Unsympathetic Victims: A Legal Thriller (Ashley Montgomery Book 1)

by Laura Snider

  Jacob was back again. Small miracles, Ashley thought. Part of her had thought he would never return. That he would go back to the office, hear what people were saying about her, and turn. Because that was what people did. They left.

  “For you.” He handed Ashley another coffee and a white paper bag. He was less nervous than the last time he had been in the jail. He was still shifty, but only in his eyes.

  “What’s this?” Ashley held up the bag.

  “A blueberry muffin. Genie thinks you are wasting away in here.”

  Is it poisoned? she wondered as she stared down at the bag. Genie was not supporting her anymore. There was no way. Not after all the rumors she was sure to hear at her diner. The thought of death was bleak at first, but it twisted into something hopeful. An escape. Not just from jail, but from everything. Ashley shook her head to dispel the thought. This place was getting to her.

  “I’m fine.” She tried to hand the bag back to Jacob, but he refused to take it.

  “She’s right. You are skin and bones.”

  Ashley looked down at herself. The orange jumpsuit had grown larger. Its elastic waist hung where it previously cinched around her stomach. She did not have a mirror, but she suspected she was starting to have the hollowed-out look of a walking skeleton.

  “Okay,” she said.

  What did she have to lose, anyway? She opened the bag and breathed in the scent of fresh blueberries. Her stomach rumbled. She reached in and gingerly removed the muffin, cupping it in the palms of her hands. She smelled it, then took a large bite. It was warm and flaky. So soft that it virtually melted in her mouth.

  “I saw that you filed the motion for bond review on my account.”

  Ashley swallowed her second decadent bite. She would kiss Genie the next time she saw her. This was heaven. Except it was heaven in hell. Was that Genie’s point? Was she trying to drive Ashley crazy by showing her all that she had lost?

  “Yeah. I filed it. You’re okay with that, right?”

  Jacob nodded. “Yeah. The jail will let you keep your laptop, then?”

  “I think so,” Ashley said. Tom cleared his throat loudly. He was at the end of the hallway, just outside her line of sight. “But you can ask Tom.” She shouted Tom’s name. A signal that he should come and join the conversation.

  Tom rounded the corner and began whistling “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain.” He shook Jacob’s hand, then turned and saluted Ashley. “Yes, boss?”

  A smile tugged at the corner of Ashley’s lips. Tom’s presence eased her dark moods. She had wanted to resist his charms, at least at first, but there was so little light in the surrounding sea of cement. She couldn’t do anything but embrace him. He was all that kept her sane.

  “I just wanted to see your face,” Ashley said with a smile.

  Good God, she thought. I really am suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Looking at Tom now, she wondered how she had ever turned him away. Her job had been her world. That devotion had an expense, she had always known that, but she’d thought it was worth it. Tom was calling that belief into question.

  “I’m at your service,” Tom said. His eyes locked onto Ashley’s, and his smile spread so wide that both his dimples popped.

  Jacob cleared his throat. He mopped his head with his handkerchief, then looked from Tom to Ashley. “You know, I think I better get out of here.”

  Ashley managed to break eye contact with Tom. She nodded to Jacob and held up the coffee. The muffin was long gone. “Thank you for this. Please thank Genie for me, too.”

  “I will. See you tomorrow. At your bond review hearing?”

  “Yes.” Ashley nodded. The court had received her motion for bond review and set the hearing for the next morning at 10:00 a.m. “I’ll see you then.”

  Ashley and Tom watched Jacob lumber down the hallway, then turned back to one another.

  Tom clasped his hands together. “So your bond review hearing is tomorrow, then?”

  Ashley nodded.

  “Are you going to have me testify?”

  “I already told you,” Ashley said.

  Tom flinched.

  Her words had come across more forceful than she had meant. She softened her tone and continued. “We can’t take that risk. It is not likely that Judge Ahrenson will reduce my bond anyway. If you testify, it will only help with Petrovsky’s case. I will still be stuck in here for Von Reich’s murder. And you won’t be here anymore. Which would be by far the worst outcome.”

  Tom nodded, but he did not seem convinced. “Okay. Whatever you want.”

