Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
N OTHING WAS MORE DRAINING than a tough homicide case. Hanna watched Nathan drive away knowing Edda’s death weighed on him like Scott’s weighed on her. The frustration of not knowing where to look for the next lead bit like the sting of a wasp.
Back in her office, Hanna went through the pile of messages on her desk. Most of them were media inquiries about the investigation into Scott’s death and the discovery of Edda Fairchild. A couple of reporters wanted to do on-air interviews about both stories. Hanna could speak to Scott’s case, but Nathan’s case was not her jurisdiction. All the bodies had been found on county land, so she would have to refer that case to the sheriff’s department.
“You saw that request from channel seven.” Terry Holmes poked his head in the door.
“Yeah. I’m fine with your doing an interview if you wish. We’re at a standstill. Everett didn’t have anything helpful to say, and we still need to talk to Chase.”
Terry held up a folder. “Everyone I’ve interviewed lines up with what Everett had to say. According to Grover, the morning Scott left to fly, Everett was busy with Braden and the riding instructor. Scott was in the house, doing his own thing until he left. Grover is not even sure what time he left to go to the airfield. Chase was nowhere around. He doesn’t live in the main house.”
“I think I’ve heard that before. After his injuries, Everett built him his own place on the property.”
Terry nodded. “It was just a normal morning. The only other person in the house was the housekeeper. You already read her statement. I have not been able to confirm that he made the coffee at home.”
“Yeah, she was busy making a grocery list and preparing to go shopping. If he didn’t make the coffee at home, he made it at the airfield.”
Terry nodded again. “At this point, I’m leaning toward the poison being put in the coffee by someone at the airfield. I’ll look through more security video. We missed something.”
“I know. I’ll push Chase. It’s a loose thread that needs to be tied up. Everything is crazy right now, but I don’t want that to be an excuse.”
“I understand. Everyone who grew up in Dry Oaks knew Aunt Edda. Hearing about her was quite a shock.”
“Yes, but I’m used to having a lot on my plate. I shouldn’t be so easily distracted. I’m also still troubled about this Marcus-Scott dustup.”
“I reinterviewed the guys at the airfield. No one else saw it. Only Jeff Smith.”
Hanna thought about that. “I can’t see Smith making that up. His alibi is solid.”
“Valerie Fox confirms tension between Marcus and Scott, about a supposed book.”
“That’s weird too. Everett had no idea about a book, and Marcus won’t admit to it. Chase may be the only one to settle this mystery.”
Terry nodded and went back to his office. She called Marcus and left another voicemail.
Hanna was left alone with her conflicted thoughts about Joe. He’d been a boogeyman in her life since birth. A true monster who murdered her best friend’s parents. Things had been tough when she was a kid, but Mandy and Jared were the two people who helped her the most during those years, the ones who made sure she survived, even thrived. They knew what she’d gone through. She’d already talked to Mandy.
Would talking to Jared help in some way? What would his perspective be?
Hanna got up and paced her small office. Jared had given her his number. She hadn’t put it in her phone yet. It was so odd to her. She knew he was here. He was a firefighter, and once or twice she’d run into him at traffic-accident scenes, yet she didn’t know how to approach him and just talk.
Putting him on the back burner for a moment, she redirected her thoughts to Joe. She didn’t want him in her house. But neither did she want to say no to Mandy. Mandy had lost the most because of Joe, yet she befriended Hanna when no one else would. And she had been a steadfast friend for years.
I owe it to her. She deserves to know where her parents are buried. Still, Hanna’s hand hesitated on the phone. Joe was in prison for murder. What kind of danger might there be in bringing him to her house?
She’d have to ask Giles. Maybe this was an out. Hanna certainly didn’t want to put her life or anyone else’s in danger. Mandy would understand if that were the case.
Taking a deep breath, she punched in the number for the Department of Corrections. She’d get her questions answered before she committed to anything. Gordon Giles took her call.
“Thank you for getting back to us, Chief. I’m hoping you considered the request.”
“I’m considering. However, though on paper Joe is my father, I don’t know him. I’ve never lived with him. And he’s a convicted murderer. I once arrested a man in a wheelchair for stabbing someone. Is it safe for him to be in my home?”
Giles gave a little chuckle. “I understand your concern. I can’t predict the future, but I can say that Joe Keyes has been an exemplary inmate for almost his entire time served. Ten years ago, he saved the life of a corrections officer and stopped a riot, and he’s never been out of line here. And physically, well, he’s semimobile, with the help of a walker or a cane, and he’s on oxygen twenty-four seven. Prison doc thinks he has less than a month left. Does that help you at all?”
Less than a month left.
Hanna bit her bottom lip. Despite Giles’s obvious respect for Joe, she was unable to quell the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. That Giles spoke glowingly of Joe did surprise her. And the time Joe had left—would he even last long enough to be brought to her house?
