“Do we have enough?” Sam asked.
“To convict him? Not even close. Hopefully BCI will be able to tie those things in Simmons’s treasure box to the crime scene. Even then … twenty-two years is a long time.”
“We’ll get there,” he said. “But we’re arresting him in the next twenty-four hours.”
“Good,” I said. “Let me know when he’s in custody.”
9
“Ican assure you that my client’s main concern is to fully cooperate with law enforcement. He is confident that when the truth comes to light, he will be completely exonerated.”
Bennett Cutler stood in front of a bank of microphones outside Jamie Simmons’s home.
“Mr. Cutler,” one of the reporters shouted. I recognized her as Laura Anderson from Channel Seven. She anchored the six o’clock news and had been a staple in Northwest Ohio for over thirty years. It wasn’t usual for her to handle press conferences like this. But twenty-two years ago, she had covered the story of Ellie Luke’s murder. Like Gus, she had been a rookie at the time. I’m sure she felt she had come full circle.
“Obviously new evidence has come to light,” Anderson said. “You must be privy to the nature of that. Can you confirm my sources that Mr. Simmons’s own daughter is the one to have come forward with that evidence?”
Sam walked into my office looking grim. I knew he was preparing his own press conference for later this afternoon. Bennett Cutler had given him no choice. He had the county commissioners breathing down his neck as well.
“Is he done yet?” Sam asked.
“Looks like he’s just getting revved up,” I said.
“I don’t want Hojo anywhere near this today,” Sam said.
“He did okay the other day,” I said. “He’ll be fine.”
“I’m not worried about how he’ll do,” Sam said. “I just think right now it’s better if there’s one voice talking to the media. Mine. Hojo’s ethically bound to keep quiet anyway.”
“Fair enough.”
Sam stood next to me, scowling as he watched the screen. “Have they said anything yet?” he asked. An elderly couple stood just behind Bennett Cutler. The wife had tears streaming down her face.
“Who put them up to that?” Sam asked. Horror drew deep lines in his face as he realized who the couple was.
Bennett Cutler sidestepped and put an arm around the elderly man.
“Mr. Luke!” Laura Anderson shouted. “Have you been in communication with your son-in-law?”
“He wouldn’t,” I murmured.
George Luke lifted his chin and leaned forward into the closest microphone. “My family has been through hell,” he said. “For twenty-two years, we’ve been asking for justice for my daughter. I have more questions than answers, just like you. But every member of my family has cooperated with the police. We’re going to keep doing that.”
Bennett Cutler patted George Luke on the back. To his left, Claudia Luke looked ready to be sick.
“That wasn’t what he thinks it was,” I said. “Cutler is using that poor couple as a shield. He’s trying to make it look like they don’t believe Simmons killed their daughter.”
“Gus needs to get George Luke in here,” Sam said.
“He’s got to be feeding them God knows what,” I said. “Please tell me nobody has discussed the new evidence with them.”
“I have no idea what Simmons is telling his wife or his in-laws,” Sam said.
“I need to know. The sooner the better. I can’t compel Simmons to testify at trial, but I can certainly use any statement he made to family members. That’s not privileged. Lord, Bennett Cutler knows that. Has Gus questioned Erin Luke again yet?”
“Cutler got in the way of that.”
“He can’t represent both of them. That’s a clear conflict of interest.”
