“Yes.”
“We’re going to find out if they’re consistent with Lawrence’s account. If so, they corroborate her story. Corroboration builds witness credibility in the mind of a jury.”
“Do you think this will make it to a jury?”
“I don’t know. But I work every case as if it will. We have to start to get ready for trial at the case’s inception. We could lose valuable exculpatory evidence, or overlook something that could become important later as we fit all the pieces together. Make sense?”
“We only get one shot at the crime scene.”
“Exactly.” Ruby motioned for Jasmine to focus on the hardened ground before them.“According to Lawrence, Truck and Blue Car cruised in about six-thirty. We observed Stu get into his black sedan and drive off. The ground has hardened from when it rained this afternoon. It’s easier to spot tracks now.”Ruby crouched next to a deep track, and photographed it with her PSC.“Our clever paralegal has linked our PSCs to various databases. One runs tire tracks. Here we go.”Ruby held out her PSC.“We saw Johnston’s car in this spot with our own eyes, and here’s the track mark, consistent with Stu’s vehicle. We can’t get to exact make and model, but it’s a start. Make sense?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s keep moving. Did you notice the tracks around the truck?”
“Yes.”
“Play it Stu’s way—Jerry pulls his truck in, Susan pulls in her car. They fight, she kills him. She didn’t dispose of the body—it’s inside. Who drove off in the truck and came back?”
“That’s why we’re figuring out the traffic flow.”
“Exactly. Hand me your PSC, please.”
Jasmine passed it to Ruby.
“See here?”Ruby entered the law firm’s system and opened the tire application.“Photograph and trace the tracks on the left side of the driveway, around and behind the truck. I’ll continue on the right.”
They worked in silence—crouching and photographing, standing to wait for results from the database.
“Well, Ruby. Nothing too exciting over here.”
Ruby rose and tucked her PSC into her pocket.“What do you have for me, Jazz?”
“Well, the tracks are all the same, and consistent with Jerald’s truck.”
“What else did you notice about the tire marks?”
“They’re consistent with pulling in, out, and in again.”
“Good. Nice work.”
“But we already knew this.”
“Now we have corroboration. Lawrence is one observant lady. You might even call her Lady Luck after I tell you what I found.”
“What?”
“I’ll start parallel to the truck. These tracks extend to where the driveway ends and are consistent with a midsize car. I can tell this car drove in, and backed out. Further down the driveway, tracks start for a smaller car.”
“The rattletrap?”
“Perhaps. What does the track placement tell you?”
“It was parked behind the midsize.”
“The black sedan pulled all the way into the driveway. That means . . .”Ruby waited for Jasmine.
“Both the midsize and the smaller car were gone when the black sedan pulled in.”
“Correct. I think you’re warmed up. Let’s play out the cops’version.”Ruby walked over to the right side of the driveway.
“Blue Car pulls in next to Truck. Wife gets out. Husband waits for her on the driver’s side.”Ruby positioned Jasmine next to the truck.“Johnston referred to a kitchen knife. She’s killer pissed, and delivers the first slice on the driveway, bad enough for this blood pool.”She motioned to the discolored earth by the driver’s side.“How’s he going to get inside? Crawl? Stagger? Run?”
“There are drag marks leading away from the truck toward the cabin.”
“Right. But what about these footprints? The toes point toward the cabin.”
“I’d say male by their shape and size.”
“How many sets?”
“Two.”
“What’s their condition?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well-formed? Distorted? Walking with one’s weight balanced yields a well-formed print in muddy conditions. You’ll notice that where the drag marks don’t overlap, the prints are well-formed. Where they coincide, they’re smeared. What does that tell you?”
“The prints happened before the drag marks.”
“Yes. Go up to the porch and follow the path in the opposite direction.”
“Other prints, not as deep, heading back to the driveway.”
“The ground had time to set. What’s their placement in relation to the drag marks?”
“To the side.”
“Take the prints leading to the cabin. I’ll take the ones leading away.”
“Let me guess—there’s another app for this.”
Ruby grinned.“You’re a quick study, Jazz.”
Jasmine bent down, and held her PSC over a print.
Kottke emerged from the cabin.
She popped upright.“Hi, Justin.”
“Jasmine.”He nodded.
“You clear?”Ruby asked.
“Yeah, I have samples right here.”He patted his leather bag.“Candace is heading into the lab now. She’ll run them as soon as I get there.”
“Of course she will, sweet talker.”
“That’s funny considering you weaseled your way into a crime scene with Anton’s.”
“We can’t all be ex-cops.”
“Thank God for that.”
“Want to stick around for the reenactment?”
“No, times a wasting.”He frowned.“She’s not good for this, Ruby.”
“I know it.”
They looked at each other in unspoken agreement.
“Have I told you lately I love how your mind works?”
“Goes both ways, Ruby.”
“Entry codes for her house and car are in her file. You hear about the warrants?”
“Yeah, one for here, one for her arrest, and one for her car. Why not her house?”
“I was wondering the same thing.”
“What does it mean?”Jasmine asked.
“Well, for one thing, it means they grabbed her and left her house intact, presumably,”Ruby said.
