Desperate Girls (Wolfe Security #1)(48)

Brynn’s brows knitted together. “What are you saying, exactly?”

“I’m just speculating. The only real physical evidence against Corby was the victim’s blood on his boot and the girl’s necklace found in his house, right? Just hypothetically, what if that evidence was planted?”

Brynn stared at her.

“I never knew McGowan,” Lindsey said. “I have no point of reference, which is why I wanted to ask you, since you worked with him. You were on the front lines together. What’s your take?”

“My take? On whether a veteran police detective with a sterling reputation planted evidence to frame a suspect? Holy shit, Lindsey.” Brynn shook her head. “I mean, I see why you’re asking me now that I’ve switched sides, but . . . you really believe this?”

“No. That’s the point.” She crossed her arms, looking defensive now. “I’m exploring ideas. Corby did it, obviously. The evidence is overwhelming. But that doesn’t rule out the possibility that some piece of evidence was planted. You know, as an insurance policy. Everyone was under the gun on this thing. You know how high-profile it was and the kind of pressure everyone was feeling.”

“Uh, yeah. I felt the pressure, too.”

“So do you think it might be possible McGowan or someone did something to ensure a conviction? It might help explain this deep-rooted hatred Corby has for everyone and why after escaping from prison he set off on a killing spree instead of going on his merry way.”

Brynn stared at Lindsey, speechless. She looked at Erik.

“Look, I hope I’m totally off base here. Floating this theory—I can’t think of a faster way to lose friends with Dallas PD. Or any PD. But I wanted to at least ask for your thoughts on this. You’ve been on both sides, so you’re more open-minded than most.”

“My thoughts . . .” Brynn shook her head. “My thoughts are that it’s highly improbable. Not impossible but improbable. You’re catching me off guard here, and I don’t know what to say.” She looked at Erik, as if she expected him to jump in. “Erik?”

He tapped his watch. “Six minutes.”

Brynn rolled her eyes and turned back to Lindsey. “What was the other thing? You said you had something to tell me?”

Lindsey looked at Erik. “Yeah, this is for both of you. I wanted to pass along that I went to Corby’s house, and I think he’s been by there.”

“When?” Erik asked sharply.

“I don’t know. The marshals said they’ve had the place staked out, but I didn’t see anyone when I was over there.”

“They set up surveillance cams,” Erik told her. “They thought it might be more subtle than having a car there, sitting on the house. What makes you think Corby was there?”

“It might not have been Corby, but someone was definitely there recently. I saw a shallow hole in the backyard. Fresh dirt. Looks like someone dug something up.” She looked at Brynn. “Isn’t it true they never recovered Corby’s murder weapon? Or most of his souvenirs? I told the marshals I think he may have gone back for them.”

Brynn’s face paled as she leaned against the counter.

“What did the marshals say?” Erik asked.

Lindsey shrugged. “Not much. If he was there, it must have been before they got their cameras installed, so it had to have been right after his escape.”

Erik would find out. And shit, another missed opportunity.

He looked at Brynn. “Two minutes,” he said, and went to give the apartment a once-over. He did a sweep of Brynn’s room and snagged her briefcase off the bed. They didn’t have time to double back this morning if she forgot something.

When he returned to the kitchen, Lindsey was gone, and Brynn was standing by the sink, still in her baseball jersey.

Erik set her briefcase on the breakfast bar. “I unplugged your hair flattener.”

“My straightening iron? It’s on a timer.” She grabbed the shirt off the hanger and hurried into the guest bathroom. “What do you think?” she called.

Erik didn’t answer, not sure why his opinion should matter. He’d never met McGowan.

She leaned her head out. “Erik?”

“I don’t know any of the players. What do you think?”

She came out, still fastening the top buttons. “I think the marshals are a bunch of morons! How could Corby get back there without them seeing?”

“Maybe it was his first stop after getting out.”

“How does he keep evading everybody? You said these guys were professionals. Why is it so hard to find one fucking person?”

Clearly, Lindsey’s visit had shaken her, and now she was going into court that way. Today was supposed to be a big day, too, and she’d been up half the night working.

She grabbed her briefcase. “Let’s go.”

Brynn watched the jurors’ body language with a sinking heart. They were hanging on the witness’s every word.

“Take your time, Mrs. Marek.” Conlon gave the witness his sympathetic dad smile. “We understand this is hard.”

Lisa Marek dabbed her nose with a tissue. “Sorry.”

Beside Brynn, Ross tapped his pencil on a legal pad. He was good at body language, too, and clearly he could see the damage being inflicted by the prosecution’s main eyewitness.