Justice Delayed (Memphis Cold Case #1)(32)

A list of accounts popped up, and he scanned the page for a mention of Dickson, Tennessee. That was the last address the alumni office had for her. They’d given him a phone number, but it had been disconnected.

None of the names on the page fit the profile. He clicked See More and other Jillian Knights appeared. Halfway down the page, Dickson popped up, and he clicked on the name. No photo, and no posts in three years. He checked for any photos she’d posted. No personal ones, but on the About tab, a list of her past jobs included flight attendant. Maybe he’d hit pay dirt.

Leaning back in his chair, he took a deep breath and released it. Dickson was fifty miles from Nashville. It wouldn’t take long to run up there. Might even ask Andi to go with him.

Andi. His heart warmed at the possibility of spending another whole day with her.

A text dinged on his phone. His aunt. Call me.

He started to ignore it. He did not want to talk to his mother, and that’s what his aunt wanted. But he knew she would keep texting him until he responded, so he dialed her number. “Good morning, Aunt Mae.”

“Have you talked to your mother?”

His shoulders drooped. “Not yet. I’m busy with Jimmy’s case.” Maybe that would divert her.

“But she only wants five minutes of your time.”

“You should know better than anyone I don’t have five minutes. After today, there’s only three days—”

“I know how long it is, but your mother is important too. And five minutes won’t make any difference with the case.”

“Did her last husband boot her out?”

“Will, that’s unkind. You need to forgive her, and not just for her sake, but your own.”

For as long as he could remember, the only time his mom came around was when she had nowhere else to go. Forgiving her wasn’t on his to-do list for today. Or tomorrow. But he needed to get his aunt off his back. “I’ll try to call her when I get home tonight.”

“Good. Any new evidence on the case?”

“Not yet. I’ll let you know if there is.”

After he disconnected, he stared at the phone a minute. How much does she want this time? Then he shook his head. He didn’t have time to waste thinking about Cass. He had a case to work on. He walked down the hall and around the corner to Brad’s office.

“Can I get an update on the Lacey Wilson case? And have you pulled the files from eighteen years ago?” He just couldn’t make himself ask if Brad had his sister’s murder case files.

Tight-lipped, Brad paused writing and nodded to the box on his desk. “Nothing new on the Wilson case. And there’s no connection between these two cases, other than Lacey and Stephanie’s friendship eighteen years ago.”

When he’d told Brad about Lacey’s letter to Jimmy, Will danced around the rift these two cases had brought to their friendship. But no more. Will planted his feet wide. “Let’s talk about the five-hundred-pound gorilla in the room.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Your sister’s murder and my cousin’s involvement. And the fact that if this involved any case other than Stephanie’s, you would have already made the connection.”

“I’m telling you there is no connection. We don’t know that Lacey Wilson didn’t commit suicide.”

Will braced his hands on the desk. “I think you should turn the case over to someone else.”

“Why should I do that?”

“You can’t look at it objectively. You’re reshaping the puzzle pieces to make them fit.”

“And that’s not what you’re doing?”

“No.” Will rubbed his forehead. “I’d think that you of all people would want to make sure the right person pays for your sister’s death.”

“I believe Jimmy did it.”

“I don’t. I looked up the newspaper articles written about the case. He wouldn’t even be on death row if it hadn’t been the new DA’s first case, and if he hadn’t been trying to make a name for himself. He pursued the death penalty because it made him look good.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that your cousin confessed,” Brad said through tight lips. Suddenly he rolled his chair back and lifted his hand. “I’m sorry. None of this is your fault. You can’t help it if Jimmy is your cousin.”

“His attorney said the confession was coerced.” Will took a step back. He didn’t have time for this argument. “It’s irrelevant that Jimmy is my cousin. I believe an innocent man was convicted, and I’m doing everything in my power to make sure an innocent man doesn’t die Sunday night.” He crossed his arms. “And the two cases are connected.”

“You’ve made that plain,” Brad said. “What about the trial and evidence that backed up Jimmy’s confession that he killed Steph? He was convicted and given the maximum penalty.”

“You don’t have any doubts?”

“No. He never recanted the confession.”

“He didn’t take the stand because he didn’t remember what happened.”

“So he says now.” Brad leaned forward. “It wasn’t your sister who was killed. If the case gets reopened, I have to rip the skin off my scar, and not just mine, but the whole family’s. I haven’t even told Mom and Dad about any of this. I’m not sure they can go through it again.”