Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“You know we did. Everybody probably knows we did at this point,” Nick said.
“Tell me everything.”
I looked at Nick. We had to explain. Obviously, DNA had been found.
Nick nodded. “My brothers and I came home from football practice and found my dad. He’d smacked my mom around, and we lost it. We beat him up pretty good, packed his bags, and kicked him out. He was very much alive, as you know, since he was seen with Imogen Wilson at the Pig’s Tavern on the way out of town.”
“He wasn’t wearing anything bloody,” Pierce said.
I stiffened. “What was he wearing?”
“From the best of everyone’s recollection, he was wearing a white button-down shirt and jeans. We found him in the same clothing. Plus, the blood was found on Imogen, not your dad.”
“I didn’t go anywhere near Imogen,” Nick said.
Pierce’s green gaze narrowed on Nick. “Your blood was found on her shirt, and unless you can explain that, a special prosecutor will be appointed this coming week to pursue a case against you. Also, the blood of both victims is on the knife bearing your prints, which again, is the murder weapon.”
“I can’t explain it,” Nick said. “But I expect you to do a better job of figuring it out, because I did not kill either of those people.”
“It doesn’t look good,” Pierce said. “There’s going to be an outcry that you were let out without bail, just so you know.”
Wonderful. Just what we needed. More bad press. “I understand,” Nick said.
Pierce pulled the evidence back. “There will also be pressure to bring you in until a pre-trial conference.”
“It’s too late. Can’t do that now that I’ve been let out without bail,” Nick said.
I didn’t know that, but I didn’t practice criminal law like he did, so I was going with him on that.
“We’ll see,” Pierce said. “Don’t leave town.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Nick said.
Pierce leaned back. “Okay. I’d like to go into more detail about your relationship with your father. How often did he hit you and what did he do to your mom?”
I stood. “This interview is over.” Anything else Nick could possibly say would only incriminate him further.
“Do you have an alibi for the murders?” Pierce asked.
“Since we don’t exactly know the time and place of death, you’d have to give me more information,” Nick said smoothly. “I’m sure I have several alibis for that time, but you need to nail down the timeline.”
Pierce’s gaze narrowed. “I’m asking about the night your father and Imogen disappeared. Maybe during that weekend. Do you have an alibi for that time?”
“It’s well known that I was camping with my brothers,” Nick said.
“Did anybody else see you?” Pierce asked.
I pulled on Nick’s good arm, wondering belatedly how his arrow wound was healing. Mine was much better, at least if the stitches didn’t pull. “That’s all the information we’re willing to give up at this time, Detective Pierce.”
It was one thing to speak and give Pierce details he already knew, especially since we’d gleaned some facts in return, but Nick needed to be quiet now. There was a reason suspects had a right to remain silent. Nick needed to do so right now.
I cleared my throat. “We’re leaving now. We have to find Violet.”
Nick stilled as if he’d forgotten about the girl. “Of course, yes. Let’s go.” He stood and looked at Pierce. “Was there any other DNA found at the scene?”
Pierce lifted his chin. “Your attorney needs to make a request for evidence.”
“I will,” I said.
Nick smiled. “There’s other DNA. Blood?”
Pierce clicked the cameras off. “Yes. Can’t be identified. But you didn’t hear that from me.”
Nick’s face looked like it had been carved from granite. “Thanks.”
We walked out with chills sliding down my back. Tessa met us in the hallway, her gaze concerned. Nick gave her a sharp nod and said, “Let’s go.”
I could almost feel the distance starting to widen between them. He was going to be an idiot and push her away in an effort to protect her from everything about to come. Damn it. I wished he’d been able to propose at the basketball game. That was the third time we’d failed. Apparently, bad things did come in threes.
We walked down to the main floor, and cameras instantly started snapping.
Jolene O’Sullivan elbowed her way in front of several other reporters, shoving her microphone toward Nick. “Prosecutor Basanelli, is it true you were just arrested for killing your father?”
I was wrong. Bad things came in fours.
Chapter 27
Sunday morning arrived after Aiden and I had grabbed about three hours of sleep. The family was pretty much sleeping in shifts on both sides of the mountain pass while searching for Violet. Her situation had hit the front page of the newspaper, on the bottom fold beneath Nick’s case—which held center stage. There was a picture of us walking down the police steps with Detective Pierce.