“I gotta go.”
Joshua stuttered, “Sarah, where—what did you see?” I didn’t wait, I couldn’t because I just found out why nothing fit.
Chapter 56
AN HOUR LATER, I was sitting in the visiting area waiting to see Glen Williams. He was being held at the state penitentiary, but in a posh cell. I was not the acting lead on his case after cussing the judge out, so I got in without his lawyers present.
Glen shuffled in with and sat down across from me, just a piece of security glass between us. I picked up the phone and he smiled at me. I hated that smile.But this time I had him, he just didn’t know it yet.
“Miss Steele, how nice of you to come visit me.How is the case going?” He was jeering me.
“Not good, really, you seem to be one step ahead of everyone.”
“It is easy when I am innocent, the guilty are the only ones who need to hide.”
I held back a gag. “I know who you are. I know why the DNA is not a match and I wanted to come down here and see the look in your eyes when this weak woman puts you away for life.”
Glen’s eyes darkened and he put on a fake smile. “You are a spunky one, I like the spunky ones, maybe when I am out we can play again.” This time I didn’t hesitate.
“Oh, don’t worry, the game is over, and you lost.” I paused. “Hank.”
Hanks eyes darted back and forth but he regained his composure and snarled. “How?”
It was my turn to smile, “Now, now, Hank, that would be too easy. I like it better this way.It is a game, after all, you figure it out.”
With that, I hung up the phone and called for the guard. Hank glared at me and slammed the phone down. He was using his left hand.
Chapter 57
BY THE END OF the week everything changed. Hank was tested and his DNA matched the DNA in the basement where Angela was held. What I saw in the video was Hank Williams writing on a piece of paper with his left hand. But when I killed him, or thought I did, he used his right hand to hold the knife.
The video of the Glen Williams arraignment showed a man writing with his left hand, proving that it was Hank, and Glen was the man I shot at Mandy’s house. Hank let his brother take the fall for him as he tried to get away. But he knew even if he got caught he could get off again because the DNA would not match, and his brother was dead.
Dan spun the Williams case well and the media ate it up. Dan told them, “someone tried to force the ADA to throw a case, but no matter what, the DA’s office would not be bullied. Truth and justice will always prevail.”
I felt like the hero, but it was short lived. Hank Williams was killed three weeks later by another inmate. Shanked in the back with a toothbrush. I didn’t know if Hannah sent the hit out on him, but I wouldn’t put it past her. There was a lot of money riding on his silence. I wondered what her part was in all this but was not going to find out. It was not perfect justice but it was better than nothing.
After a few more lessons at the target range, Solomon finally asked me out on a date. Besides his looks and charm, there was a mystery about him that drew me in. He held me at arm’s length, which was perfectly fine with me. But one day, I wanted to see what lay behind the mask.
I felt on top of the world, as if the sun was a little brighter and the smells of summer were all there in full bloom, just for me. I had some of my life back; something to hold on to, and a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
I tried to do good in the bounds of the law, but my faith in its system faltered. It was used and abused everyday. Greed. Jealousy. Revenge. Hatred. All battled within the court system, until I didn’t know which side was right. Was it all just a big game?
I did know one thing. I would not be a pawn anymore. I was going to stand up and fight, no mater what that meant.
* * *
Don’t miss the next book in the Sarah Steele Thriller series:
TWISTING STEELE
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
AARON PATTERSON:
Aaron is the father of three kids: Soleil, Kale, and Klayton. He is the author of the bestselling Mark Appleton thriller series, The Airel Saga, and The Sarah Steele thriller series. Aaron worked in the construction field for 11 years and is now a full time writer. Aaron was home schooled and has a bachelors degree in theology. He loves to hike, snowboard, camp, and drink coconut lattes. He is also the founder of StoneHouse Ink and Co-founder of StoneHouse University. He speaks all over the country on the subject of eBooks, writing and the changing publishing world.
Connect with Aaron at his blog: http://theworstbookever.blogspot.com
Friend him on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aaronpatterson
And Twitter: @mstersmith
ELLIE ANN:
I am Ellie Ann.
I was born in the jungles of Thailand, was raised in a small farming village in Iowa, lived in the middle of a Texan desert, and now abide in the Ozarks. I get nerd points for being home schooled. I get nerd points revoked for being a basketball jock in high school. I get nerd points again for dressing as Aragorn for LOTR midnight showings. I’m trying to become a world-renowned geek.
I like writing fairy tales, tall tales, thrillers, steampunk, and am seriously interested in transmedia storytelling. I like reading and watching well-written adventures. My favorite book? The Wonder Clock by Howard Pyle.My favorite movie? TheReturnoftheKingPan’sLabyrinthIronManSilveradoSneakersStardust (see that? I cheated there).
I’m married to the best man there is. I’m mama to three adorable children.
I’m specially qualified for the zombie apocalypse in that I know how to load and shoot guns, and I’m a long-distance runner. I’m specially qualified for the energy-crisis apocalypse in that I can ride a horse. I’m specially qualified for the dinoapocalypse or monster apocalypse in that I’m a certified nurse. And I’m specially qualified for the nuclear apocalypse in that I’m not afraid of death or growing a third eye.
email: [email protected]
twitter: @elliesoderstrom
Facebook: Ellie Soderstrom
Copyright © 2012 by Aaron Patterson and Ellie Ann
All rights reserved as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the publisher.
StoneHouse Ink 2012
StoneHouse Ink
Boise, ID 83713
http://www.stonehouseink.net
First eBook Edition: 2012
ISBN: 978-1-62482-031-1
First Paperback Edition 2012
ISBN: 978-1-62482-032-8
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to a real person, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Breaking Steele: a novel/by Aaron Patterson & Ellie Ann
Cover design by © Cory Clubb
Published in the United States of America
StoneHouse Ink
Table of Contents
Acclaim for Aaron Patterson
Title Page
Also by Aaron Patterson
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
C
hapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
About the Authors
Copyright Information
Table of Contents
Acclaim for Aaron Patterson
Title Page
Also by Aaron Patterson
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
About the Authors
Copyright Information
BREAKING STEELE (A Sarah Steele Thriller) Page 13
