Justice Delayed (Memphis Cold Case #1)(36)

Brad’s eyes narrowed. “Barnes?”

His friend knew the cop’s reputation as well as Will did. “Yes. And that’s where I’m starting as soon as I get back from Nashville.”

“You’ll find him at the cemetery.”

Will’s heart sank. “Then I’ll have to prove it some other way. Maybe Johnson’s bank account will give some answers. Could be something at his house.”

“You don’t have enough probable cause to get a warrant to search his house or his bank records.”

Will tucked the case file under his arm. “Thanks, Mr. Sunshine. Maybe the wife will help me out.”





12


DAVID LISTENED AS WILL LAID OUT THE FACTS, his antenna going up when he learned George Barnes had investigated the original case. If ever there was a cop who didn’t belong on the force, it was Barnes. Rumors of him being on the take had floated around the precinct for years before he retired.

“You say this corrections officer saw the actual letter?”

“He delivered it to Jimmy.” Will took out his phone. “Here’s the photo he took of it. Unfortunately, he’s a terrible photographer.”

The letter was no more than a blue blur. “And the letter is gone?”

“Yes sir, and one of the other COs at the prison is in a coma after an accident last night. Simmons indicated the CO had been overly interested in Jimmy’s visitors and mail. As soon as I take care of a couple of things around here, I’m driving to the site.”

David tented his fingers. “There’s nothing concrete, but in the right hands, it might be enough to get a stay. At least I hope it is—I’d hate to see an innocent man executed.”

“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”

“Who is Jimmy’s attorney? He needs this information.”

“Jimmy hasn’t heard from his public defender in some time; besides, he retired a couple of years ago. My cousin asked me to talk with Madeline Starr on his behalf. See if she’ll take on his case.”

“You only have three days. That’s not enough time to bring in a new attorney.”

“I know, but he insisted. He doesn’t believe the attorney he had would be any help, even if he came out of retirement.”

“Do you know Ms. Starr?”

“I knew her when she was a college student, and judging by the way she cross-examined me in court on a case, I don’t think she remembers me,” he said.

“Sounds like she might have raked you over the coals.” David twirled his pencil. “Let me broach this with her. I’ve been in the courtroom with her, and while she’s tough, I’ve found her to be fair.”

Will stood. “That would be great. I wasn’t looking forward to approaching her. And this frees up my time so I can go to the accident site and get back here by midafternoon. I want to go over Lacey Wilson’s house again.”

He stopped at the door. “By the way, Andi Hollister is friends with Ms. Starr, and she indicated she’d go with me when I talked to her. You might want to give her a call.”

Will walked back to the desk and wrote Andi’s number down. After he left, David called Andi. “This is Lieutenant David Raines,” he said after she answered.

“How can I help you, Lieutenant?”

“Will Kincade was just in my office and indicated you might accompany me to see Madeline Starr. I need all the reinforcement I can get.”

She chuckled. “I bet Will told you I know her softer side.”

“Something like that. Any chance you can go now?”

“Can you wait? I haven’t left the house yet, and it’ll be at least forty-five minutes before I can be downtown.”

“Tell you what. I’ll go ahead to her office,” he said. “Why don’t you come straight there? That way if I’ve made a mess of it, you can vouch for me. And you can give her firsthand information about Jimmy.”

“See you there.”

David hung up and glanced out the window at the sunshine. Walking the few blocks from the CJC to Madeline Starr’s office on Front Street would give him time to get his thoughts in order. Not to mention, at forty-one, he needed all the exercise he could get. He closed the folder he’d been working on.

To say Madeline had little use for cops was an understatement. The story was, her brother had gone to prison before DNA became accepted evidence. And while it’d been DNA that eventually cleared him, it was after his death at the hands of another prisoner. Now Madeline Starr was on a crusade to make sure no one else suffered that fate. Unfortunately, that usually put him on the opposite side of the fence from the beautiful attorney.

His stomach rumbled at the aroma of something yeasty as he passed the bakery on the corner. It took every ounce of his willpower to walk past it without going in. Mentally, he marked three hundred calories saved and then laughed at the game he played with his weight. But he caught a glimpse of his trim reflection in a mirrored building. Watching his calories and hitting the gym four times a week paid off.

When he reached the law office building, he checked the directory in the lobby. Twelfth floor. Probably a good view of the Mississippi River.

A few minutes later, he opened the door with Madeline Starr’s name etched in the glass, and his feet sank into the carpet as he approached the lawyer’s receptionist. The nameplate on her desk read Shawna Patterson. Her dark-chocolate eyes zeroed in on the gun on his belt as he showed his badge and said, “I’m Lieutenant Raines. Is Ms. Starr in?”