Page 119 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

“I’ve talked to other witnesses that didn’t trust him either.”

“I’m sure most hated him because of his past behavior.” Rourke’s mouth tightened. “But that doesn’t make Gates guilty, although it moved him pretty high on my list.”

“What do you know about August Keating?” JP asked.

Rourke’s eyes flicked up. “Hannah’s half-brother was an interesting kid.”

“Did you suspect him?”

“I suspected everyone.”

“You know August was a kid himself. He was angry, scared, and trying to be useful. I’m not chasing him.”

“Good.” Rourke’s voice softened slightly. “I had the same reaction to that kid. He had enough taken from him.”

“Did you ever come across the name Charles Field?” JP asked.

“Nope. I can’t say I did, but I’ll double check my notes if you want. Who is he?”

“He’s a guy who was helping August after the fact. I don’t like him for the crime.” JP moved on. “And Yvonne Caldwell?”

Rourke’s face changed at Hannah’s mother’s name. “Yvonne was a mess,” he said. “But not evil.”

“Those aren’t opposites.”

“No.” Rourke looked down at his cup. “She lied when she was afraid. She minimized things. She made bad men sound harmless when admitting otherwise made herself look bad.”

“Do you think she knew who took Hannah?”

“I don’t think so.”

“But?”

“I think Yvonne knew danger was closer than she wanted to admit.”

“There was very little in the file about Hannah’s father,” JP said.

“Marcus Caldwell was never clean,” Rourke said. “He was just absent enough for the cops to lose interest.”

“Where was he?”

“In and out of custody. Mostly out of Hannah’s life. He had opinions about Yvonne, opinions about court, opinions about Hannah when it suited him.”

“Was he violent?”

“He was capable of it.”

“Did he want Hannah?”

“That depended on who was asking and whether wanting her cost him anything.”

“Was he a suspect?”

Rourke paused. “He was in jail at the time, but could’ve had someone else take her, I suppose. I never had anything solid on him. And, frankly, I don’t think he cared enough to take her.”

“Where is he now?”

“Last I heard? Arizona or Nevada, but that was a long time ago. He drifted.”