“I’ll do a full sweep.”
“Great. We’ll be a ways behind you. I’ll tag you after we interview Susan.”
“See you. Welcome to the team, Jasmine,”he tossed over his shoulder as he walked away.
Jasmine sighed as she watched him take long strides, and jolted as she looked over to see Ruby watching her with a smirk.“Welcome back, Jazz. Ready to continue our investigation?”
“Yes, yes. I have the prints. What’s next?”
“You play Susan Combes. I’ll play Jerald.”
“Why can’t I play Jerald?”
“Do you have a spare outfit in my car?”
“No.”
“That’s what I thought.”Ruby positioned herself on the driver’s side.“Susan comes at Jerald with a kitchen knife. She cuts deep enough to bring him down—significant, according to the size of the pool, but not enough to bleed out. Would you consider yourself average size for a female?”
“Yes.”
“So would I. Jerry goes down.”Ruby fell to her side.“If Jerry struggled, it would’ve been harder to get him up the steps. Let’s make it easier for her. Jerry’s passed out from shock and blood loss. Move him into the cabin. Avoid the blood trail, please.”
Jasmine hooked an arm under Ruby’s shoulders, and hoisted her weight.
“Interesting instinct. Remember the drag marks.”
Jasmine grabbed Ruby’s wrists and pulled. Ruby moved scant inches.“We’re going to be here all night.”
“Want to switch?”Ruby asked.
Jasmine huffed and gripped Ruby under her shoulders.
“How much pressure is on your feet right now?”
“I’m really digging in.”
Ruby laughed.“Not so skinny now, am I? Where are the woman-size shoe prints? Or barefoot prints? Release me for a minute.”
Jasmine dropped Ruby and shook out her arms.“I could get you there, eventually.”
“What if I were a hundred pounds heavier?”
“No way.”
“Look down.”
Jasmine bent and examined the ground.
“It’s hardened since this afternoon, and still you can see your prints. Notice how they aren’t as well-formed? You dug in your heels to drag me. Where are the corresponding prints? We have shoe impressions alongside and underneath the drag marks, but nothing consistent with dragging someone from behind.”
“Want me to keep going?”
“No, but I admire your commitment. Let’s head up the steps.”
Jimmy walked out the front door. He shook his head at Ruby’s rumpled appearance.“You out here practicing for your rematch with Marian?”
“Something like that.”
“You need me to hang around for a while, keep the spotlights on?”
“No, we’ll be inside by the time you break them down. Get home to your wife and work on wowing her with those anniversary plans.”
“Thanks for saving my ass, Ruby.”
“Any time, Jimmy.”
“You landed a good gig,”he told Jasmine.
“Most of the time I know it.”She rolled her shoulders.“Good night, Jimmy.”
They stepped aside as personnel filed past carrying a large black bag.
Seeing Jasmine’s stricken expression, Ruby asked her,“How many grown men does it take to carry a murder victim?”
“You’re making riddles? That’s morbid, Ruby.”
“No, I’m solving a murder. Want to join me?”
“Yes.”
“Answer the question.”
“Two.”
“So what?”
“It’s an observation. Let’s follow the trail.”Ruby pointed down.“It leads inside—no hesitation, no pooling by the front door. If Susan and Jerald arrived at the same time, and she slashes him in the driveway, is she going to run up and open the front door before hauling in the body? Go ahead.”When she looked up and saw Jasmine standing stark still and stiff as she stared at the front door, Ruby said,“I’ll lead.”
Jasmine sighed, and stepped to the side.
Ruby braced herself and opened it. She motioned Jasmine to follow as she stepped inside.“Nothing but a blood trail leading through the entryway and down the hall,”she said, and bent down to examine the trail.“Notice anything off about it?”
“No, uh, it seems pretty clear cut.”
“Doesn’t it? It’s thicker in areas and moves in short bursts. That could be consistent with dragging. Pull, take a break. Pull, take a break. What’s going on alongside the trail?”
“Drops.”
“Yes, gravitational drops. What are they doing among drag marks? Are you sure you want to continue?”
“I’m sure.”
“They’ve removed the body, but it will still be hard to both see now and to un-see later. Murder scenes stamp a distinct and deep mark in one’s memory.”
“I’m in this, every step.”Jasmine jutted out her chin.
“Let me go first, and if you don’t follow that’s fine. Understood?”
Jasmine nodded.
Ruby walked down the hall and let Jasmine follow at her own pace. At the threshold, she stopped and took a minute to adjust to the red, to the smell. She let the layered wave of emotions rise, and rode it out until it subsided. Then she turned her attention to the thick crimson smearing white walls.
Jasmine peered in. Her complexion turned ashen. She rubbed her hands over her eyes yet the vision lingered. Opening them again, she covered her mouth.
Ruby steered her out of the room.“Focus on my voice. Look at me. Breathe. In and out. That’s it.”
Jasmine complied.
Ruby waited until Jasmine’s eyes focused and her breathing steadied.“Are you with me?”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. You can stay out here. I don’t think any less of you for being affected by human tragedy. I’d think less of you if you weren’t.”
