Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton Read Free Book Online

before she showed weakness. Margaret’s screaming seared her nerves. “I’m fine.”
    Colleen held up two fingers. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
    She glared at the manicured fingers. “Three.”
    Colleen’s gaze narrowed as she studied Rachel.
    “I’m fine,” Rachel said. “Fine.”
    Colleen heard the extra emphasis on the last word and took it as a warning to back off.
    If Morgan had heard it, he didn’t care. In fact, his smile broadened. “You want to press charges?”
    The cameras still rolled but now she wanted the press to go away. She’d meant what she’d said about talking to Margaret in private. She didn’t want a war. “No charges.”
    A restrained Margaret shook her head. “You better arrest me! I’ll hit her again given the chance. She is a menace.”
    The verbal threat earned the woman a set of handcuffs, which constrained her arms behind her back. She sneered at Rachel and spit. Spittle landed inches short of Rachel’s feet.
    Rachel worked her throbbing jaw and prayed it wasn’t broken. “Ms. Miller, this isn’t about disrespecting your sister,” she said. “I want the truth.”
    “We have the truth!” Margaret said. “It’s not convenient for you.”
    The cops led Margaret toward the squad car. She kicked and screamed of injustice.
    “Sure about those charges?” Detective Morgan asked.
    “Take her home,” Rachel said above the woman’s shouting.
    Morgan nodded and without a word, cut through the crowd toward the marked police car. She’d have followed if not for the reporter who intersected her path. This press conference had gone wrong in more ways than she could count.
    Rachel straightened her shoulders and smiled as the older brunette held out a microphone. A floral perfume floated out toward her.
    “I’m Susan Martinez with Channel Five. Can I ask you a question, Ms. Wainwright?”
    “Of course.” Rachel remembered to smile and resisted the urge to rub her sore jaw. Colleen stepped back but hovered close.
    Martinez’s eyes sparked with excitement as if she’d stumbled on an unexpected gem. “You are counsel for Jeb Jones?”
    Rachel imagined how Margaret’s punch played on video. “That’s correct.”
    “Have you met Margaret Miller before?”
    “No, tonight was our first meeting. And let me say I’m sorry she’s upset. It was not my intent to hurt her. My intent is to compel the Nashville Police Department to test the DNA found on the murder weapon.”
    “Do you really believe the test results will clear your client?”
    Did she really believe? Good question. She had a strong suspicion that her client would be cleared but she didn’t know for sure. As an up-and-coming defense attorney, she’d been given cases from the county. Those clients had not been innocent but that hadn’t stopped her from mounting a defense. Everyone had a right to a fair trial. “He recanted as soon as he’d had a few good hours of sleep. Since then my client has professed his innocence for thirty years. As soon as DNA was available he started asking for it.”
    “Do you believe he’s innocent?”
    Stick to the talking points. The world doesn’t need to hear your worries. “What’s important is that the DNA is tested and the Nashville Police Department release it to the public.”
    Ms. Martinez edged the microphone closer to Rachel and dropped her voice a notch as if it were only the two of them. “Are you worried about Margaret Miller?”
    The question didn’t pertain to Jeb, but she’d roll with the punches. “No. She’s upset. She’ll cool off. She more than anyone deserves to know who really killed her sister.”
    “And you think the real killer is out there?”
    She hesitated and then looked directly into the camera. “Yes, I do believe the killer remains free.”

     
    Deke stood on the street corner watching as the uniforms hauled Margaret Miller away. He’d been curious about the vigil, had made a point to attend, but hadn’t expected much. He had