Promise Made (The Callahan Series)

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  Kate extended her hand; Rita grabbed her arm, pulled her down to sit beside her. “I need a lawyer. A good one.”

  “Why me? My trial experience is limited. What you need is someone with a proven track record. Why don’t you call Karl Theiss?”

  Rita held tight to Kate’s hand. “No. Not Mr. Theiss. You know me. He doesn’t. You know I wouldn’t kill anyone without reason. I want you to take my case.”

  Kate extracted her hand. “Why don’t you tell me what happened. Then I’ll make up my mind.”

  “That’s fair.” She looked at Kate. “I try to teach my kids, I have two girls you know, to always be fair. So I can’t be less, can I?”

  “Why don’t you tell me your story?”

  Rita took a deep breath. “Last night, Toby was roaring drunk when he got home. Even worse than usual. Thank the Lord the kids were in bed. He beat me.” Her voice trailed off. “After the first blows, I knew he wouldn’t stop. I saw death in his eyes. He wanted to kill me. Lucky for me, he passed out first.”

  As if Kate hadn’t seen already, Rita turned her face so Kate could see the cut on her cheek, her swollen eyes. Showed her arms where he’d held her.

  “I laid awake all night thinking I needed to leave him once and for all. Right then, I started to get up, wake the kids and get out of there. But I didn’t.”

  “Why not?” Kate asked softly.

  “I was afraid he’d follow me. I have only one place to go. My sister lives in San Antonio. Toby may be a drunk, but he isn’t stupid. It’s the first place he’d look. If he found me, he’d sure enough kill me. God knows he’s threatened to a hundred times.” She let out a deep sigh. “I should have gone anyway, ʼcause he woke early and was just as drunk as he’d been the night before. Thank God, the kids were already out the door and on the school bus. I ran to the kitchen. He followed me. When I turned around to try and reason with him, he had a baseball bat raised as if to strike. He came toward me with that look in his eye.

  “I grabbed a knife off the counter, and I swear, Kate, I don’t know how I did it, but I ducked under that swinging bat and the knife just plunged into his body.”

  Rita shivered.

  Kate wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “It was self-defense.”

  Rita wiped her eyes. “I didn’t know what else to do.” She started to cry in earnest now. Sobs shook her body. “My kids? What will they think? What will happen to them? My sister has four of her own, she can’t take them.” She grabbed Kate’s arm. “I can’t go to jail. The girls need me. They don’t have anyone else, and I won’t have the state take them.”

  Rita broke into sobs again. Heartbreaking sobs that tore at Kate.

  Her head whirled. Rita Johnson shouldn’t be convicted. Her husband had a record of abuse. If her story held up to the evidence, she had acted in self-defense.

  But the question still lingered. Would it be wise to take the case? Doing so could keep her in town for months.

  She very much wanted to defend Rita. First, she had to talk to Dugan to see what the evidence showed.

  “Let me look into this. I’ll let you know soon.”

  She called for Jonathan to let her out.

  “Thanks,” she said. “Is Dugan around?”

  “Yes’m. But he’s busy right now.”

  Doc Pullman walked down the short hall toward them. “Good morning, Kate. How’s your grandmother?”

  “Better. What are you doing here?”

  “Dugan asked me to take a look at the prisoner. He said she’s beaten up pretty bad.”

  Kate followed the doctor down the hall a ways. “Did you bring a camera? We need to document her injuries.”

  “Are you taking her case?”

  “I’m thinking seriously about it.”

  He touched his pocket. “Have my cell. When Dugan clued me in to the circumstances, I figured pictures might be needed.”

  “Good. Do you think you’d have a minute after you examine Rita? I’d like to talk to you.”

  A brow lifted. “Sure.”

  “I think Dugan has a small room we can use. I’ll ask.”

  “I shouldn’t be long.”

  When Jonathan locked the cell behind the doctor, she fell into step beside him. “Is the interrogation room occupied?”

  “Nah! Don’t use it much.”

