Justice Delayed (Memphis Cold Case #1)(25)

“And if you didn’t kill her,” Will said, “someone else did, and they need to pay.”

At the door, Andi took one last look at Jimmy. She’d come here believing he’d fabricated the letter; now she wasn’t so sure. But what if he was conning them both? And the guard was helping him.

What if he isn’t? That would mean there was a strong possibility he didn’t kill Steph. Which meant someone had gotten away with her sister’s murder. Either way, she wanted the truth, and if the truth was that Jimmy was innocent, they only had a few days to prove it.

Outside the room, she turned to Will. “Can you get the CO’s address from the front desk?”

“Someone stole that letter, and it had to be someone from here. I know a better way.”

He took out his cell phone and dialed. “Emily, can you get an address for me? Walter Simmons. He’s a corrections officer at Riverbend and should live in the Nashville area.” He held the phone away. “Emily works in the Department of Motor Vehicles and can find anyone.”

After a minute, a grin spread across his face. “Text it to me, and thanks! You’re the best.”

Five minutes later they were back in Will’s Ford Escape, and he was programing the address into his GPS.

“Where does he live?”

“According to this, fifteen minutes away.”

The GPS took them to a middle-class neighborhood and to a ranch-style brick home. She followed Will to the door, and they waited for someone to answer the bell.

“Yes?” The African-American woman who answered the door stood as tall as Will’s six feet.

“I’m Will Kincade, and this is Andi Hollister.” He showed her his badge. “Is Mr. Simmons available?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Oh no, ma’am. Just need to ask him a few questions about a prisoner at Riverbend.”

She hesitated. “He’s asleep. Didn’t get home until nine this morning.”

Andi checked her watch. A little after four. Seven hours, but he probably didn’t get to sleep right away.

“We wouldn’t ask you to disturb him if it wasn’t really important that we see him,” she said. She gave the woman her most winsome smile, the one she used when she was trying to snag an interview.

“Please, it’s very important,” Will added.

The dark brown eyes studied them both. Finally, she nodded. “Would you like to come in while I get him?”

“Thank you,” Will said.

Andi followed him inside to the living room, and the aroma of chocolate mingled with something tomatoey. Mrs. Simmons was making supper. How could anyone sleep through that rich smell? A worn Bible lay open on the coffee table, like she’d been reading it before they interrupted her.

On one wall was a mural of a tree with photos hanging from the branches like painted Christmas ornaments. Family members, Andi assumed. She looked closer and widened her eyes. Not just photos of family members but pictures capturing their baptisms.

It had occurred to Andi that maybe Jimmy and this Walter Simmons had concocted the story to buy Jimmy more time, but this house reflected people with integrity. She turned as footsteps approached from the hallway.

“He’ll be here as soon as he dresses,” his wife said.

Mrs. Simmons’s calm demeanor puzzled Andi. Strangers, especially one who was a police officer, wanting to talk to their husbands would annoy most wives or at least make them nervous.

“I’m sorry we have to disturb him,” Will said.

“He’s off tonight, so he can catch up then,” she replied.

“How long has Mr. Simmons worked at Riverbend?” Andi asked.

She lifted her brown eyes toward the ceiling. “Hmm. Junior was ten, and he’s thirty-eight now.” Her eyes widened. “I can’t believe it’s been twenty-eight years. My, how time flies.”

Andi stared at her. The woman didn’t look a day over forty herself. “You have a thirty-eight-year-old son, Mrs. Simmons?”

“And a forty-year-old daughter, but don’t ever mention that to her. And call me Rose. Most people who call me Mrs. Simmons are prescribing medicine for me.” She turned as a man filled the doorway. “Walter, these are the people who want to talk to you.”

Walter Simmons came toward them with an outstretched hand. “What can I do for you?”

“I talked to you last night.” Will shook the bear paw of a hand. “Jimmy Shelton is my cousin.”

A wide grin spread across Walter’s dark face. “Jimmy is a good man. He never killed anyone. I hope that letter will set him free.”

Will exchanged glances with Andi. “Unfortunately, the letter is gone, and the woman who sent it is dead.”

“What!” Disbelief spread across the older man’s face and then hardened into narrow eyes.

“Do you know who might be responsible for stealing the letter?” Will asked.

“I have an idea, but I’d rather not say until I know for sure. If the person I’m thinking of didn’t do it, his reputation would be ruined.”

“Jimmy said you snapped a picture of the letter,” Andi said.

Walter slipped his cell phone from his back pocket. “It’s not much good. Pretty blurry. My fingers are so big, it’s hard to hit those little bitty buttons.”