Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
Morgan
“Thanks, Ollie. I shouldn’t be too long.”
“No worries, Morgan.” He smiled as I climbed out of the SUV and walked into the prison.
They took me down to a room where Theodore Williamson was waiting, handcuffed to the table like a caged animal, even though nothing was frightening about him.
“Mr. Williamson, I’m Morgan Ashley, and I work for Mr. Hamilton. I need to ask you some questions about your case.”
“Are you a lawyer too?” he asked.
“No. I’m a private investigator.”
“I didn’t do it. I would never hurt Grace like that. I loved her.”
“So, you weren’t angry that night she told you she cheated on you and was pregnant with another man’s baby?”
“Of course, I was angry. I was pissed as hell, but I would never physically hurt her.”
“Eyewitnesses reported that they saw you screaming at her outside of the restaurant and violently grabbing her arm. She was begging you to let go. ”
“I was trying to get her into my car so we could go somewhere private to talk. Her telling me inside the restaurant wasn’t right.”
“Maybe she did that because she was afraid of you.”
“She wasn’t afraid of me! I never did a thing to her. I only loved her the best way I could, and she goes and betrays me.”
“Do you have any idea why she would cheat on you?”
“None at all. I was shocked when she told me. We had a good relationship. You have to believe me, Miss Ashley. I didn’t murder her. I’m being framed. My father disowned me, and I haven’t seen my brother since I was found guilty.”
“Were you and your brother close?”
“I thought we were. But maybe he never fully accepted me because I wasn’t blood.”
“What do you mean?” My brows furrowed.
“I was adopted because my parents were told they could never have children. A week after they adopted me and brought me home, my mother found out she was pregnant. Ever since he was forced to take the stand as a witness for the prosecution, I haven’t seen or heard from him. He won’t take any of my calls.”
I looked through the file at his brother’s testimony.
“They called him to the stand to validate your ongoing anger issues throughout the years?” I asked.
“Yes. But I know he didn’t have a choice. They subpoenaed him, and he couldn’t lie under oath.”
The wheels in my head started spinning. Roman was right about Theodore Williamson. Something in his pleading voice made me believe he was telling the truth.
After leaving the prison, I climbed into the back of the SUV.
“How did it go?” Ollie asked .
“Good. Can we stop at Starbucks for a coffee? And then I need you to take me to Williamson Development Corp.”
After grabbing a coffee, I stepped inside the Williamson Development Corp. building, looked at the directory, and found that Theodore’s brother had an office on the fourth floor.
“Can I help you?” A young woman sitting behind the desk asked.
“I need to speak with Mr. Williamson.”
“And you are?”
“Morgan Ashley. I’m a private investigator.”
“One moment.” She stood from her desk and opened Mr. Williamson’s office door. “You may go in,” she said.
I stepped inside the office. Mr. Williamson stood from his desk and extended his hand. “Miss Ashley, what can I do for you?”
I placed my hand in his and lightly shook it.
“I’m here to discuss your brother.”
“Unfortunately, my brother murdered his girlfriend. There’s nothing to discuss. He’s been convicted, and that’s the end of it. I don’t understand what’s going on here?”
“You were my last hope. Mr. Roman Hamilton is your brother’s new attorney. He was looking to see if there was any other evidence we could present that would possibly prove your brother wasn’t the one who murdered Grace. I’m at a dead end,” I lied to get him to talk.
“It’s a shame.” He shook his head. “I never believed my brother could do such a thing, but the evidence suggested otherwise.”
“Theodore told me he hasn’t seen or heard from you since his conviction. He said he didn’t understand because he thought the two of you were close. But then again, he felt you never really accepted him because he wasn’t blood-related. ”
“Regardless of whether he was adopted or not, he’s still my brother. The truth is, Miss Ashley, that I can’t face my brother. Not only am I ashamed of what he did, but I’m ashamed of the things I said on the witness stand.
“You were legally obligated to tell the truth, Mr. Williamson.”
“I know. But I believe that my testimony about his anger issues put the final nail in the coffin for him.” I noted his nervousness as he shifted in his seat.
