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Savannah gathered her purse and followed. This decision wasn’t going to be easy.
***
Hez stepped out of the neurologist’s office and took a deep breath. The wild, fresh scent of the sea was especially crisp after the big tropical storm that came through a few daysago. Hammers rang on the roof of the nearby courthouse as workers replaced lost shingles. Some parts of the county had been hit hard—Blake, Jenna, and their crew had stayed with Savannah while they waited for the floodwaters at the Sanctuary Animal Rescue to recede.
A knot of tension relaxed between his shoulders. He hadn’t realized how stressed he’d been over this. He’d had to swallow a big lump of pride, but he didn’t regret it. The doctor had listened carefully and hadn’t seemed to doubt Hez’s story, but she did a thorough exam and ordered a CT scan without hesitation.
Hez felt fine and he hadn’t noticed any memory lapses—but would he notice? No one seemed really convinced by his theory that someone planted the bottle in his trash, and even he didn’t find it to be a compelling story. He only believed it so firmly because it really happened to him. Or had it?
It would be good to get the test results.
Hez did his best to push the whole thing out of his mind as he walked across the courthouse square.
A familiar voice called to him. “How are you doing?”
Hez turned to see Martine Dubois walking toward him. “I’m fully recovered from your cross-examination, thanks.”
Martine laughed, forming little crinkles at the corners of her brown eyes. She patted his cheek. “Sorry about that. You were a tough witness—too tough for my client and me. I assume you heard the verdict?”
Hez nodded. As he’d predicted, Beckett had been convicted of kidnapping and attempted murder, but he was acquitted on all the other charges. “I did. Beckett got off very easy, though I admit I’m biased. Nice work.”
“Not as nice as I’d hoped, of course, but it could have been worse. We’ll see how things play out post-trial.”
“Oh?” Hez arched an eyebrow. “What kind of post-trial motions are you bringing?”
“The usual stuff—mostly some evidentiary rulings that should have gone the other way.”
Hez shrugged. “I took a look at the court file and the rough transcript. The prosecution’s case seemed pretty solid. Hope did a good job.”
A secretive smile tugged at the corners of Martine’s mouth. “She did, but maybe I’ll be able to pull a rabbit out of my hat anyway. See you around.”
Martine walked off before Hez could respond. Tension started to creep back into his shoulders as he watched her retreating back. She was gloating about something, but the question was, what? Hez had a bad feeling about the answer.
He pulled out his phone and called Hope. She answered on the second ring. “Hi, Hez.” Did her voice sound tense, or was he just projecting?
“Hey, Hope. I just ran into Martine Dubois. We chatted about the Beckett Harrison trial, and she acted all mysterious about post-verdict proceedings—like she had a secret ace up her sleeve or something. Any idea what’s going on?”
Hope let out a long sigh. “Let me know if you ever need an assistant for that legal clinic you’re starting. I may be looking for a new job soon.”
“Why? What happened?”
“I’m under orders to keep it confidential until tomorrow’s hearing, but I’m done following Elliot Drake’s orders. Besides, you have a right to know. Drake made a deal with Harrison.”
Hez groaned. This was exactly what he’d feared Martine was hinting at. Drake viewed the DA’s office as little more than a platform for his personal ambitions, and he would make whatever deal he thought would benefit him. Martine would have figured him out in thirty seconds, maybe less. “What kind of deal?”
“I’m not entirely sure. I wasn’t part of the negotiations.” Her voice dripped acid. “I do know that Harrison hired an old friend of Drake’s who just happened to have made a big contribution to his last campaign. Martine and this guy showed up at Drake’s office to meet with him. I wasn’t invited, but afterward I was told to draw up a stipulation and take Harrison’s proffer. The good news, I guess, is that Harrison is going to testify that Deke Willard murdered both Ellison Abernathy and Peter Cardin. So Drake will probably get the murder conviction he wanted.”
Hez grimaced. He doubted Willard committed either murder, at least not alone. Beckett had been the mastermind, and probably the killer. “And what’s the bad news?”
“After Harrison testifies, we’ll stipulate to Martine’s post-trial motions. The verdict will be overturned and Harrison will be a free man.”
Free to come after Savannah again.
Chapter 9
Savannah spotted Hez’s silhouette out on the pier, and her pulse kicked as she parked her car. They’d parted on a strained note two days ago, and she didn’t want the unease between them to continue any longer. She thought he would be intrigued by her news, and talking it over might heal the breach between them.
She tucked her jacket a little closer around her and got out into the wind at the Pelican Harbor waterfront. Gulls squawked above a shrimp boat chugging across the bay. The salty breeze lifted her hair in a tangle across her face as she hurried to join Hez.