CHAPTER EIGHT #2
"You entered my client’s residence without a warrant," Bertie said.
"The door was unlocked," Claire replied.
"So, that’s what law enforcement does now? They go into any place they like as long as the door is unlocked. You had no right to be in that cabin, and anything you found in there will be inadmissible in a court of law."
"Oh, come on," Claire said. "Stop wasting our time. What do you want me to say? We're in the middle of a double homicide investigation, and we believe your client was inside."
"It’s a Fourth Amendment violation," the lawyer said.
"Maybe I heard something," Claire replied. "I’m sure both officers will swear to the same thing. Two people are dead in one of the biggest cases to hit this city in a long time, and you’re arguing Fourth Amendment violations? Have you taken a look at the evidence we took from the cabin?"
"I have, and it proves nothing," the lawyer said. "How am I to know you didn't plant the evidence there? My client was out collecting wood for a long time. You could have been there for ten, twenty minutes before he got back."
"You’re making it very difficult to work with you," Claire said. "Go ahead and lay charges all you want, but I want answers. Is your client ready to talk about two dead psychologists?"
"Ask the questions you need to ask," Bertie said.
Alison listened to the lawyer the entire time, but she only had eyes for Marcus. He sat, unmoving, staring just past Claire’s head, opposite him, to the wall behind. He looked like he didn't care about any of it.
"You had a lot of information on your walls, Marcus. Would you like to explain what that was all about?" Claire asked.
"I’m interested in the justice system," he replied. "It’s a fascinating subject."
"And the two people who are dead? It’s just a coincidence that you had surveillance photos of them on your wall, and they were among the people who were circled with a red pen? What does that mean, Marcus?"
"They’re circled with red because they did a bad job," he replied.
The lawyer leaned in and heard something in his ear.
"I can say what I want because I didn't kill anyone," Marcus snapped.
"You think a lot of people did a bad job, don't you?" Claire asked. "You made that clear when you spoke to them face-to-face."
"Yeah, so?" Marcus shrugged.
"So?" Claire asked. "Don't you think it’s funny that you publicized people, then had all that stuff on your wall, and two of the people you are angry at wind up dead?"
"Maybe it's a little funny," Marcus smirked.
"You mentioned to Alan White that you wanted to take matters into your own hands," Claire pointed out.
"Yeah, I did say that to him."
There was a slight tightening in his jaw. It was not because he had been caught saying it, but because his friend had told someone.
"I wanted to take matters into my own hands," Marcus continued, "but I didn't ever think of killing anyone. I wanted to punish them, but I guess someone did the job for me."
"So, you’re saying that you thought of killing them, but someone beat you to it?" Claire asked.
"My client never said he thought about killing anyone," the lawyer said.
"The information on my client’s walls proves nothing, and you know it, and if you had any evidence from either of the crime scenes, you would have presented it by now.
As far as I can see, you have nothing to link my client to either murder. "
"Where were you last night and two nights ago?" Claire asked Marcus.
"I was at my cabin," Marcus replied. "I’ve been there for the past week and I haven’t come back into town once."
"Do you have someone who can corroborate that?" Claire asked.
"Do I have someone who can corroborate me being all alone in my cabin for the past week? I suppose the deer I shot might have something to say about that if he weren’t already dead. I don't know what you want me to say? How am I supposed to prove something like that?"
"That’s the problem, isn’t it?" Claire asked. "See, while your lawyer claims there is nothing to link you to the murders, I have enough to arrest you for this, and you don't have an alibi. So, unless you can convince me of your innocence, you are not going anywhere any time soon."
"This is all one big conspiracy!" Marcus thumped a hand down onto the desk, startling everyone, even his lawyer.
"They’re the ones who lost me my job—just because I pointed out how the inmates were manipulating the system.
" He grabbed at his hair. "No one ever listens to me, and now, you want to pin these murders on me because you can't figure out who did it? I wish I had taken matters into my own hands, but I didn't, and that’s the truth. Now, I’m leaving here whether you like it or not. "
Marcus shot up from his chair, knocking it over.
"Mr. Webb, please sit down," the lawyer pleaded.
Marcus didn't listen to him. He headed straight for the door. Claire went after him, hand on her gun.
"Stop him!" she shouted when Marcus opened the door.
Three officers were on him instantly.
"Cuff him and take him to a holding cell. Marcus Webb, you are under arrest for the murders of Rachel Kent and Kevin Hartley."
Alison watched from inside the room as he was read his rights. Marcus struggled this time as three officers pinned him to the wall and put cuffs on him. He struggled as they led him away, shouting unintelligible things. He tried to kick one of the officers as they pushed him through a door.
Alison had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.
He had all the anger and rage the killer should have, but none of the intelligent composure.
She didn't believe he could be the same man who intricately staged both crime scenes.
The killer would be precise when working and in his personal life. It just didn't feel right.
Which means the killer is still out there, and unless I can convince everyone otherwise, he’ll have free rein to kill while everyone is distracted by Marcus Webb