Revenge by Debra Webb Read Free Book Online Page A

landed.’
    ‘Doesn’t sound like one of the widows,’ Harper reiterated. ‘These ladies are seventy - five and beyond.’
    Jess studied the images Lori had printed from the ladies’ Facebook pages. According to Lori, everyone had a Facebook page these days. Jess didn’t mention that she didn’t have one. She was way behind on social media. Who had time? Her attention settled lastly on the photo of the face she knew so well. Frances Wallace. She’d asked Jess if she needed a lawyer. The only answer she could give was yes. Though Jess was convinced of her innocence, this situation could get complicated fast.
    ‘They all have alibis.’ Lori cleared her throat. ‘Except Ms Wallace.’
    ‘Ms Wallace has an alibi up until nine - fifteen,’ Jess countered. ‘Between nine - fifteen and ten o’clock, she arrived on the property where she met another vehicle departing. She couldn’t hazard a guess at the kind of vehicle since the headlights blinded her.’
    The silence that lingered signaled that everyone present understood Frances Wallace was a sensitive spot for Jess.
    ‘Despite the concept,’ Jess said, getting past the awkward moment, ‘that these elderly women likely don’t possess the physical prowess to have killed Baker, as Sergeant Harper pointed out, we can’t overlook the possibility that they banded together and hired someone to do the job for them.’
    ‘I can explore that avenue,’ Prescott piped up. ‘I worked a case last year where a wife hired a professional to have her husband murdered. I did a good bit of research that could come in handy.’
    Jess was impressed with Prescott’s sudden team spirit, if not convinced of her allegiance. ‘Since you and Officer Cook are interviewing the widows, I’ll leave the follow - up on that scenario to the two of you as well.’
    Prescott looked pleased with herself.
    As much as she would like to assume this was a fresh start for her and Prescott, Jess still had reservations. ‘Sergeant Harper, dissect Baker’s personal life. Find me a motive for murder. Someone out there wanted Scott Baker dead. We need to know who had a compelling enough reason to make it happen when the opportunity presented itself. We can assume since the murder weapon was most likely the Administrator of the Year trophy that the killer didn’t come to Baker’s office planning to kill him.’
    ‘Unless,’ Prescott argued, ‘the killer had been there before and knew the trophy would do the trick.’
    ‘Valid point.’ Jess couldn’t dismiss her reasoning. The woman was on the ball this morning. ‘We do know the killer was in all likelihood right - handed. I’m hoping the feedback we get from the coroner’s office can tell us if the killer was shorter or taller than the victim. If we’re really lucky, trace evidence from a handshake or embrace will be found and can provide something more to go on.’
    ‘I can follow up with the lab,’ Lori offered. ‘See if I can prod some faster results.’
    Jess flashed her a smile. ‘All right, then. Officer Cook, you’ll continue to assist the lieutenant. I’ll go back to Vestavia Village and poke around.’
    When everyone else had gone, Lori asked, ‘You reinterviewing some of the residents?’
    Jess shook her head. ‘Nope. You and I are going to see the body and talk to Dr Baron.’
    Lori dug her keys from her purse. ‘You worried Prescott’s still keeping tabs on you for some reason?’
    ‘Without a doubt.’ Jess reached for her bag. ‘We both know that’s how Captain Allen knew my every move during the Lopez case.’ That bad feeling she got every time she thought of the man scrambled up her spine. ‘And look what happened to him.’
    ‘You better watch out,’ Lori teased. ‘That could be construed as a confession.’
    Jess decided to get the real confession part over with. ‘If I went with my gut instinct, I’d have to say that whatever happened to him just might be related to me or something I did. I don’t