Emily moistened her lips, tried to swallow, but her throat was too dry. “Maybe to protect me. I don’t know.” She looked directly into Ray’s eyes. “I have no reason to lie for him.” She would prefer Ray didn’t ask for details. Memories, too vivid to ignore, kept filtering through her mind.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with what your father told me yesterday, does it?” Ray eyed her closely. “If you’re feeling guilty because of the information your father withheld, you shouldn’t.”
He did think she was lying! How could he believe that? Of course she should feel guilty. So should he! She reached for her purse. Whether it served any purpose or not, she wanted him to see what she’d come up with.
“There are things about Heather’s murder that—”
“That investigation is over.” He cut her off. “Closed.”
“Wait.” She looked up, surprised at his sharp tone. “If he’s innocent—”
“We don’t know that,” Ray interjected. “What we know,” he said more calmly, “is that the evidence did not rise to the necessary level for conviction so it was overturned.”
He was the one who’d stood by Clint when he was released. Why the about-face?
“What we all need to do is put this behind us,” Ray explained patiently. “The past is over. We can’t change it.” He paused. “It’s timeto look to the future, Emily, not the past. We’ve all done too much of that already.”
This made no sense. The law was his job. “And what about the real killer? If Austin is innocent, that means the person who murdered Heather got away with murder.”
“Emily, there was no evidence other than what was used to convict Clint that first time,” he said quietly but firmly. “Not a single trace. There’s nothing I can do.” He stood, letting her know the conversation was over. “I appreciate you coming in. We may need to call on you again when we have a more exact time of death.”
She rose, confusion making her slow to react. “Sure.” What had just happened here? She made her way out of his office and across the lobby without pausing. When had Ray stopped being Clint’s ally?
As the top representative of the law in this town, Ray should have jumped on the information her father had passed along. Why wasn’t Ray calling Sid Fairgate in for confirmation?
She reached the door and she had to look back. She was almost surprised when she didn’t find Ray watching her go. He’d been so anxious to be rid of her.
Maybe he was preoccupied with this newest tragedy.
But that didn’t explain his insistence that looking into Heather’s murder was pointless. She could see him suggesting that they do so later, when Keith’s death was resolved. But Ray had said there was no evidence that pointed to anyone other than Clint. In other words, why bother looking? The case was closed. End of story.
This was wrong.
Ray was ignoring the facts. She hesitated. Or maybe he was hiding a secret of his own. Or flat out lying. Every damned body else sure seemed to be.
41
9:30 p.m.
Justine stopped at the entrance, entered the code she knew by heart, and the massive wrought-iron gates spread open, slowly, regally, like welcoming arms. She finally had an invitation, albeit unspoken. Telepathy wasn’t necessary to know Granville needed her right now.
She pressed the accelerator and rolled up the long, winding drive to the grand colonial-style mansion that still took her breath away.
This was where she belonged.
She sighed, appreciating the abundant branches of the ancient oaks and maples that shaded the lush green lawn and curving cobblestone drive. There wasn’t a single home in the whole state of Alabama that even came close to being as exquisite or timelessly classic as this one.
Coming to a stop in front of the house, she got out and closed the door of her eleven-year-old Audi. It had been a long time since he’d given her that gift. Definitely time for an upgrade. He would lavish her with all the gifts she would ever require. She would never need anyone else ever again.
Only Gran. They could grow old together, but she would always be younger and more beautiful than him. She would give him exactly what he needed until death parted them.
She surveyed the beautifully landscaped property that spread out in three directions for as far as the eye could see. Rolling pastures andgrazing horses covered the acres between the house and the tree-covered mountains that gently sloped downward to abut the property. This was what she’d wanted since she was just a little girl. To be rich ... to have everything her heart desired. And now, finally, it was her turn.
No matter that she’d made Gran happy many times in the past, he’d been devoted to that snobbish wife of his. But she was out of the way now. There was nothing to stop Justine.
She climbed the steps, took a moment to touch up her favorite lipstick and to smooth her sleek black dress; then she rang the bell. All the hired help would be gone home by now. He would be all alone.
Grieving.
