19

I wasn’t the kind of woman to take it sitting down, nor was I eager to face the cold reality regarding the case against Joshua. It would seem he was being railroaded. I knew he couldn’t have committed the crime. But I’d yet to determine how to handle the damning situation and another full day had passed.

As I left the police station for the second time in three days, I almost lifted my middle finger. The egregious thought wasn’t my usual reaction to detectives or any member of law enforcement, but the two detectives had all but laughed at my questions as well as balked at the possibility that someone else was involved.

Even after I’d grilled the pompous detectives on the two other victims, they’d acted as if I had no clue what I was talking about. Victoria had been right in that the MOs were the same, including the angle of the knife used, which in my mind was a further indication that Joshua wasn’t responsible. The personwas shorter by several inches, unless they’d been sitting down, which I doubted.

Her idea that a hunting knife had been used had been accurate as well, but it wasn’t a specialty weapon, which meant the killer could have picked it up at any Walmart throughout the country. I’d spent a full day burying myself in details and doing a little detective work on my own, trying not to ruffle feathers. However, I was about ready to raise red flags and come clean. One of the reasons I hadn’t was the nagging feeling the case was the tip of a horrific iceberg had formed in the back of my mind and had refused to leave.

What was I missing? Other than my sanity.

The smoking gun in my mind had been when they’d refused to consider the man could possibly have an alibi. Did the two men think I was stupid? I was angrier than before, trying to keep my thoughts from shifting directly into the gutter. I’d had my assistant find out when Joshua’s plane had arrived, a private jet no less. I’d also had her check whether he’d come to Kentucky before.

There was no indication he had, which of course would mean nothing in court. He could have flown in from anywhere else, driven the rest of the way. Any decent attorney would point that out in a heartbeat, including the one hired by Baron Von Houston to provide assistance, the man a notorious shark.

Exhaustion was a real thing and I needed a good night’s sleep to clear my mind. Unfortunately, I couldn’t seem to close my eyes without seeing Joshua’s face. I was shocked he hadn’t attempted to contact me. Maybe I should say I was lucky he hadn’t. I had no clue what I’d say to him.

As I headed to my car, I couldn’t help but continue to have the same feeling I was being watched. I’d sworn that looking out my office window I’d seen Joshua earlier that day, concerned enough I’d decided to confront him in the parking lot. However, by the time I’d flown down the four flights of stairs, he’d disappeared.

Or maybe I’d been seeing things.

Now the creepy crawlies refused to leave.

It was nearing twilight, the new moon providing too many shadows even though the parking lot was well lit.

I was barely two feet from my car when I noticed something had been placed under my windshield wipers. I stopped cold, scanning the parking lot, the sickening feeling remaining. As I walked closer, I realized it was a note in a perfect white linen envelope.

With shaking hands, I grabbed it, unlocking the car and sliding into the driver’s seat, manually locking the doors as if that would keep the boogeyman from getting inside. I laughed at myself as I struggled to pull the flap open.

The note was in block lettEricag, red as if the author was making a joke out of the entire situation. I felt anger instead of fear as I read the words over several times.

You should recuse yourself from the case. Obviously, I know what you did.

I burst into laughter. If I had to guess, I’d say there was a decent chance Joshua was behind the threats. The single word was the reason I thought so. Obviously. The single person who knewwe’d indulged in a torrid affair was the man himself. Earlier, I’d found a little white lie that Jenny had believed.

That made me very angry. Was he trying to goad me into telling everyone about our night? I honestly wasn’t certain. I started the engine, hating everything about my life. I was an officer of the court. I had to tell the truth. I knew it in my gut, but no matter how I presented the information, it would ruin me.

I needed to think this through carefully. I always did my best thinking by the riverfront. That’s exactly what I needed at this point. To get away from my familiar surroundings by myself.

Then I’d need to do something sooner versus later. A man’s life might be at stake.

Or at least his livelihood.

However, I would make it clear to the man that I wouldn’t accept any additional threats. Period.