A Merciful Secret (Mercy Kilpatrick #3)(74)

“A dream client.” Mercy tried to merge Salome’s business acumen into her line of thought. “But why would she kill the judge?” She was enjoying the brainstorming session with Ava. Both were tossing forward ideas, searching for connections, pointing out fallacies. It didn’t matter how odd some of the suggestions were. There were no incorrect theories at this point.

“My first thought after hearing your Antonio Ricci story is that her father put her up to it. But why would she kill her mother?”

“That’s the part that makes no sense to me. Even the reports that their relationship was tumultuous doesn’t provide a good motivation.” Mercy mulled over Ava’s theory. “It’s not impossible that Antonio put Salome up to the murders, but I suspect we’ll find that he’s been released. I think he’s more likely to be our suspect, and I expect to hear his location from Jeff any minute. What about the tire prints at Olivia’s cabin? Did you get the warrant to take Christian’s tire prints?”

“No. I was told there wasn’t enough cause.” Ava swore under her breath. “And there’s been no sighting of Salome and Morrigan.”

“Correct. Nothing from the airports or on her BOLO.”

“Dammit. I feel like this isn’t moving fast enough.”

“I disagree,” said Mercy. “Finding out Salome’s father connects Olivia and the judge is huge.”

“I can’t help but feel Salome herself has a big role in this.”

“I keep pointing out the one thing that blows that theory to bits,” said Mercy. “Her daughter was left behind. She wouldn’t have left Morrigan at a murder scene. We both saw her desperation to get her daughter out of foster care.”

“Maybe Salome wanted Morrigan back because she was afraid she would say Salome had killed the grandmother.”

Mercy froze at the suggestion. “Crap.” Then she shook her head. “No. I don’t believe it. If that was so, why leave her behind in the first place?”

“It’s a stretch, but we know Salome has the genetics of a murderer. Her father was put away for three first-degree murders, and I bet he committed more than that.”

The talk of Antonio Ricci made her skin crawl. Mercy glanced in her rearview mirror again. “I feel claustrophobic. Maybe it’s all the snow, the closed mountain passes, and how difficult it is to get around town right now. It’s as if there’s an invisible barrier around this area. I don’t like the thought of her father being in town.” An overwhelming need to get out of town boiled under her skin.

“That’s understandable. With the murder of Rob Murray and the attack on Michael, I’d be feeling boxed in too.”

“Any word on Michael?” Mercy asked.

“I checked in with him this morning.” Relief filled Ava’s voice. “He mouthed off to me on the phone, so I know he’s feeling better. They’ll let him go home as soon as the passes open so his wife can pick him up. He still can’t remember what happened right before he was shot.”

Two beeps sounded through Mercy’s speakers. “Jeff’s calling. I’ll call you right back.” She pressed a button on her steering wheel and cut Ava off. Excitement blazed through Mercy. I know exactly what Jeff’s going to tell me.

“What’d you find out?”

“Antonio Ricci is still in prison,” stated Jeff.

“What? Are you sure?” I was so certain he was out . . .

“Positive. I insisted on a visual verification before I called you back.” Jeff sounded as frustrated as she felt.

“Fuck.”

“Exactly.”

“Now what?” Mercy deflated, and her bones ached with disappointment.

“I arranged for a phone call with Ricci. Maybe he can shine some light on the situation. I don’t know how accommodating he’ll be, since he’s been in prison for forty years. He might harbor some anger against law enforcement.”

Mercy snorted. “You think?”

“I want you to do the phone interview.”

Yes! “I can do that.” Elation drove away her exhaustion as questions for Salome’s father ricocheted in her head. “When is the call?”

“They’re getting back to me. Since Friday is almost half over, I emphasized that I didn’t want to wait through the weekend. Hopefully they’ll pull their act together and get it set up for today.”

“Did you hear Salome was seen visiting the judge?” Mercy asked.

“Eddie just called me. And now that we know her father is still in prison, that new fact is shining the light back on her for the kills.”

Mercy shut her mouth, her emotions at war with the facts. I can’t rule out Salome as the killer simply because I have a feeling. She had to consider all options. “I was talking to Ava when you rang through. Anything else?”

“No. Let her know about Antonio Ricci.”

“I will.” Mercy ended the call and dialed Ava, who picked up on the first ring. Mercy wasted no time in telling her about Ricci’s location and Jeff’s attempt to get Mercy a phone call with the inmate.

“I’m not surprised he’s still in prison,” stated Ava. “Now to figure out why problems didn’t start until forty years after his trial.”