“It was more the evidence the prosecution had,” I said, as my eyes diverted to the plaque that hung on the wall.
Gregory Williamson, Vice President
Realtor of the Year
Presented to Gregory Williamson
In Appreciation of Excellent Service
And Dedication
2022-2023
“Nice plaque. You must do very well for yourself here.”
“I do. Are you in the market for a house?”
“No.” I laughed. “But when I am, I will definitely call you. Thank you for speaking with me.” I stood up and extended my hand.
As I walked to the door, he called my name.
“Miss Ashley?”
“Yes?” I turned and faced him.
“Does my brother know he’s not getting out of prison?”
“He will soon enough.”
I had Ollie take me back to the office. Stepping inside the conference room, I opened my laptop and began doing what I did best: searching for articles on Williamson Development Corp. The one that caught my attention was the one announcing Gregory’s promotion to Vice President shortly after his brother’s conviction.
“Who was the V.P. before you, Gregory?” I mumbled to myself. My suspicions about Mr. Gregory Williamson were coming through loud and clear.
I pulled the picture of Grace Norway’s lifeless body that lay in the wooded park where two hikers found her. Grabbing my phone, I took a photo of her necklace, zoomed in, and stared at it—a diamond open heart attached to an eighteen-inch gold chain.
I called the prison and asked to speak to Theodore. After waiting on hold for over fifteen minutes, I heard his voice.
“Hello.”
“Theodore, it’s Morgan Ashley. I have a question for you. Grace was wearing a diamond open-heart necklace when she was found. Did you give it to her? Maybe for her birthday or something?”
“No. It was a gift from her mother, who lives in Texas. She gave it to her for her birthday, which was three months before she died. I was shocked because her mom had no money and lived in a trailer home. When I asked Grace how her mother could afford it, she told me that a friend had just passed away and left her a lot of money.”
“Can you give me her mother’s name?”
“Sure. It’s Melinda Norway. She lives in Austin, Texas, and works or worked as a waitress at a diner called Moody’s. What does this have to do with my case?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’ll keep in touch.”
With a few strokes of the keyboard, I checked on Melinda Norway. For someone who inherited a lot of money, she still lived in the same trailer home and worked at the diner. I dialed her number and waited for her to answer.
“Hello. ”
“Ms. Norway?”
“Yeah. Who’s this?” Her voice sounded rough.
“My name is Morgan Ashley, and I work for The Hamilton Group. Roman Hamilton is the attorney for Theodore Williamson.”
“What do you mean? He’s been convicted for murdering my daughter.”
“I know, and we’re looking into the possibility that he didn’t do it. The heart necklace your daughter was wearing when they found her body was the one you had given her for her birthday, correct?”
“What necklace? I didn’t give her a necklace for her birthday. I can barely afford to take care of myself.”
This woman was undoubtedly the Mother of the Year.
“What about the money you inherited when your friend passed away?” I knew there wasn’t any money, but I needed her to confirm it.
“What money? What friend? Listen, lady. I’m busy and don’t have time for this nonsense. Don’t call me again.”
I looked at my phone, noting she had hung up on me. Rolling my eyes, I returned to the computer and looked up everything on Gregory Williamson.
“You were in some hefty debt, Mr. Williamson,” I said. “Let’s see if we can track down a purchase for a necklace from Tiffany for three thousand fifty-one dollars plus tax.”
After two hours of scouring his credit card statements, I found it.
“Got you. You bastard.” I smiled.
The office door opened, and Roman walked in. Instantly, the room filled with his scent.
“What’s that smile for? Still thinking about how excellent I fucked you last night? ”
“Knock it off.” I pointed at him. “And stop talking like that.”
“Fine.” He sighed, pulling the chair out across from me and sitting down. “How did your visit with Theodore go?”
“It went great. He didn’t murder Grace Norway.”
“Okay. What proof did you find that nobody else could?”
I picked up the picture of Grace and slid it across the table.
“The necklace.”
“What about it?” His eyes narrowed.
“Theodore didn’t give it to her. She told him that her mother gave it to her for her birthday when her friend passed away, and she inherited a lot of money. Only Melinda Norway didn’t buy that necklace for her daughter.”