“Trust me. It’s better that you don’t know.”
She glared at him. “I mean it. You better tell me.”
Before he could answer, the lock rattled again. Seconds later, the door swung open. Seth Reed stood in the doorway carrying a couple of bottled waters and a large chunk of bread.
“Eat up. I know you two are hungry.”
Palmer took it from his hands and stood up. “You gotta help me out. I need to get home.”
Reed shook his head. “No can do. I’m under strict orders to keep you two in here until tonight.”
“What happens tonight?” Hannah asked.
“Don’t you worry about that. Just rest up, okay?”
Palmer leaned in close. “Come on, man. You can’t do this to her.”
“I have my orders.”
“And you’ve never defied them before?”
Reed pursed his lips. “I’ve got a good thing going here, Palmer. I don’t wanna mess it up. You’d do the same if you were in my position.”
“But I’m not in your position. In fact, I’ve got a wife who’s dying in our home right now. And I need to get back to see her.”
“Nice try, Palmer. Sit down and eat up.”
Reed put his shoulder into Palmer, knocking him to the ground. He exited the shed and locked it back.
“What’s going to happen to me?” Hannah asked. “Am I going to end up like Emily?”
Palmer froze. He turned toward her slowly. Lines of empathy rolled across his forehead. “Not if I can help it.” He stomped on his glass, crushing it. He picked up one of the jagged pieces and began sawing at his ropes.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m getting outta here.”
“Take me with you,” she pleaded.
“Not yet. I’ve got some business to attend to.”
Moments later, Palmer managed to free himself from the ropes.
“Come here,” he said, gesturing to Hannah. “I need some leverage. Sit right here with your back to me.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m breaking out of here.”
Palmer sat with his back against Hannah’s and kicked the side of the shed with both feet. It took just three swift kicks before the bottom part of the wall collapsed, creating enough of a gap for him to slither underneath to freedom.
“Stay put. I’ll be back for you,” he said as he looked back at Hannah.
He stood up to run and dashed into the woods. He didn’t get more than twenty yards before one of the guards appeared from behind a tree and walloped him in the chest. Palmer sprawled to the ground.
“Going somewhere, Palmer?” the guard asked.
Palmer held his tongue. He staggered to his feet, subdued by his captor. Only this time the guard went with a more permanent binding solution—chains.
The guard ushered Palmer into the shed and anchored his chains to a tree just outside the shack. Another guard came over and began repairing the gaping hole just created by Palmer’s escape attempt.
“That ought to hold you,” the guard said, tugging on the chain. “No more courageous ideas, understand?”
Palmer nodded and winced as the door slammed shut. He cringed as the keys jangled into the lock, latching it shut.
“Back so soon?” Hannah asked.
He sighed. “Don’t worry. I’m gonna get you outta here before it’s too late.”
CHAPTER 25
JOSH HOOD STARED at the wall of the holding facility. It wasn’t where he intended to be on an early Friday afternoon before one of Miller County’s biggest basketball games of the young season. He fully expected to be sitting in Mrs. Paul’s economics class where he’d be grabbing a nap after lunch.
Though he had a feeling the FBI might try to arrest him, it came as a complete shock. They’d asked his mother to bring him downtown so they wouldn’t create a scene. Josh wondered if that’s really what they wanted all along—to create photo opportunities for the muckraking journalists who’d been tipped off to the bureau’s investigation into Miller County’s star basketball player.
He’d gone willingly. Sure, he was bitter, but he didn’t lash out in any way. He remained respectful to the law enforcement people doing their job—as respectful as he could be. It didn’t mean he wasn’t angry though.
Josh pounded his fist onto the table and let out a frustrated scream.
Who is doing this to me? And why?
The door swung open. Josh turned around, anticipating his lawyer’s face. Instead, it was a security guard.
“You have a visitor,” he said.
“A visitor? Who even knows I’m here?”
The guard held the door open until Josh’s guest entered the room. It was Jeremy Lee.
Josh glared at him. “What are you doing here?”
Jeremy walked toward the table and sat down in the empty chair across from Josh. He studied Josh, hesitant to speak.
“I came to check on my cousin,” Jeremy finally said.
“What? So you could mock me? Take my girlfriend again? Kiss her in the stands to taunt me? What do you want anyway?”
Jeremy leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “Like I said, I came to check on you. I know this has been a pretty trying ordeal and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine. Now scram. You’re not exactly my favorite person right now.”
Jeremy leaned forward. “Look, I get it. I know I haven’t been the best cousin lately. I don’t know what got into me.”
“What got into you? Are you joking? You were kissing my girlfriend—”
“Ex-girlfriend.”
“Whatever. Now she is, but you were kissing her during a game when we were technically still dating. It’s like you were making fun of me. And now you show up while I’ve been arrested for murdering not one but two people and you just think everything is going to be okay because we’re related? Geez. Give me a break.”
Jeremy paused. “I understand your frustration and why you’re upset with me—I do. But let’s not let a few bad weeks ruin our friendship.”
