Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Ace hated waiting more than he hated apricots, and that was saying something. He was allergic to the little bastards. He looked down at the green tie Daisy had told him to wear. “I’m not sure about the tie.”
Daisy sat at the head of the table in the sheriff’s conference room, wearing a fitted black suit that seemed somber.
Her hair was pinned back tighter than usual.
A legal pad sat in front of her with notes written in even lines.
She looked him over. “I’m not sure. You do look like you’re trying too hard. ”
“Agreed.” He tore off the tie and tossed it toward the door, leaving him in an ironed white button-down shirt.
“At least you shaved this morning,” Daisy noted.
He rubbed his smooth jaw, not sure why. His shadow was already coming in, and May liked it.
She’d loved it rubbed against her inner thigh last night after they’d returned from checking out the kids from the wreck.
A couple had bruises, but everyone was okay.
The driver had swerved to avoid a deer and no alcohol had been involved.
He figured if he didn’t go to prison, he should get used to heading to the hospital with May at all hours.
No way would he let her go alone. That was over. Well, unless he went to prison for something he didn’t do.
He’d spent the morning helping townspeople with odd jobs, figuring he might as well be useful as long as he could be. Of course, he’d had to apologize profusely for missing the bridge game. Apparently being arrested for murder wasn’t a good enough excuse.
“You’re going to let me talk.” Daisy smoothed down her skirt.
“Not a problem.” Ace agreed, settling his bulk in the chair instead of pacing. The wood creaked under his weight.
The monitor blinked once, then twice, and the feed from Fairbanks came into focus.
The camera angle was off at first, tilted toward the ceiling, before someone adjusted it and centered the frame.
A standard courtroom filled the screen, evenly lit by fluorescent panels.
The judge’s bench dominated the front of the room, with two counsel tables positioned below it and a few empty rows of seating behind.
Assistant District Attorney Samantha Kincaid sat at the state’s table.
Ace had read her name on the notice. She looked to be around thirty and much more put together than the ADA he’d dealt with during the bail hearing.
Kincaid wore a navy suit and held herself upright without stiffness.
Her hair was brown and her eyes green. A legal file rested open in front of her, one hand placed lightly on top of it.
Daisy stood when the clerk announced the case. She introduced herself and noted that Ace was present for the record.
Kincaid stood. “Samantha Kincaid for the State.”
Judge Ralph Talbot adjusted his glasses and looked straight into the camera. He looked to be in his early forties with thin blond hair. “We’re here for a preliminary hearing and also for a motion from the state regarding bail. Let’s tackle the motion first because it’ll affect the prelim.”
Kincaid didn’t waste time as she stood in what looked like a nice office. “Your Honor, the State moves to revoke bail. The defendant is a former fighter pilot with extensive aviation training. He has the ability to leave this jurisdiction quickly and effectively.”
Daisy stepped in before the silence could turn against them.
“Your Honor, Ace is a longtime resident of Knife’s Edge.
He has significant ties to the community, including three brothers living here, and he has no intention of going anywhere.
In addition, there’s no evidence against him in this matter. Not a bit.”
Kincaid’s eyes flicked briefly toward the camera. “Capability is the issue. The defendant has the means to disappear.”
Judge Talbot folded his hands. “What new evidence has the State developed tying Mr. Osprey to the alleged crimes?”
Kincaid didn’t hesitate. “Circumstantial evidence remains strong. He had prior personal interactions with one of the victims. He was in proximity to the second victim the evening of her death, and in fact, was the last person to see her.”
“Except for the killer,” Daisy said.
Kincaid’s pen stopped mid-note.
The judge lowered his chin and looked over the rim of his glasses at Daisy. “That’s enough, counsel.”
Daisy inclined her head once and folded her hands.
Ace kept his expression neutral, but he thought she had made the point cleanly.
The judge shifted his attention to the ADA. He tapped the edge of the bench lightly with his pen. “Forensics?”
Kincaid straightened a page in her file. “Not at this time, Your Honor.”
“DNA?” he asked.
She didn’t look down this time. “No.”
The judge reached for a pen. “Any witness placing the defendant at either scene?”
Kincaid paused for a brief moment. “No.”
The judge leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking softly. He stared at the ceiling for a moment and then returned his gaze to the camera. His expression remained unreadable.
Daisy cleared her throat. “Your Honor, speculation about what someone could do is not evidence of what they have done. Mr. Osprey surrendered voluntarily when questioned. He’s not going anywhere.”