“It helps some...” She couldn’t bring herself to say that she’d take him in.
“We have not come to this decision lightly. The vote of the parole board was unanimous,” Giles said. “If there were any hint that your father would be a danger to you, or anyone, he’d never be considered for release.”
Hanna sighed. If it weren’t for Mandy, this decision would not have been so difficult.
“I do have questions,” she said. “Okay, he walks with a walker, and he needs oxygen. What other kind of care and how do I manage it?”
“No fear; we have that taken care of. He’s being released on hospice. There will be a team attending him. Before he’s released, a member of the hospice team and I will visit your home and let you know what’s needed. Right now, I’ll start the paperwork. When would be a good time for our visit?”
Hanna ran her hands through her hair, stunned by how quickly things were moving along. Mouth dry, she swallowed before squeaking out, “Ah, what day did you have in mind?”
“The sooner the better. I can be there Wednesday morning. Around noon?”
She glanced at her calendar, barely seeing it. So soon?
“That would be fine, I guess.”
They finalized the arrangement, and for a time, Hanna sat at her desk and prayed. She felt no peace, only confusion. What had she done?
She called Nathan, wondering if he’d be able to tip the scale one way or another. It went to voicemail, and he was most likely in an interview room. No help there. Then it occurred to Hanna that maybe she should notify her boss about the arrangement with Joe. It was conceivable that having Joe here might disrupt her schedule, and she should let the mayor know.
Next, she rang the mayor’s aide and asked if Mayor Milton was available for a brief chat, and she got an affirmative answer. Hanna headed across the street to the courthouse. The mayor’s office was on the third floor, the top.
The mayor’s door stood open, and the aide waved Hanna in.
“What a sad day in Dry Oaks.” Evelyn shook her head. “I’m having trouble processing the fact that Edda was murdered. We went to school together.”
“A lot of people are having a hard time with it.”
“Do we have any leads?”
“Nathan and Manny are working hard. I have faith in them.”
Evelyn smiled. “Good. I was going to call you just before you called. Great minds think alike. Do you have an update on Scott? I thought all the media inquiries had calmed down, but I’ve seen the news agencies who want on-air interviews.”
Hanna sighed, not sure if the misdirection was a good thing. She updated the mayor on the investigation.
“Surely you don’t think Chase had anything to do with Scott’s death? Maybe whatever killed him was accidentally ingested?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. It’s an investigation. That means talking to everyone who was close to Scott. Chase should understand that.”
Milton considered this for a minute. “I’ll talk to Everett. I’m sure he and Chase want to help as much as they can.”
“Thank you.”
“So what’s on your mind, Chief? Great job on Friday with Braden, by the way. I had coffee with Everett this morning.”
“Just doing what you pay me for.” Hanna sat in the chair in front of the mayor’s desk. “I wanted to give you a heads-up. I’ve taken on a responsibility and I’m not certain that it won’t affect my job from time to time.”
Evelyn frowned and leaned forward. “What kind of responsibility?”
“It’s Joe; the Department of Corrections called me. He’s dying. They are giving him compassionate parole and asking that I take him in, give him a place to spend his last days.”
Shock crossed the mayor’s face, and she sat back in her chair. “What? They’re letting Joe Keyes out of prison?”
“Yeah, they contacted—”
“You’re sure about this?”
Hanna swallowed, nonplussed by Evelyn’s reaction. “It’s a state thing. I can show you the letter. You know they must ease overcrowding. Every inmate they can release is being released. The parole board was unanimous—”
“Why is this the first I’ve heard? Shouldn’t there have been public comment before they made such a decision? He caused this town so much pain. Why would you bring him here?”
“I felt an obligation—”
The mayor stood, her brows lowered. “This was not a wise decision.”
Anger took her by surprise, and Hanna felt compelled to stand as well, and to defend Joe and the decision she hadn’t really made yet. “He’s dying, on hospice, so he won’t be here long. I’ve made my decision.”
“Huh, best keep this quiet then. A lot of people in this town have long memories. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Just that everyone alive during that time will remember those days. They were dark days. It wasn’t only the murder, it was the meth that poisoned the county. Joe was cooker. Not to mention the search for the FBI agent. For six months federal officers tore this town up looking for their man. Everyone was affected.”
“There was never any evidence that Joe had anything to do with the agent’s disappearance.”
“It’s the principle of the thing. Joe was a dark cloud in our horizon. Your father won’t win any popularity contests in Dry Oaks. And with Marshall’s book being in so many hands, who knows what some angry person may do.”
Hanna knew that was true. It hadn’t entered her mind before, but because of the book, everyone in town knew a certain story about what had happened thirty-five years ago.
How would that play in town now?
And if Joe came clean about Mandy’s parents, would that help at all?