  “I’m serious, Tom. I need you to stay.”

  He paused, biting his lip. “I wish you would have needed me before…”

  “I did, Tom,” Ashley said with a sigh. “I just didn’t know it.”

  They gazed at each other for a long moment. Tom’s eyes still held questions. He didn’t quite believe her. He probably wouldn’t until she was out of jail and had the freedom to choose him over her work. For now, they were forced together by circumstance.

  “So,” Tom said, clearing his throat. “Have you changed your mind about Katie?”

  Ashley sighed and looked at the ground. She had thought about the police officer on and off. She still wasn’t sure what to do.

  “I think you ought to see her. She cares about you. She isn’t giving up on this investigation.” He held up a document and a disk. “I brought you some evidence she dropped off this morning.”

  Ashley’s eyebrows rose. “Does Elizabeth Clement know?”

  Tom shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. But that’s not my point. My point is that Katie genuinely wants to help. Let her see you. Keeping her out is breaking her heart.”

  “She said that?”

  “No,” Tom said, shaking his head. “But it’s true. I can tell. She asks about you every time I see her. Which is multiple times a day. If that seems insignificant to you, believe me, it’s not. I hardly knew Katie before this all happened. Now, I can’t shake her.”

  Ashley was silent for a long moment, mulling over Tom’s words. “All right,” she finally said. “Let Katie in.”

  Tom grabbed her hand through the bars and threaded his fingers through hers. His palms were large and calloused but warm and inviting. A delightful shudder ran up Ashley’s spine. His excitement filled the room. Gave it palpable density. He did not have to say what he was thinking. Ashley already knew. He wanted the three of them back together. Like that one night before everything went to shit.

  Ashley wanted the same thing, but she couldn’t help but wonder if rekindling that friendship would result in the bottom dropping out once again. She was in a bad position now, but she knew it could get worse. After all, of the three people listed in that anonymous letter, (1) Von Reich, (2) You, (3) Petrovsky, she was the only one left breathing.

  32

  Katie

  December 15th – 12:00 p.m.

  Tom led Katie through the maze of cells. They passed through the men’s block first. It was full to capacity and smelled like a men’s locker room. Sweaty clothes and unwashed bodies. Katie did not look at the inmates as they reached out toward her and whistled catcalls.

  They turned several corners before Tom used a keycard to unlock a door. The sound of the men ceased as the door slammed shut behind them.

  “This is the women’s quarters,” Tom said.

  “It’s quiet.” Katie could hear herself breathing.

  “Ashley is the only one here.”

  “Is that good or bad?”

  Tom shrugged. “A little of both. Are you ready?”

  Katie brushed a lock of long red hair over her shoulder and nodded. She suddenly felt self-conscious. How would Ashley receive her? It was not like she had accepted Katie with open arms. Tom had probably talked her into it. It was possible that she still believed that Katie had set her up.

  Tom cleared his throat.

  “Hi, Tom.” Katie recognized Ashley’s voice, but it sounded scratchy.


  Tom nodded to Katie, and they rounded the corner. He led the way. He stopped in front of the very last cell. Ashley was on the bed, both feet flat on the floor, her hands covering her face.

  “Ashley,” Katie murmured.

  Ashley looked up, and Katie’s heart skipped a beat. Ashley had lost weight. She’d always been thin, but her cheeks were sunken in, and her face was the white pallor of someone who was seriously ill.

  “You look good,” Katie lied.

  Ashley blinked several times, then stood and came to the bars. She wrapped each hand around a bar, then leaned her head against them. “Did you do it?”

  Katie took a step back. “Do what?”

  “Did you flip on me?” Ashley looked up, her eyes hard. “Be honest. I can’t take any more bullshit.”

  “No,” Katie said, shaking her head. “I promise. I didn’t know Jackie was going to arrest you.”

  Ashley was silent for a long moment, then nodded. “I believe you.”

  “I’m sorry this is happening.”

  “I’m sorry, too,” Ashley said, backing away from the bars.

  Katie turned to Tom. “Can I go in?”

