Carlson’s eyes went to the bartender, who eyed them, and around the nearly empty bar. “Private.”
Ash motioned to a table in the corner of the room. Once they were seated, Carlson demanded, “What do you want?”
“I want to talk to you about Catherine Reed’s murder.”
“Go away.”
Ash shrugged. “Hey, I thought you might want to help clear your name.”
Carlson’s harsh laugh bounced around the room. “Sure, that’s what cops do, try to prove the suspect innocent.” He took a swallow of his beer. “If you think I’m going to say anything to you after what you cops did to me, then you’re crazier than my last cell mate.”
Ash leaned forward. “Think about it, Carlson. There’s going to be another trial because of who the victim was. Both Catherine Reed’s husband and parents are powers in this city, in this state. They’re not going to let this go. They’ve already been yammering at the D.A. about the situation.” With each word, Ash watched the other man’s face close down.
“So?”
“So you want a repeat of the first trial?”
Carlson’s eyes narrowed. “Why don’t you talk to my lawyer?”
Ash leaned back in his chair. “Hey, I got no problem with that. I was just wondering why a pro like you would stoop to murder? I didn’t think guys with your talent would hack a women to death.”
“Too bad that thought didn’t occur to that woman D.A. at my first trial.”
“Well, your hands were torn up.”
“Changing a flat will do that.”
Ash bit back his irritation. “So you saying you didn’t do it?”
Carlson glared. “That’s what I’m saying.”
Ash sat back, considering him. “Makes sense to me.”
“Yeah, tell it to the D.A.” Carlson swallowed the rest of his beer.
“All right.”
Carlson went still, his eyes narrowed. “What’s the catch?”
The man responded to the lure Ash had put out. “Well, Catherine Reed is still dead and someone needs to be tried. I thought that maybe you’d be interested in helping me catch the real killer.”
Carlson laughed. “Who hit you in the head?”
Ash shrugged. “You’re right, Carlson. It is farfetched for me to believe that you want someone else to pay for that murder. Besides, I don’t believe you were ever charged on the burglary. I think the D.A. needs to do that immediately. We’re getting grief about you walking around. Of course if you help, those charges can go away. But if you don’t want to help…” Ash stood.
Carlson’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait.”
Pausing, Ash looked at Carlson.
“What do you want to say to me?” Carlson asked, fingering his glass.
Ash sat and leaned forward. “After reviewing the case, I don’t think you killed Catherine Reed.”
He nodded. “You’re damn straight.”
“My problem is, if you didn’t do it, I need to find out who did.”
“So find him.”
“That’s why I’m here. I want you to recount that night to me. Maybe you’ve got the key and don’t know it.”
Carlson stared at his empty glass. “I should have my lawyer here.”
“Fine.” Ash pushed away from the table. “We’re going to refile on this case soon and if I don’t have someone else, you’re it.”
Carlson knuckled his glass. “What the hell. I broke in the house to rob them. I saw her necklace the week before when I worked a society party, parking cars. I discovered who they were and where they lived. I worked the charity fund-raiser they were at that night. After I parked their car, I cut out and went to their house. She didn’t have the necklace in her jewelry box, so I looked for a safe. Found it in the library. I’m good with safes and it was a piece of cake to break into it. I took a couple of necklaces and a ring.”
A rush of excitement flooded Ash. “So no one was there when you broke into the house?”
“No. I heard them drive up. The party wasn’t supposed to be over until ten. It was nine when the car pulled into the driveway. I heard yelling and cut out. I steal, but don’t murder.”
Carlson’s reasoning sounded firm. Ash knew that thieves rarely changed their modus operandi. When they chose a victim, many professional thieves didn’t carry any sort of weapon with them.
Carlson shook his head. “But as I was leaving, I knocked over a plant in the library. I didn’t have time to set it upright. Someone else did that lady. It wasn’t me.”
“What about the murder weapon? Did you see it?”
Carlson’s eyes dropped to the table. “I’ve got a thing for weapons like that. I considered taking it. Took it down from the wall, but I noticed the engraving on the blade. I couldn’t fence anything like that, so I left it. But in my hurry, I didn’t hang it back on the wall.”
There was something about Carlson’s story that rang true. “Okay, I believe you.”
The look of surprise on Carlson’s face made Ash want to laugh.
“You do?”
“Houston PD isn’t after you, Carlson. We want who killed Mrs. Reed.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“I’ll want to keep in contact with you in case any other questions come up.” Ash handed Carlson his business card. “When you get a job, let me know where I can get in contact with you.”
Carlson nodded.
Ash stood and walked out of the bar. Carlson sounded innocent to him. But he had discovered that the Reeds were fighting when they returned home.
It was a new lead.
Kelly packed up the papers she needed to take home with her to review. This day had been a little better than the day the Texas Supreme Court overturned the Carlson conviction but not by much. She had a headache, her feet hurt from standing in court most of the day, and if she had to listen to one more complaint—one more society matron telling her what an injustice had been perpetrated on the state—she might run screaming from the room.
She’d had to get out of her office before anyone else could protest or ask her to do something or tell her what else had gone wrong.
Leaning down to grab her purse, she heard the door to
