Save Your Breath (Morgan Dane #6)(43)

Touch DNA was exactly what it sounded like, the skin cells left behind when a person touched an object.

“With Erik’s thumbprint taken from his wife’s neck, the DNA presence was overkill, but juries love forensics.” Esposito understood his job wasn’t to prove the defendant guilty. It was to convince a jury the defendant was guilty.

“Did he explain his DNA on his wife’s neck?” Morgan would have argued a husband’s DNA would naturally be on his wife’s body.

“He said he touched her neck after she was dead to see if she had a pulse, but the positioning of the prints was perfect for strangulation, not medical assistance.” Esposito opened his fingers and mimicked wrapping them around a person’s neck. He wiggled his thumbs. “The thumbs were on each side of her neck, as if he had been straddling her.”

“Hard to check someone’s pulse that way,” Lance said.

“There was bruising as well, so it wasn’t the gentle, loving touch he claimed.” Esposito flicked a brief, irritated glance at Lance. “Also, Natalie’s friends testified she was terrified of her husband and that he tried to keep her isolated. They’d seen bruises on her body in the past. We also got a big break with Natalie’s use of the library internet to research domestic violence shelters.”

“You never had any doubts Erik killed his wife?” Morgan asked.

Esposito shook his head. “Never.”

Lance leaned forward. “Did you have any suspicions that someone helped Erik?”

“Are you thinking the father?” Esposito asked.

Lance nodded. “That’s exactly what we were thinking.”

“It’s possible.” Esposito shrugged. “But there was no evidence of it. The old man doesn’t even have a speeding ticket on his record, let alone anything criminal. He was so clean, he squeaked. But there was one thing that bugged me during the trial preparation.”

“What was that?” Morgan asked.

“Erik’s mother.” Esposito’s brow furrowed. “Mrs. Olander claimed Erik was innocent. She repeated a few lines about an intruder killing her daughter-in-law. Every time I asked her, she said the exact same words, verbatim.”

“Her statement was rehearsed.” Morgan took notes.

“Yes.” Esposito’s chair squeaked as he suddenly leaned back. “And every time she spoke, she’d glance at her husband. I swear she didn’t breathe until he approved.”

“Did you try questioning her alone?” Morgan would have separated the couple immediately.

“Of course we did.” Esposito all but rolled his eyes. “As did the original officer who responded to the farm about the intruder call. All of her statements were identical. She was even more nervous alone, and she repeated the exact same sentences. No matter how the questions were phrased. If we deviated from questions about the night or crime, she stopped talking. I think she would have exploded if I asked her what her favorite color was.”

Morgan set down her pen. “You think she was afraid of her husband.”

Who Lance and Sharp suspected was trafficking illegal guns.

“I do.” Esposito frowned. “Erik’s mother shot herself in her car right after she met with you.”

Remembering, Morgan swallowed. “Yes.”

Lance tapped a knuckle on the table. “Erik killed Natalie, and Mrs. Olander was afraid of her husband. Possibly both wives were victims of domestic abuse. But neither of those things feels like a reason to kidnap Olivia.”

Lance was right. They needed to focus on Olivia, not Mrs. Olander.

Morgan checked her notes. “What about the issue with the jury foreman?”

Esposito scoffed. “Olander’s attorney filed a notice of appeal, but we all know it won’t go anywhere. The jury didn’t deliberate long. Their decision was unanimous. No holdouts. No hint of a hung jury. Nothing.”

Maybe the Olander case, as strange as the family was, had nothing to do with Olivia’s disappearance.

“You said Ms. Cruz was working on two cases,” Esposito prompted. “What was the second?”

Lance volunteered, “Cliff Franklin.”

The smallest glimmer of surprise showed in the ADA’s eyes.

“That wasn’t my case.” Esposito stood, smoothing his already-perfect hair. “You’ll have to ask Bryce about it. I have to get back to work.” He reached for Morgan’s hand and shook it for a few seconds too long. “Ms. Dane. Always a pleasure.” He shot an arrogant glance at Lance. “Kruger.” The tone was dismissive and smug. Esposito took two strides to the doorway.

Morgan had to control rolling her eyes. Esposito liked to tweak Lance whenever possible. The ADA was a skilled trial attorney. Unfortunately, arrogance often accompanied that ability, and Esposito was full of it.

“Is Bryce in today?” Morgan called after him.

“No.” He paused to shake his head but offered no additional information before he left the room.

“What now?” Lance got to his feet and stretched. He pulled out his phone and glanced at it. “No word from Sharp.”

She followed Lance from the room and out of the DA’s offices. Once the elevator doors closed, she asked, “Why did you insist we invite Esposito to the wedding again? He works hard to aggravate you.”