Josh sighed. “If you want to be my friend, this is when I need you—not when everything is going fine and dandy. Anybody can be my friend then. And you haven’t been lately.”
“I know, I know. It’s been kinda crazy recently. You get a scholarship offer to play at Kentucky and I get told I’m going there to get a business degree so I can help my dad with his company.”
“So, you’re jealous?”
Jeremy drew back, his eyes narrowing. “Jealous? Why would I be jealous?”
“We’re both going to Kentucky and I’m going to be a super stud on campus—and you’re not.”
“That’s nothing new.”
“Maybe so, but I know you don’t like it.”
“So, I’m not gifted like you are when it comes to basketball—but that doesn’t mean I’m jealous.”
Josh waved him off. “Come on, you don’t expect me to believe that, do you? I know you wanna be me.”
“Fine. You want me to admit it? I will. I wish I could play basketball like you. Happy now?”
A knock at the door and Tom Corliss poked his head in.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we need to move this along, Josh. Your lawyer wants to speak with you in fifteen minutes. You’ve only got a half hour before your initial hearing.” He walked over to the table and set down a water bottle for each of them. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Jeremy waited until Corliss exited the room before grabbing the water bottle and opening it. He took a long swig.
“This is not the time for us to be enemies, Josh. You need all the allies you can get.”
Josh shook his head. “I’m not sure you’re the kind of ally I want at the moment.”
“Gimme a break, man. You know I’ve been there for you.”
“Like when?”
“Remember the time you had to put down your lab Max a few years ago?”
Josh nodded.
>
“Who was there for you?” Jeremy didn’t wait for a response. “I was. I went with you to the vet’s office and cried with you. And who pulled you out of the pond last spring when you got drunk and drove your truck into the water? Who came up with the greatest cover story ever about how you swerved to miss a crazy drunk girl who was meandering down the road?” He didn’t wait again. “Me—that’s who.”
“Okay, okay. I get it. You’ve been there for me.”
“You bet I’ve been there for ya. And I’m doing it again right now.”
Josh leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know that it will matter this time.”
“Don’t give up hope yet. You never know what’s going to happen. You’re still innocent until they prove otherwise.”
“Who believes that any more? Kentucky doesn’t.”
“Screw ‘em. Go to Louisville and beat their brains out for four years in a row. Heck, go to Memphis and tick ‘em both off. I know you didn’t do this.”
“Really, Jeremy? How do you know I didn’t do this? Everyone says they didn’t do it.”
Jeremy put his hands behind his head. “Because I know you. And I know you don’t have the guts to do any of the things they’re saying you did. You wouldn’t hurt a flea—no matter how tough you want everyone to believe you are.”
“Is that a compliment or a diss?”
“Trust me when I say that it’s a compliment. You’re not a killer. And that’s a good thing, especially in this case.”
“At least someone believes in me.”
Jeremy took several gulps of water before speaking again. “I’ll always believe in you, Josh. Always. I’ve got your back no matter what.”
“I appreciate the gesture, cuz.”
“Any time. So, is there anything I can do for you?”
“As a matter of fact there is.”
“Name it.”
“Stay away from my girlfriend.”
“Well, technically, she’s not your girlfriend any more.”
Josh shot Jeremy a look.
“Okay, fine. I’ll stay away from her.”
“I mean it. Don’t even think about it.”
Jeremy held his hands in the air. “Okay, okay. Your wish is my command.”
Corliss poked his head back in the door. “You guys finished? Your lawyer’s here, Josh.”
Jeremy stood up and grabbed his water bottle. He walked around the table and hugged Josh. “Just let me know if you need anything else. I’m here for you.”
Josh nodded. “Thanks.”
As Jeremy headed for the door, he stopped and scanned the room for a trashcan.
“I’ll take that,” Corliss said, offering to throw away Jeremy’s bottle. He turned to Josh. “Your lawyer will be here in a few minutes.”
“Wait, Jeremy, before you go, come here. There is one thing you can do for me.”
“What is it?” Jeremy hustled past Corliss. He leaned close to Josh, who whispered in his ear.
“You got it,” Jeremy said as he headed toward the door.
CHAPTER 26
WILFRED LEE HOBBLED into the federal court building and glared at the security guard at the checkpoint who insisted on patting him down after the metal detector began beeping.
“What’s your problem, son? Do I look like some deranged terrorist to you?” Lee growled.
Unflappable, the guard responded. “Everything isn’t always as it seems.” He paused. “We need to run your cane through our X-ray machine again, if you don’t mind.”
Lee stamped his cane on the ground and then pointed it at the guard as if it were an extension of his finger. He poked the guard in the chest. “Don’t mind? Don’t mind? It’s my damn cane and everybody here knows me except you. So if you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”
The guard shot a glance at his supervisor, who motioned for him to allow Lee through.
Lee walked through the metal detector again and turned back to glare at the guard. He shook his head. Kids today.
He checked his watch: 2:55. In five minutes, Judge Atkinson would bang his gavel—and everyone better be seated in his courtroom. He shuffled toward the door. Then he stopped.