  Tom looked to Ashley, requesting permission. Ashley nodded. Tom unlocked the cell and Katie entered, taking small, tentative steps. She approached Ashley like she would a long-lost dog, cautious but hopeful. She stopped right in front of Ashley. When Ashley didn’t shy away, Katie put her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly. Ashley felt even more insubstantial in Katie’s arms.

  “It’s so good to see you,” Katie whispered.

  Ashley nodded, her head resting on Katie’s shoulder. Katie could feel her shoulder growing wet with Ashley’s silent tears.

  Katie pulled away and held Ashley at arm’s length. She studied her friend’s dull eyes. “Are they feeding you in here?”

  “I take offense to that,” Tom said, but his tone was genial.

  “Yes. They feed me. I lose weight when I’m stressed.”

  “Well, Jesus Christ, let’s get you unstressed.” Katie had brought a bag with her, slung crossbody over her shoulder. She dropped it to the floor, unzipped it, and pulled out a small black-and-white satchel.

  “What’s that?” Both Tom and Ashley said in unison. They looked at one another and exchanged a glance that could only be described as electric. It was an odd thing to witness in the drab surroundings, a single tulip, blossoming within a garden of weeds.

  Good for them, Katie thought. She watched them for a couple of seconds, then cleared her throat. Ashley and Tom both jumped, fidgeting with their hair and clothes as though they had been caught in a state of undress.

  “I brought Ashley some essentials,” Katie said, holding up the bag.

  “I provide her essentials,” Tom said.

  In more ways than one, Katie thought. “Yeah, yeah,” she said, waving a dismissive hand. “I mean soap that doesn’t smell like the bottom of a foot.”

  “Our soap doesn’t smell like a foot,” Tom objected.

  This time it was Ashley and Katie who exchanged a look. The lightness of the conversation was having a positive effect on Ashley. Katie could see it in her eyes. The darkness faded to the background. It wasn’t gone, but it was subdued, allowing some of Ashley’s personality to shine through.

  Ashley raised her arm to her nose and gave it a ceremonious sniff. “Definitely a foot.”

  Tom threw his arms up in exasperation, but his smile widened. Katie looked from one friend to the other, her heart full to bursting. They were laughing and joking. Granted, they were in one of the worst places. But at least they were together.

  “Anyway,” Katie said, turning back to the bag. “I brought you some lotion from Bath and Body Works.” She produced a large pink bottle. “A little makeup that I hope is in your color.”

  Ashley considered the foundation and the powder. “It looks right.”

  “I have some shampoo and conditioner. As well as body wash and a luffa. There’s face lotion, a hairbrush, and nail clippers.”

  “Nope.” Tom held out a hand. “She can’t have the nail clippers. I’m willing to bend the rules on the other stuff, but nail clippers are a potential weapon.”

  Katie held the nail clippers out menacingly. She took several slow steps toward Tom, pressing the clipper’s teeth together in slow, exaggerated motions. “You better run, Tom. Or I’ll cut you.”

  Ashley laughed. A genuine belly laugh.

  Tom rolled his eyes but smiled once he caught Ashley’s reaction. “Okay, okay. You’ve made your point. She can have the clippers.”

  “Good.” Katie handed the bag to Ashley and sat down beside her. They were on the bench that doubled for Ashley’s bed. It had a thin, plasticky mattress, but the cold still bit through. Katie shivered. “So,” she said, turning to Ashley. “Have you read through my notes?”

  Ashley nodded. “Yes. And I must say, officer, very nice work.”

  “Don’t thank me yet,” Katie said with a snort. “I haven’t found the real killer.”

  “True, but you have found plenty that I can use to cast reasonable doubt at my trial.”

  Katie had to force herself not to flinch at the word “trial.” The thought of her friend placing the rest of her life in the hands of a jury was unthinkable. Jurors were fickle. They were unpredictable. Uncontrollable. And Katie liked to have control. Juries were also made up of members of the community, and Ashley was not exactly a local favorite.

  “I demanded a speedy trial, so Elizabeth has ninety days.”

  “Great,” Katie said, the word etched in sarcasm. “A deadline to solve two murders. Time’s a-ticking.”