  “Can I talk to the doctor in there? We shouldn’t be long.”

  “Take all the time you need,” he said, and left her alone.

  Kate walked back to Rita’s cell. After Doc Pullman examined her, he took at least a dozen pictures before he put a butterfly bandage on her cheek. Kate’s mind mulled over the story Rita had just told her. She was innocent.

  Kate would have to bone up on the Texas Penal Code, but she thought she could handle a murder case without Erik.

  If the evidence held up to the story, she would do it.

  In the meanwhile, it was time to talk to someone in the medical field to see if they could help her understand a few things about herself.

  Things like: She’d lost her trust in men years ago because of her dad, but suddenly she was afraid she couldn’t trust herself. More curious, she’d left Dugan at the altar...but now she had second thoughts about that decision. Why? What was going on?

  Chapter Eight

  Kate was in the building.

  Dugan’s heart hitched when she walked in, folded up the bright red and white umbrella, then walked over to Jonathan, who led her back to the cell.

  Dugan fought dual wants. Get her out of here as fast as possible or lead her to Rita’s cell himself?

  He was so mixed up about Kate he couldn’t think straight. One minute anger and hurt welled up in unwanted flashes of memory, other times he yearned to smell her wonderful scent, the one that made him think of her for hours afterward.

  He sat there working on the murder report. He had to stop thoughts of her from interfering with his job. She was Rita Johnson’s attorney. Period.

  Tobias’ body had been taken to San Antonio for an autopsy. But it was clear-cut. Rita had stabbed him in the heart, admitted to it and, if Dugan had his way, would pay for it.

  Kate would claim self-defense. It was standard in such cases. At first glance, it appeared to be so. Dugan had his doubts. Plus he never took things at face value. When he’d answered the 911 call there had been a look in Rita’s eyes that gave him pause. It wasn’t one of shock or dismay. It was one of triumph and relief. He’d have to dig deeper on this one.

  His mind faltered.

  Jonathan had gone to let Kate out, but she hadn’t followed him back. Was she with the doc while he examined Rita? It would be like her to do so.

  He turned back to his work, but found he couldn’t concentrate.

  His deputy, Ralph Selby, sauntered in out of the rain, brushed his hair back, and walked into Dugan’s office. “Guess what the state boys found?”

  It was standard to call the state police in murder cases. After walking the scene with them, discussing other scenarios besides self-defense, Dugan had left Ralph there to lend a hand. Now he was popping with news. Good or bad?

  “What?” Dugan asked.

  “An insurance policy. Seems Tobias had one that named his wife as beneficiary.”

  Dugan sat up straighter. How could they afford an insurance policy? Tobias was drunk more than he was sober. Few would hire him. Rita cleaned houses. She couldn’t make much.

  Kate presumed a self-defense plea was a slam-dunk for her new client. Wait until she found out about this.

  “How much?”

  “You won’t believe this. A hundred big ones.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yep.”

  “That’s a lot of money for someone in Rita’s circumstances.”

  “Lot of money for anyone if you ask me,” Ralph said.

  “Did they find anything else?”

  Ralph shook his head. “The scene backed up her story. It could have happened just like she said. They plan to print the ba
seball bat and the knife, but are pretty sure they’ll back up the story.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Nope.” Ralph looked at his watch. “If you don’t have anything for me, I’m taking a lunch break.”

  “Go for it.”

  Once more, Dugan was alone in his office. He stared at the phone, then at the stack of papers on his desk. Kate was buttonholed either with the doctor or with her client. He’d talk to her when she finished.

  ****

  They were in the interrogation room. The name was laughable. The room couldn’t be over six by six, about the size of a walk-in closet. It held a table and two chairs. Nothing else.

  Doc Pullman sat in one, Kate in the other.

  “Ms. Johnson’s bruises are consistent with a beating,” he said.

  “Can you e-mail me the pictures?”

  He patted his shirt pocket. “Sure.”

  “Good.” She gave him the address. “We’ll need them when we go to court.”

