Justice Delayed (Memphis Cold Case #1)(19)

“To tell me I made a smart choice picking you,” he said.

Will felt his face grow hot again. “I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for. Your aunt seems like a fine Southern lady. She asked if you could investigate the case. She believes her son was framed.”

“I agree with her, especially after the letter Jimmy received. I’d like to look into the matter.”

“I told her if anything turned up, I’d investigate.” David braced his hand on the table and stood. “So, let’s check it out.”

“Thank you.” He caught himself before he said sir. “Since you’ve okayed it, I’m going to the prison to take a look at the letter and see what Jimmy knows about Lacey Wilson. Would you be interested in going with me?”

David shook his head. “Wish I could, but I have a meeting with the police director. But keep me in the loop.”

Will assured him he would. Once he stepped out into the hallway, he called the prison to let them know he was coming to see Jimmy around one, and would they please let him know.

Then he dialed Brad. “Raines said I could investigate the letter Jimmy received,” he said when Brad answered. “Want to ride along?”

“I wish I could, but I’m on my way to court to testify in a murder case.”

Court cases were the bane of a policeman’s life. Will didn’t look forward to the drive to Nashville with nothing but his thoughts . . . that were sure to include his mother.

“Don’t you think you’re wasting your time?”

It was plain that was what his friend thought. They needed to talk about this case in depth, but not over the phone. “All I want is justice. And to make sure that no one gets away with murder,” he said. “Besides, Jimmy is my cousin, and if there’s any possibility he’s innocent . . . well, if he is innocent, don’t you want to know?”

Seconds ticked off. “Yeah. That’s what I want too. Text me as soon as you see that letter.”

“I will.” He and Brad were like brothers, and Will hoped reopening his sister’s case wouldn’t put a strain on their friendship.





7


ON THE ELEVATOR RIDE to the first floor of the Criminal Justice Center, Will’s heart skipped a beat. He’d promised he’d let Andi know what David said about reopening the case. But that could wait until he returned.

If she knew he was definitely going to Nashville, it would be next to impossible to keep her from accompanying him. And a three-hour trip alone with Andi Hollister was the last thing he needed. He didn’t know when or how it had happened, but his feelings for his best friend’s sister had changed. And he didn’t know what to do about it.

If he acted on his feelings and she didn’t reciprocate . . . or what if she did? Will’s history with women was legendary among the cops he worked with—two dates and the relationship was over, usually because the chemistry just wasn’t there. Brad knew all this, and he wouldn’t want Andi’s heart broken.

Will wasn’t about to add that strain to his friendship with Brad. The elevator opened on the first floor, and he strode to the front door. But who said Andi would even date him?

Just as he walked out of the brick building into the cold bright morning, a microphone appeared out of nowhere. “Sergeant Kincade, what can you tell us about the death of Lacey Wilson? Is it true she had information pertaining to a case from eighteen years ago?”

He blinked in the sunlight and stepped back. Andi, dressed in a soft pink sweater that belied her aggressive questions, waited for an answer. And even though her ambush irritated him, he couldn’t keep his heart from flopping around in his chest at the sight of her.

“No comment,” he said and tried to walk away, but Andi and her cameraman kept up with him. He wheeled around. “Turn that off,” he said, pointing to the camera. After this, no way was he taking her to the prison where Jimmy was housed.

Andi nodded to the guy behind the camera. “That’s okay, Chris. Let me wrap the segment, then you can pack up your equipment and head back to the station.”

She looked into the camera. “As you can see, Sergeant Kincade prefers not to discuss the case. But we’ll be here when he does. This is Andi Hollister reporting from the Criminal Justice Center for WLTZ News.”

When Chris lowered his camera, she said, “At least we got a ‘no comment’ this time.”

Will had kept walking, but he stopped and turned around. “Brad wouldn’t even give you a ‘no comment’?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Have you talked to him?”

“Not about you. I just know him. If you attacked him like you did me . . .” He shrugged, then turned and walked toward the crosswalk to the parking garage where he’d left his car. It was impossible to ignore her as she ran to catch him.

“Are you going to the prison to see your cousin?”

He kept walking, and she caught up with him at the light. For a second, he thought about jaywalking. “I am.”

“I want to go with you.”

“Nope. Don’t need a reporter tagging along.”

“Come on, Will. I don’t believe there’s any letter, and if there is, it’s probably a fake. But I want to see for myself.”

“Don’t you have a newscast to do?”