Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
He was so confused. “You found her phone in the truck we were driving? In Gabe’s truck?”
“Are you now stating that Gabriel Lodge had something to do with this? Because from what I can tell you stole his car.”
“Olivia’s car is still in the shop. They’re waiting for her tires to come in. We took two cars to The Barn—Gigi’s SUV and Gabe’s truck. I had the keys to Gabe’s truck because Gigi wanted to have a couple of margaritas, and she never touches a steering wheel if she’s had a drink. Gabe told me he would drive her home and that Keane could take his if we wanted to leave early.”
“Smart girl.” Deputy Morgan frowned and seemed to come to some kind of decision. “You need to understand that the rest of the force might be afraid of Jack Barnes and that’s why they’ll put everything they have into this investigation, but I’ll do it because Olivia deserves it. I can’t believe this is happening to her again.”
“What?” He needed someone to think this through. “What happened to her?”
“A guy fucked her over trying to get her money,” Deputy Morgan said with a sigh and what seemed like deep sympathy.
She was a smart woman. She seemed to think more than the rest of the deputies he met. “How does faking her kidnapping do anything but cause trouble for us?”
Her arms crossed over her chest. “You want her scared. I should have remembered that most accusations are confessions. Isn’t this exactly what you claimed those other men were doing?”
“They have reasons that it might put them in better positions if Olivia is afraid. It puts me and Keane in a worse position.”
“Or she’s so scared she falls right into your arms.”
“She’s already in our arms, Deputy Morgan,” he pointed out. “All this did was bring her father into it long before we’re ready. Do you think Jack won’t protect his daughter?”
“Maybe you didn’t realize that.” But he could see she was thinking about it.
“I have worked at Barnes-Fleetwood for two years. I live on a ranch his son-in-law owns. Do you honestly believe I haven’t heard every story? You can’t decide I’m some sort of master criminal but also stupid enough to not understand the man who is my ultimate boss.”
“I never said you were a master criminal. This was actually quite…” She stopped. “It was a clusterfuck. Like why dump the phone but keep her purse? And that phone was sitting in the back of the truck.”
Now he had her. “Because whoever did this wanted what was on her phone. He realized he didn’t get everything he needed from the fire because Olivia took pictures.”
“All right,” the deputy allowed. “Let’s say I’m willing to listen to another theory. I’m not the lead on this case and from what I can tell Jack is already here and he’s the one who pointed the finger at Keane.”
It made no sense. “He doesn’t even know Keane.”
“He knows Keane’s got a record. Assault and battery.”
He felt his fists clench but forced himself to relax. He hated that Keane had to deal with this. “Did you read all the reports? Not just the prosecution. Did you read the defense reports?”
“Mr. Pace, I haven’t had time to read anything. I only know that he spent three years at Huntsville,” Deputy Morgan replied.
“And that’s all you need to know.”
“Do you have a different story?” she asked.
“You know he was released.”
“After taking an Alford Plea,” she countered.
And he was done. “Deputy, if you aren’t familiar with why they sometimes use that plea and the only real reason they would use it after a conviction, then I suppose you’re like the rest of them. Which room is my client in?”
Her jaw tightened, and for a moment he thought she would argue with him, but she finally pointed to the end of the hall. “First door on the left. He’s waiting. I am sorry for what happened to him. They shouldn’t have used those Tasers.”
“I’ll want a full report, and I want the Tasers used put into evidence. Though I suspect they’ll check out fine now,” Garrett said. He started to walk away.
“I’ll get your report,” Deputy Morgan promised in a low voice. “And I already have one of the Tasers. I’ll make sure no one can tamper with it. And Garrett, I will think about what you said and I’ll read the full file.”
He didn’t turn around. It was all he could ask from her.
He strode to the door, stopping where a deputy stood, yawning.
“Is he cuffed to the table?” Garrett asked.
The deputy nodded. “Yeah, he tried to resist arrest. We can’t let him run around. He’s violent.”
He was not going to kill anyone today. “I’m his attorney. I want him out of the cuffs. Now. I already have a lawsuit over the Taser use. Do I need to add this?”