CHAPTER Seven
Camille had a lot of time before she had to meet Jenkins for lunch, so she thought maybe she would run down Ross’s lawyer and see what he had to say about the whole ordeal. She knew the details were privileged, but still, it couldn’t hurt.
Harden, Mosser, and Ferman Law Agency was nothing fancy when she found it. In fact, it was a basement office space below a pizzeria down at the dam. She knew Ross was a man of modest means, but with the stakes so high, she wondered why he’d settled for what appeared to be mediocre representation.
Maybe I’m wrong. Hopefully, appearances are deceiving.
Entering the office was like going back in time thirty years, and the smell of pizza filled the entire lobby. There was a desk where a receptionist should have sat, but no one was around. Finally, an elderly gentleman made his way from the back.
“May I help you?”
After Camille introduced herself, she asked if he happened to be Ross Paine’s lawyer, only to find out he was not.
“No, that would be Nolan Mosser. Let me get him,” the man said kindly as he turned and hobbled back down the hall.
A few minutes passed, and a man appeared with an annoyed look on his face.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes, I’m Camille Hargrove. I’ve reopened the Kelcee Meyer case, and I have a few questions.” Camille’s tone was confident and professional.
Mr. Mosser’s disdain was even more noticeable.
“I can’t talk about the case,” he said flatly, hoping that answer would suffice.
“You can’t talk about your client and the information related to him specifically,” Camille corrected, skeptical that he would agree. “I just have a couple of general questions—things that are not clear from the evidence I’m finding.”
Mosser was still not enthused. “Please, indulge me,” she asked. “Okay, what?” was all he replied.
“I’m not seeing any indication of DNA testing.”
Violating his statement that he couldn’t talk about the case, Mosser was quick to reply, wanting to set the record straight. “There was no DNA on the murder weapon except the victim’s.”
“I don’t just mean the weapon they found in your client’s garage,” Camille explained. “What about on the victim’s body? A hair? Skin cells under her nails? Body fluids?”
“Kelcee Meyer’s body was compromised by the elements.
She was lying in a puddle of mud and water for nearly twenty-four hours.
Even if there was DNA, it would be totally unreliable and useless in court,” Mosser answered.
“Ms. Hargrove, I’ve said more than I should have.
This case is closed, and I supplied the information I did in hopes that you’d think so too. ”
“Are you still retained by Mr. Paine?” Camille asked.
“Well, yes, I believe so. I’m representing him in his divorce currently.”
Camille was surprised. She always thought lawyers specialized, and it seemed odd to her that the lawyer for Ross’s murder charge was the same as the one for his divorce.
“What’s your specialty in law, Mr. Mosser?”
“I represent people who hire me. I’m capable of handling most cases people bring to me, Ms. Hargrove,” he answered with resentment.
“How many high-profile cases like Kelcee Meyer’s have you worked?”
“Abduction, rape, and murder are rare around here. I’d say I’m the only lawyer in this area who has defended such a case.”
Camille didn’t really think Mosser was incapable; she just wanted to make sure he was still the right lawyer for Ross when she blew this thing wide open again.
“If I told you I have new evidence from a credible eyewitness that completely exonerates Ross Paine, would you be the lawyer he needed to clear his name?” Camille asked, and then she thought about the real issue.
“On second thought, are you the lawyer Kelcee Meyer and her parents need to bring the real assailant to justice?”
Mosser had to think long and hard about that question. Being at the helm of a high-profile case was not as glamorous as he once thought, but he seemed interested in knowing Camille’s new information.
Camille began explaining the entire story surrounding Terry Biggs, the red truck belonging to Janelle’s new boyfriend, and the fact that Shane Simpson had been probing the reporter who reported the black truck on the scene. Needless to say, Mosser seemed intrigued.
“So, all of these details point to Shane Simpson being the assailant who’s framing Ross Paine to get him out of his life. And removing Paine permanently would ensure a trouble-free relationship with Paine’s wife?”
“Yes, absolutely,” Camille confirmed.
“Hum, sounds far-fetched,” Mosser stated.
“I have a lunch meeting with Jenkins from the Camdenton Star. He’s the one who reported the false information about the black truck. I should find out some more details. I’ll let you know how it goes,” Camille said, extending her hand to Mosser as if a handshake formally sealed their alliance.
Reluctantly, Mosser shook her hand.
“I’ll review some old notes. With this new information, there might be something that has a new meaning. Let’s stay in touch.”
He’s a little standoffish, but honestly, that went better than expected, Camille thought, getting into her Explorer.
When she started the engine, she noticed it was 11:44. She needed to get to her meeting at Wrangler’s Buffet.
This day is turning out to be quite productive. I can’t wait to give Ross the news tonight.
Ross … She had been so busy all morning, she hadn’t really thought of him until just then.
All the way to Wrangler’s, she tried to get her mind right for her interview, but now that her thoughts had diverted to Ross, he was all she could think about.
“Stop it, Milly!” she said out loud. “You need to focus on this case, so a man’s life can recover from shambles. You need to think about poor Kelcee and her parents, who deserve to know the truth.”
But her mind was more powerful than reason as she thought about Ross out on the dock fishing, probably shirtless, and she wished she could see for herself. Her pleasant vision, however, was interrupted by her phone ringing. It was Ike.
Geez, I don’t have time for this! There would come a time when facing Ike was unavoidable, but Camille was working on a case now, and her personal life had to take a step back.
Still, she knew hanging up on Ike would come back to haunt her, and now this messy issue had ruined her fabulous daydream about Ross.