Pink crept into Jasmine’s cheeks.“I’m ready. It’s just—”
“A shock, I know, to see it in real life. Crime dramas don’t convey the visceral stomach punch. Even though the victim has been moved to the morgue, death lingers. You made it into the room, and you didn’t projectile vomit on me. Thank you for that. It’s enough for your first day.”
Ruby reentered the room. She forced her thoughts away from imagining the deceased laying in the tub. Away from the glazed unseeing look that haunted her dreams. Restricting her thoughts to the curved pattern.
Finished, Ruby shut the bathroom door behind her.
Jasmine paced the hallway.
“How are you doing?”
“Better.”
“You can wait outside.”
“Are we done here?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll stay.”
Ruby nodded, and said,“It appears all the action happened in this area. We’ll still walk through the rest of the cabin. Appearances can be deceiving.”
Chapter 10
Ruby and Jasmine closed up the cabin and went out into the stillness of night.
Gazing at the lunar-reflecting water, Jasmine said,“It really is beautiful here. I can see why Carol comes here to find peace.”
“You did well with her. You have good instincts.”
They returned to Ruby’s car.
“Would you like me to drop you at your apartment?”
“No. Sorry about back there.”
“Unnecessary, Jazz.”
“I want you to know I can take it. Do the job.”
“You’ve had a stellar first day, Jazz.”
“Thanks.”Jasmine settled into her seat.
“PSC, call Levi Hollins, voice only.”
“Levi speaking.”A brisk male voice stated.
“Levi, it’s Ruby.”
His voice brightened.“Ruby, I’d love to catch up, but I’m in the middle of something.”
“I’m aware. Heard you caught a big one tonight.”
“Yes, I’m almost done organizing the discovery that keeps flooding in for the file.”
“Fantastic. You see, I caught the same one as you.”
“Your practice is good, I take it.”
“It is. I talked to Johnston at the scene. He’s eager to keep the ball rolling. Did he ask you to forward discovery to me?”
“He did—to the defense. That it’s you is a pleasant surprise. I was about to look up the defendant’s counsel. You saved me a step.”
“Good. I’m on my way to see my client. I’m happy to swing by, and speed up the transfer by using my PSC.”
“Sure, come by. I’ll be here another twenty to thirty.”
“That’s all I need.”
“I’ll let security know you’re heading up.”
“Thanks, Levi. See you soon.”
“Do you always meet with the charging attorney?”
“Only when there are red flags.”
“Which are?”
“You’ll catch on during our conversation—not sure if Levi will, but I suspect that you will.”
Ruby parked and led the way into the atrium.“The prosecutor’s office occupies the top seven floors on the court side. We’re heading to twenty-two.”
“I’ve never seen it this quiet.”
“It’s a bit eerie when you first come through after hours. You get used to it.”Ruby signaled to the officer at the desk.“Ernie, still working hard I see. You push off your retirement again?”
“I’m still a spring chicken. Who’s your friend?”
“Jasmine Sinclair, nice to meet you.”
“Pleasure.”
“Mind if we head up?”
“Levi told me to expect you. Go on. Try not
to cause too much trouble now, Ruby.”
“Nothing a spring chicken like you couldn’t handle.”
As they entered the elevator, Jasmine said,“Twice in one day.”
“You did well here.”
“Feels like ages ago.”
“This is a walk in the park compared with your hearing.”
They arrived on twenty-two and walked down the lighted corridor to the front entry. Ruby rang the bell, and waited.
A man with salt-and-pepper hair standing on end appeared.“Good to see you, Ruby. And this is—”
“My intern, Jasmine Sinclair.”
“Nice to meet you, Jasmine. Excuse my appearance. It’s been quite the evening. For you two as well, I’m sure.”He directed them into the first office on the right.“It’s smaller than my last office, but it suffices.”
“Levi had the corner office in the Community Prosecution Division before he was transferred here, to Violent Crimes, a couple months back.”
“Four months.”
“Sorry, it’s hard to track the transfers. Johnston did heavy restructuring, didn’t he?”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“How would you put it?”
“You know it’s a political office, Ruby.”
“Yes, very well.”
“I stay out of politics.”
“Let’s start the download, shall we?”Ruby handed over her PSC, and Levi linked it to his computer.
“Thirteen minutes to completion,” he said.
“That gives us a little time to chat.” Ruby eased into a chair. “I have to say the new assignments surprised me.”
“I would never say they weren’t appropriate. But I will say they were surprising.”
“I considered Ms. Wright the most qualified to manage the Drug and Property Unit—not Stark.”
“That seems to be the consensus.”
“Stark is first chair on this case.”
After a sharp inhale, Levi started coughing.
“I second your sentiments,”Ruby said.
Once Levi regained his breath, he said,“Sure, he came from Violent Crimes, but he doesn’t have the chops for a first-degree murder case. I’m sorry. I overstepped. It certainly has been a long night.”
“For us, too. We can talk about something else. I’m working on a timeline. When did Johnston arrive on-scene?”
“At seven-fifty.”
“Do you know when he placed the nine-one-one call?”
The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) Page 9