  “Will you take the case?”

  “I may not the best person for the job, but yes I am. I think it’s clear Rita acted to protect herself.”

  “Seems that way.”

  “Will you testify for the defense?”

  He nodded.

  “Good. Now that that’s out of the way, I have something more personal to ask. If I’m out of your realm of expertise, just stop me.”

  “No problem.”

  She took a deep breath and plunged. “Have you ever treated patients with head problems?”

  “Could you be more specific?”

  “I don’t mean physical ones. Someone I know needs a recommendation. If you know anyone, I’d be glad for a name. I doubt there’s anyone here in Oaktree, but San Antonio would be okay.”

  Doc Pullman cleared his throat, leaned toward her. His dark eyes were serious. He’d come to Oaktree with his family around the time she left for college, so he would know her and Dugan’s history.

  She liked his looks. He was tall, mid-fifties, his dark hair starting to gray. Everyone liked him. Kate could see why. He was comfortable to be around and easy to talk to.

  “I can give you several names if you like. But let me give you a little background about myself you might not know. In med school, I was intrigued with psychiatry. For a while, I toyed with the idea of pursuing it. Then, my wife and I lost a child to leukemia. I changed my field to family practice, with a focus on preventative care. I know there are some things you can't prevent, but...”

  “I understand. I’m so sorry about your child.”

  “Thank you. Now, if your someone trusts me enough, I’ll be glad to talk to him or her. Or you can pick up those names and numbers at the office.”

  “She’ll call for an appointment.”

  “Good.” He stood, stuck out his hand. “I’m sure we’ll work well together.”

  Kate suspected he wasn’t just referring to Rita’s case, but her problem as well. She hoped he was right.

  ****

  Dugan watched as she came through the door, Doc Pullman behind her. As usual, his wayward heart thumped at the sight of her.

  The doc waved goodbye and headed out.

  Dugan walked up to Kate. “Through?”

  “Yes. It’s clearly a case of self-defense.”

  “We should talk. How about lunch at Molly’s?”

  Kate looked at her watch. “I didn’t realize it was so late. Gram is expecting me.”

  “Give her a call. Ed is with her. They’ll be glad for the alone time.”

  She held his gaze. Locking onto those pools of blue sent memories roaring through his head. Five years was long enough to be over her and he clearly wasn’t.

  One minute anger; next minute lust.

  Kate was the first to look away.

  “We need to talk about Rita’s case,” he reminded her. That’s all they would discuss. As long as he kept it professional, he wouldn’t feel so raw.

  “Okay. Let me call Gram.” She pulled out her cell, walked away a few feet. In less than a minute, she was back. “Let’s go before it starts to rain again.”

  “Right behind you.”

  He wondered if she was aware of the gossip and speculation swirling around town about the two of them. At times he wanted to laugh aloud at the absurdity. Others, it irritated the hell out of him. How could so many folks get caught up in a romance that wasn’t? Other times, when someone looked at him, and turned to the person next to them and whispered, it pissed him off. He wanted to growl, “Mind your own business.”

  Since the rain had stopped, they walked the short distance to Molly’s. The two of them would turn heads, and tongues would wag over this outing for sure.

  He held the door open, couldn’t keep his eyes off of her as she made her way to a back booth.

  Silence followed them.

  Once they were seated, conversation resumed.

  Kate rolled her eyes. “Nothing changes around here.”

  “You said that the first day you were back.”

  “I’ll probably say it a dozen more times before I leave.”

  “If you take Rita’s case, it won’t be anytime soon.”

  “I’ll get the earliest trial date possible. We need to get this over with.”

  “So you’ve decided then? Was your decision based on her innocence?

  “What can I get you?” Amy asked with a smile.

  Amy had been here forever. Maybe even since the day the diner opened, but could still lug those heavy trays around as if they weighed nothing. Her shoulders were straight, her brown eyes bright.

  “A salad,” Kate said. “And a cinnamon roll if there’s one left from breakfast.”

