking to get copies of an old trial for a book. Rory Rene?”
The woman looked at him. “I’m sorry. I don’t monitor those emails. I’m not sure who does. I’m new here and there has been a lot of turnover.”
Just great. He knew most cases over fifteen years were sent to the national archives but had been told they weren’t there when he inquired, and to check the local courthouse.
Which he was trying to do.
“Is there someone I can talk to about that?” he asked. “I’m in town now and was hoping to get them.”
He didn’t volunteer he was here for a month with an option for a second. He’d stay as long as he needed to get his answers or put that dreaded red line through his clue.
But he wanted the court documents. He needed to go through it all. Something he should have done before now but couldn’t bring himself to do.
What he had were police records only. He’d thought that was enough. Cooper Stevens was never guilty in his eyes. How Rory knew that, he couldn’t say.
But they had come back for the trial. He and his parents.
The guy they were trying to pin the murder on cried daily. Not just over his plight, but every bit of evidence put in front of him about his sister.
Rory could tell it was empathy, and genuine sadness exhibited. Cooper even read his statement through sobs that he saw his daughter in Rene, and could barely get through the drafted letter without gagging over the crime.
Rory might have been the one to gag and puke if Cooper was found guilty.
His father was livid and shoved his way out of the courthouse after yelling and screaming when the verdict was read.
His mother had grabbed his hand and held it tight. He knew his mother had felt the same as him. He’d heard those fights his parents had.
Mike Connors wanted someone, even if it wasn’t the right person, to be held accountable. Katy Connors wanted the truth. She wanted the guilty party caught, not just a scapegoat.
“There is a form here somewhere,” the woman said, punching into the computer. “Give me a minute to find it.” The woman was clearly struggling. “I’m going to have to ask for help.”
“Barb can help you.”
“Excuse me?” he said, turning to look at the woman who stood next to him, not sure if it was his curious author’s eye or his immediate spark of attraction that made him notice things about her.
Brown hair with streaks of blonde mixed in, parted to the side with loose waves flowing over her shoulder and down the middle of her back.
Not a lot of makeup, but what she wore was precise and expertly applied for the maximum effect of feminine power. A woman who knew what she brought to the table and wasn’t used to taking no for an answer.
“Barb can help you with that request,” the woman said again. “She’s been here for years and knows where everything is. Get her. Tell her it’s a favor for Gale.”
He lifted an eyebrow and watched the new employee move away.
