Suddenly going mute, she found herself holding her breath.
“Where’s Clint?”
The tools in her hands clattered to the floor as she stood. Her fingers tightened into fists to hide their trembling. “How would I know? This is something I have to do. Heather was my best friend.”
Enough illumination lit Ray’s face for her to see the skepticism. “You expect me to believe you broke into this courthouse all on your own?”
She thought of all the reasons she had to be angry and she unleashed that emotion on him ... the way she’d wanted to the last time she’d talked to him.
“You know damn well he didn’t do it.” She made the statement as much accusation as argument. “I want to know who killed her, Ray. If it means I have to break in here and get those files you told Clint were stored here, I’m prepared to do that.”
“Where is he?”
“No clue. If I had told him about my plan he would’ve tried to stop me.”
Ray turned all the way around, running the beam of his light over the corridor again.
She held her hands up surrender style. “Take your time; check every room if you want. He’s not here. It’s just me. He’d be pretty stupid to do something like this with the whole damned town looking for a way to be rid of him again.”
Ray still didn’t look convinced. He walked straight up to her, causing her breath to catch yet again, and tried the door behind her. The one leading to the room markedAuthorized Personnel Only. She didn’t breathe again until he released the knob and stepped back.
“You know I have to take you in, Emily.”
He said this with enough regret for her to believe he might even be sincere.
“Do what you have to do, Ray. I believe in what I’m doing. If I’d had any doubts, my father’s revelation and Keith’s death are proof enough. Heather’s killer is still out there.”
“Are you sure about that?”
She stiffened, suddenly scared to death he wouldn’t believe she’d gotten this far alone. Though she hadn’t put anything in his “Negatives” column, who was to say he wasn’t Heather’s killer? That theory had fear creeping up her spine.
“Really sure,” he added, “that he’s innocent? I know your father confirmed his alibi, but you were so adamant in that courtroom.”
A burst of anger chased away the thread of fear. She had been adamant in that courtroom, that was true. But now she knew better. “I’m absolutely positive. Clint Austin is innocent.”
Why didn’t his only ally believe that? He’d believed it before, hadn’t he? Or had he only felt sorry for Clint? Either way, that seemed to suggest Ray wasn’t a suspect.
“Let’s go, Emily.”
She relaxed. Apparently, he believed she’d gotten in here alone. He gathered the tools she had dropped and picked up the duffel bag. She hoped there was nothing in there that would indicate it belonged to Clint.
Ray escorted her to the nearest exit.
“I’ll pay for the window I damaged in the property assessment room.”
When they got outside, he said, “Just to set my mind at ease, why don’t you show me how you got in?”
She led him to the window and explained the process. “I found a video on the internet. It showed step by step exactly what to do.” A person could find anything on the internet.
“This isn’t a game, Emily.”
“Yes, it is,” she countered. “And whoever is making the rules doesn’t want to be caught.” The next question came out before good sense could stall it. “You’re not making the rules, are you, Ray?”
45
10:35 a.m.
He was going to miss lunch with his wife. He’d been remote so much of the time lately, he hated to let her down even for something as simple as lunch. There was no help for it. What he had to take care of wouldn’t wait. Ray could only hope that Sarah would understand.