  “I’ll bet I can dig one up.” She turned to Dugan. “What about you, Sheriff? Your usual?”

  “That’ll work.”

  “Do you ever cook?”

  “Not if I can help it.” He grinned.

  ****

  His grin was almost her undoing. He was too good-looking by far. Kate studied him, compared him to Erik. Not fair, but how could she not? Where Dugan was big and strong, and looked as if he lived outdoors, Erik was average, always wore a suit and tie, and his only exercise was at a gym. Strong? In a way. But not like Dugan who was strong in every way she could think of.

  Dugan’s deep green eyes tracked her. Regret churned in her. Where would they be now if she’d married him five years ago? Would they have a child? Would it have been a boy or a girl? Who would it look like?

  She shook her head. She couldn’t think like this. It was way too late to wonder over lost chances.

  Her cell phone rang. Grabbing it from her purse, she looked at the caller ID. Erik. He called every day to see if she’d changed her mind and she was tired of it. Tired of the calls and tired of facing another ruined relationship. She’d shoved the ring he wouldn’t take back in the side drawer of her desk and hadn’t looked at it since.

  Dugan shot her a look when she shut off her phone. He didn’t know about Erik or how another proposal had made her run again. She wondered if he’d think her a total nut job. Maybe he’d think how lucky he was.

  “Did you want to discuss the case?”

  “Do you plan to plead self-defense?”

  “You know I do.”

  “Then you might want to rethink your strategy.”

  “Why would I need to? Rita was been beaten for years, the record will prove it.” She narrowed her eyes. “Has the evidence disproved her statement?”

  “Not at all. In fact, it probably confirms it.”

  Kate sat back, crossed her arms. “Then why would I change the plea?”

  “Because she’s guilty of premeditated murder.”

  Kate let her arms drop to the table. “You’re not serious?”

  “You didn’t see the look in her eyes when I got to their trailer, Kate. It was one of triumph and relief.”

  “You read her wrong.”

  “There’s a hundred-thousand-dollar life insurance policy. R
ita is the beneficiary. As sure as I’m sitting here, she’s guilty.”

  Could be bad news. But maybe not. “Wrong again. Maybe she doesn’t even know about the policy. Besides an insurance policy doesn’t automatically mean murder.”

  Amy delivered their orders. “Anything else?”

  They were too busy glaring at each other to answer.

  “Good,” Amy said. “Enjoy your meal.”

  Kate shoved the plate aside, leaned across the table. “Rita is a classic case of domestic violence carried to the extreme. Yes, she probably should have left him years ago, but according to every statistic I’ve ever read, most women don’t. They take the abuse day after day, month after month, year after year, until something snaps. Rita snapped when Tobias threatened her with a baseball bat. If I can’t convince a jury she was justified, I should turn in my license.”

  ****

  Dugan picked up his burger, took a bite, but didn’t taste it. Sitting across from Kate, her eyes flashing blue lightning, her face set in a determined scowl he remembered too well, was almost too much to take right now. “Think about it, Kate. Rita got tired of the beatings. Instead of calling the law she carried out her own brand of justice. We still don’t have all the evidence. There could be more later.”

  “I’ll want proof.”

  “You know you can still defend her even though she’s guilty.”

  “Rita is innocent,” Kate said, her teeth clenched.

  He held up a hand. “Truce. Nothing I say will change your mind, so let’s just finish our meal.”

  “I’ve lost my appetite,” she said as she dug in her purse. She took out some bills, put them on the table, and stood. “See you in court.”

  She stopped long enough to grab a paper napkin and wrap the roll in it. He forced back a chuckle.

  Dugan, along with more than a dozen of Molly’s patrons, stared as Kate swept out of the diner.

  He endured their pitying looks as long as he could before he pushed his own meal aside, paid and left.

  Dusty Potter followed him out. “Always did say you were better off without her.”

  Ignoring him, Dugan stalked back to his office.

  The two of them had just given the town more to gossip about. There was no doubt in his mind the lines were being drawn even tighter.