Kincaid jerked her chin. “Your Honor, the seriousness of the charges must be weighed. Two counts of homicide. If convicted, the incentive to flee increases significantly.”
The judge looked back at Ace. “Mr. Osprey, are you planning to leave the state of Alaska?”
Ace stood. “No, Your Honor.”
“I’m not persuaded that revocation is warranted,” the judge said finally. “Bail remains under the same conditions as before.”
Daisy straightened. “Thank you, Your Honor.”
The judge looked down at his file before focusing back on the camera. “The preliminary hearing will now proceed as scheduled.”
Daisy pulled out her chair and sat, motioning for Ace to do the same.
He did, settling in next to her.
Daisy tapped her pen on the table, turning to whisper. “Now the State will put on a few witnesses, all by Zoom, about the crimes. We’ll get the autopsy results as well as any forensic information, and then I’ll make a motion to dismiss based on lack of evidence.”
He looked at her. “So this could be over today?”
Her lip twisted. “No. They have enough to go to trial, I think. Settle in. It’s going to be a long couple of hours.”
Just wonderful.
May finished wiping down the examination room when Nancy poked her head through the door. She wore a light blue dress covered in tiny flowers and a new shade of pink lipstick that brightened her face.
“I finished all the billing. Do you mind if I take off?” Nancy asked. She and her husband had a date tonight, and she’d been humming all day.
“No, it’s almost dinner time. I hope you have a wonderful date.”
Nancy grinned. “I’m so excited to have a babysitter.” She smoothed her dress. “We haven’t been out in forever.”
May almost teased her about not coming home with a fifth son, but she kept it to herself. The Phylets made adorable boys. Maybe they wanted a houseful.
Nancy looked around, sobering. “I’m sorry to be happy. I’m still sad.”
“We’re all sad about Ivy, but you deserve happiness.” May smiled at her friend. “I heard from Ivy’s parents, and they’re having the funeral the week after next. They’re supposed to call when plans are finalized. I’m thinking about flying down to Washington state. Do you want to go? It’s on me.”
Nancy nodded, her dark hair brushing her face. “Yes. I would love to go.”
May needed to check on tickets as soon as she had the dates. “I’m inviting Lance too.” Who knew. Maybe by then Ace would feel steady enough to fly again. She doubted he would want to go that far in a plane right now. If ever. “For now, go on a date with your husband.”
“See you tomorrow. I’ll lock the front door on my way out.” Nancy grabbed her purse and headed down the hall.
The clinic went quiet after the front door shut. Lance was still working at the football camp, and without his usual footsteps and music drifting from the back room, the place felt too still. May missed Ivy even more when the quiet descended.
Now alone, May tossed the damp paper towels into the trash and headed back to her office. She sat at her desk and pulled a file toward her, trying to focus on chart notes and medication adjustments.
A noise carried from the front waiting room.
“Nancy?” she called as she stepped into the hallway and hurried toward the reception area.
“No, it’s me. Jack.” He stood in the waiting room under the overhead lights, wearing torn shorts and a worn, gray T-shirt.
His blond hair stuck up in uneven spikes, and his knuckles were split and swelling.
Blood streaked across the back of his hand and down his fingers.
“Sorry, Doc. The front door was locked. I came in through the hospital side.”
She glanced at the connecting door. “That’s fine.”
Up close, his eyes looked darker than usual. Not angry. Broken.
“What did you do to your hand?” she asked.
A tear slipped down his cheek, and he wiped it away with his uninjured hand as if annoyed with himself. “I hit a wall. Like eight times.”
Was this about Ivy? May stepped toward him. “All right. I might need to do an X-ray. Come this way.”
He followed her into Exam Room Two and dropped onto the table. The paper crinkled under his weight. His shoulders were shaking, and this time it wasn’t from pain. “It’s my fault,” he said, voice breaking. “It’s totally my fault.”
May shut the door and stepped closer. “Let me see your hand.”
His knuckles were swelling fast across the third and fourth metacarpals. The skin was split in two places, and tiny flecks of wood chips and paint were embedded in the raw tissue. Blood had dried in uneven streaks down his fingers.
“It looks like you’ve got debris in there. I’ll need to clean it out. I’m going to numb it first,” she said.
“Why did this have to happen? Ivy was so beautiful.” He sniffed.