Down the hall, Lee could see a crowd of people surrounding Josh Hood’s lawyer, including his own son. He stared for a few minutes at the commotion. There were media members trying to get a sound bite, and TV newsmen trying to get some footage for the five o’clock news coverage. Then there was Jeremy.
Lee waited by the entrance to the courtroom and stared at the fracas until he locked eyes with Jeremy. As soon as Jeremy saw his father, he hustled toward him.
“Dad! How are you holding up?” Jeremy asked him.
“Better than can be expected,” Lee said. He paused. “What are you doing here?”
“I just came here to support Josh.”
He stamped his cane. “You think that’s a good idea?”
“Josh needs me right now. There’s no other place I’d rather be.”
Lee yanked on the door handle with one hand and used his other to point into the room with his cane. “Very well then. After you.”
They took a seat on the defendant’s side with the lawyers right behind them. In less than a minute, nearly the entire crowd that had been buzzing just beyond the doors was now quietly seated inside.
“All rise,” the bailiff said. “The honorable Judge Gavin Atkinson presiding.”
Everyone hopped up and awaited the judge’s next words.
“You may be seated,” he said.
Judge Atkinson shuffled through several papers in his hands before saying a word.
“Your honor,” began the young federal prosecutor, “we’re supposed to have three days before this hearing begins and—”
“I’m already missing my tee time this afternoon and if you want to gripe and moan and complain, go talk to your therapist—not me. I don’t wanna hear it. But what I do wanna hear is why you’re requesting the court set such a high bond.”
“Your Honor, this young man brutally murdered two people—”
“Allegedly,” the judge interrupted.
“—and utilized his connections within the local government to cover it up. I hardly think this is an abnormal request.”
Atkinson sat up and folded his hands, leaning forward before he spoke. “Sounds like an open-and-shut case you’ll be prosecuting, so you should already have everything you need to make a case against Mr. Hood.”
“Your Honor—”
“Don’t tell me how to run my courtroom and I won’t tell you how to run your case.” Judge Atkinson paused. “Are we clear?”
“But Your Honor—”
“Don’t make me hold you in contempt, counselor.”
The prosecutor hung his head, pretending to look at the mountain of papers neatly organized in front of him. Anything to hide the shame and embarrassment of receiving such a stern rebuke.
Lee snickered and whispered in his son’s ear. “The last thing anybody wants to do is tick off Judge Atkinson.”
The proceedings commenced with Judge Atkinson listening to both sides proffer why Josh Hood should or should not be allowed bail. He then issued his verdict. “Based on what we know about Josh Hood, I don’t believe he’s a flight risk. Therefore, I’m setting bail at $100,000.”
The buzz in the courtroom grew to a small roar. Mrs. Riggins, who’d made the drive from Miller County once she heard about the change of venue, stood up and stomped her foot several times, shaking her fist at the judge.
Lee grabbed Josh’s hand and shook it as he exited the courtroom. “I told you my lawyers would take care of you.”
Josh stopped and hugged his uncle. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“Now, go lead Miller County to victory tonight.” Lee pumped his fist and smiled at his nephew.
Before Josh could say another word, the flow of his defense team pushed by the media members swept him away.
Jeremy looked at his father. “You think they’re going to
let him play tonight?”
“If I have anything to do with it, he will,” Lee snarled. “Go keep him company and make sure he keeps his big mouth shut.”
Lee watched the crowd ease out of the courtroom before he fished his cell phone out of his pocket and called Principal Lyman.
“How’d it go?” Lyman asked.
“As expected — I’m about to go pay his bail and have him home in time for tonight’s game,” Lee said.
“Look, about that. I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
Lee played dumb, wanting to give Lyman the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t really mean what he thought he meant. “What? Getting him out on bail?”
“No, letting him play tonight.”
“Now, listen here, Lyman. We need Josh tonight. You know we can’t win without him. I don’t need to tell you that this is a big game. You think the ESPN executives will be happy that you’re sitting out the whole reason they scheduled this showcase?”
“I know, I know. But ESPN is exactly the reason why he shouldn’t play. What do you think it’s going to be like tonight for the kid after the game? People are gonna be screaming at him, calling him a murderer and a rapist.”
“If he’s gonna play big time college basketball, that’s exactly the kind of environment he’s going to face on the road every night. It’ll be good for him.”
“You still think anybody will sign him after all this? Kentucky isn’t backing him anymore and pulled his scholarship offer. Haven’t the others schools already done the same?”
“Because he didn’t do it—that’s why. They can’t pin this on him because he didn’t do it.”
“So you’re gonna confess to save him? That’d be shockingly noble of you.”
Lee paused as he seethed. “I don’t think you wanna go there with me, Lyman.” He paused again. “That is, if you like your life.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
Lyman remained silent.
“So, what’s going to happen is this: I’m going to bail my nephew out of jail in a few minutes and then we’re going to hightail it back to Millersville. The tip-off is at eight o’clock, so we should be back in time for warm-ups. If people give you grief, you just give me their names and I’ll take care of it. Are we clear?”
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