  Ashley placed a gentle hand on Katie’s arm. Katie was surprised by the intimacy in the gesture. A month ago, that kind of relationship between the two women was unfathomable.

  “I can waive speedy if we need more time. Let’s just see how things go.”

  Katie nodded. But she wanted Ashley acquitted as soon as possible. “Let’s talk about the case. Make sure we are all on the same page.”

  Ashley reached beneath her mattress and produced a stack of notes. They were Katie’s reports, but the margins were filled with notes written in Ashley’s chicken-scratch handwriting. “Let’s do that.”

  “Who do you see as suspects?”

  “Erica Elsberry,” Tom said. There was no hesitation.

  “That’s obvious,” Katie said dully. Katie sucked in a deep breath and started ticking off all the reasons for suspecting Erica. “She found Von Reich’s body. She had motive to kill both men. She’d been frequenting Mikey’s Tavern, Von Reich’s known haunt, a week before Von Reich’s death. She got Petrovsky’s prints on the BIC lighter and left it near Von Reich’s body. She claims she was sleeping at the time of Petrovsky’s death, but there’s no one to verify that. She’s threatened Ashley in the past.”

  Ashley nodded. It seemed as though they were getting somewhere.

  “And why was she even in the alley behind Mikey’s Tavern at three in the morning when she found Von Reich’s body?” Katie wondered. It made little sense to her. Erica had said she was running, but hadn’t Erica smoked several cigarettes during their last interview?

  “Erica isn’t a runner,” Ashley said. “I’ve known her my entire life. She’s a bitch. She’s manipulative. But she’s no athlete.” Ashley paused for a long moment, looking thoughtful. “But Erica also isn’t a killer. She never was one to get her hands dirty. Like that roadkill she left at my office after Von Reich’s acquittal. She didn’t do that herself. She had some of her friends do it for her.”

  Katie agreed. But she had a solution to that problem. “Maybe she didn’t kill anyone. Maybe she hired someone to do it.”

  “Like who?” Ashley asked.

  “Christopher Mason,” Katie said.

  Ashley’s eyebrows shot up.

  “Think about it. Erica and Christopher have been spending a lot of time together. Brooke Mason believes they are having an affair, but Erica adamantly
denies the allegation. So, what if they are telling the truth about the affair. Maybe they aren’t having one. Maybe they were meeting to work out the details of Von Reich’s and Petrovsky’s murders.”

  “Speaking of Christopher,” Tom said, “he’s out of jail.”

  “We know,” Katie said. “George and I saw him talking to Officer Jackie the other night.” She left out the part about discovering the knife. It was still at the evidence lab awaiting processing. She didn’t want Ashley to get her hopes up just to find out that the lab couldn’t find any blood or tie it to either of the murders. “How did he get out, anyway? Did Brooke post his bond?”

  “No,” Tom said.

  That was strange. How had he been able to arrange his release?

  “I had to bring him over to court for his initial appearance,” Tom said as though he had read Katie’s mind. “Elizabeth Clement dismissed the charge outright. She said that Brooke is untruthful and untrustworthy.”

  “Bullshit,” Katie growled through her teeth. That was true in the past, but Brooke was cooperating with the investigation this time. And Brooke’s behaviors were typical of a domestic abuse victim. They never supported prosecutions until they were ready. It was part of the cycle of abuse.

  Ashley shook her head. “One of these days, he’s going to kill her.” They were all silent for a long moment, then Ashley looked up, meeting Katie’s gaze. “Can you check on Brooke when you leave here?” Ashley’s eyes were wide, hopeful.

  “Yes,” Katie said. She doubted she could refuse any request from Ashley in that moment. Besides, it was a good idea. There was a legitimate reason to worry about Brooke.

  “We will add Christopher to our suspect list,” Ashley said. “It’s weak for now, but maybe you can get more out of Brooke when you check up on her.”

  “Good idea,” Katie said.

  “Who else do we have as potential suspects?” Ashley asked.

  “Mikey Money,” Katie said.

  “Why suspect him?”

  “He was the last one to see Von Reich alive. Also, remember, Petrovsky called him from jail to buy drugs. This could be drug related.”