Kruger...what? Wandered back into town this morning?”
“She called me last night and said she was flying in from Vegas. I only met her this morning, and verified her identity.”
“And you couldn’t give me a heads-up before sending out a press release?” Sally pressed her fingers against her shut eyelids. “Dammit, Dennis. You’ve turned this into a three-ring circus.”
“Oh, come now,” he said, clicking his tongue. “This was a circus long before this morning. This case has been held up by the state’s attorney as an example of his staff’s dedication. You’re all so tough on crime and so clever that you don’t even need a body to go to trial. The magic of forensic science and all that.” He snorted. “I just shone the spotlight in a different direction. All of this works to my client’s advantage, really. Maximum impact.”
She rubbed at her forehead. God, was he right about maximum impact. The press was going to love this little gift.
“You need to file an emergency motion and withdraw all charges,” Marlow continued flatly. “Have it heard immediately so Mitch can get out of jail. He’s been held without bail for months. I hope it doesn’t come out later that you’ve been withholding evidence that would have exonerated my client.” His tone was pointed.
Withholding evidence. Marlow didn’t need to come out and say explicitly what she knew he was thinking. The state had charged a man with murdering a wife who turned out to be very much alive. He’d be searching high and low for proof that the state had overlooked exonerating evidence to manipulate the investigation’s outcome. A civil lawsuit could follow, and quickly. “I’d like to meet with Mrs. Kruger before I file anything. Once I verify her identity for myself, I’ll file a motion to withdraw all charges immediately. That goes without saying.”
“We’re at city hall now. We can be at your office in twenty minutes. Half an hour, tops.” Marlow sighed loudly into the phone. “I probably don’t need to tell you this, but this has been a long nightmare for my client. First his wife walks out on him, then the state brings charges against him for her murder. He lost his job. His son was set to testify against him. This proceeding has done immense harm to Mitch’s reputation and familial relations.”
Heat climbed into Sally’s chest. “I’m not sure what you’re implying, Dennis. The state may ultimately have been mistaken, but we aren’t liable for any wrongdoing. We brought that case on sound forensic evidence.”
He laughed drily. “Not so sound, was it? Not really, when the alleged victim is still alive.”
Sally balled one fist and brought it to her lap, digging her fingernails into her palms. This was Marlow’s little way of informing her that Mr. Kruger would be bringing one hell of a lawsuit. It didn’t matter whether the suit was actually successful; the bad press would be damaging enough to the office. She bit her cheek until it hurt, to keep from saying anything she’d regret. “I’ll see you in our conference room in twenty minutes.”
“I’ll be there with bells on.”
She had no sooner slammed her phone down than Jack darkened her doorway. “Sally.”
Her boss’s hands were on his hips, and his face was red. Not angry red, just an alarmed shade of ripened tomato. That made two of them.
“You finish everything you need to do?”
She propped her elbows on her desk and rested her head in her hands. What a nightmare. “Yes, sir. For now. I’m meeting with Dennis in twenty. I need to meet the vic—Mrs. Kruger—for myself.” How disorienting to hear those words out loud, when she’d spent nearly a year thinking of Ronnie Kruger as a concealed body, not a living woman.
“You want to tell me how it is that the murder victim in your case is holding a press conference?”
“Besides stating the obvious?” She looked up to meet his concerned eyes. “You can’t be mad at me, Jack. I’ve prepared for that case exhaustively. I just...” She shook her head, not knowing what she thought anymore. “The evidence was good. Solid. It was Mrs. Kruger’s blood on that rug. There was too much blood for her to have survived. It all added up.” Sally rubbed her temples. It didn’t make sense.
“It’s my fault. The hours you’ve been pulling... I should’ve given you help a long time ago.” He planted himself in her visitor’s chair. His thick eyebrows pulled together, wrinkling the skin on his forehead, and he cursed. “We need to fix this. Quickly.”
She thought of that press conference, how Marlow had chosen to drag Mrs. Kruger out into the spotlight to humiliate Sally, the office and the police. “He let his client sit in jail so that he could shock us all with the news.” Her cheeks grew hot.
“We were about to bring a man to trial for a murder that never happened,” Jack said, loosening his tie. “I don’t think I need to lecture you on the seriousness of this.”
Her heart fell to the floor. No, he didn’t, but he may as well have with that last comment. The effect was equally humiliating. “No, sir. Believe me.”
A quiet rage flickered in her gut. She’d worked her rear off to get to where she was—one of the lead attorneys in the homicide division. She’d worked late nights and weekends for the better part of a decade, sharpening her skills. This case was just like any other: she’d pored over the evidence carefully and taken her responsibilities seriously. Even if Jack didn’t exactly see it, she was certain that the evidence had been manipulated and a trap set. Sally had spent most of her life being underestimated and taken lightly, and she’d worked hard to prove everyone wrong. No one was going to make a fool out of her.
She tried to keep her voice steady now, but it sounded shaky, as if her words were being dragged over gravel. “I’m going to review that file. I’m going to figure this out. Some crime was committed, and whether it was an attempt to commit insurance fraud or murder...” She looked at him. “I’ll fix it. I promise.”
“Sally.” He leveled a gaze at her. “You’re off the file. I’ll review this myself.”
Her heart galloped, and her breath quickened. Jack would review the files? And what if he found a mistake? She scratched at her leg. She hadn’t made one, she was sure. But what if she had? She didn’t want to be blindsided. “Jack, no one knows that case better than I do. You know me. You know I’ve always been forthright with you. Besides, this doesn’t violate any ethical rules. I can examine the file as well as anyone.”
“Sally, I want a review. You can’t review your own file. That doesn’t even make sense.”
“I can review it.”
They both turned at the sound of a voice. Ben stood in the doorway, his hands on his hips, and shrugged nonchalantly. “Jack already briefed me on it this morning, and I’m probably the least busy person in this office.”
“Not for long,” Jack said, unconvinced.
“Not for long. But for now.” Ben crossed his arms. “I’ve prosecuted complicated cases. I had a few murder cases while on tour. I know my way around forensic evidence. Besides, Sally and I are partners on this case. You said so yourself, Jack.”
He sat in quiet thought before shaking his head. “God knows I don’t need to deal with investigating this mess, on top of everything else I’m doing.” He eyed Ben and then looked at Sally. “What do you think?
