Hot Coffee Iced Santa (Roasted Love Cozy 2)

"As you know, New York no longer has the death penalty. The most he would get would be life without parole. At first they wanted life with chance of parole in twenty years. In my mind, that was unacceptable and the DA agreed with me. They then asked for chances of parole in thirty years."

"I don't think parole should even enter into it."

"Nor did the DA. But with the full confession, the DA did agree to life with a chance of parole in thirty-five years. He will be a very old man by then."

"I doubt anyone will fight for his release even if he lives that long. Those he swindled won't forget."

"By the way, Laila, I didn't know it, but you were going to be Jared's next victim if he had found a chance." I stared at him. "It's true. Jared was on a roll in his confessions. He told us if you hadn't snooped around so much he wouldn't be sitting where he was. He admitted stalking you. He found out where you lived and spent time watching your patterns."

"That answers who came to my door that night, and ran," I said. I explained the night Jacob was at my apartment and answered the door. Now I knew it had been Jared Freedman. I shuddered thinking how it would have turned out if I had been alone and opened the door that night.

When I left the precinct my eyes locked onto Jared Freedman. He was in handcuffs on his way to the State Prison. I cringed when I noted the deep hatred that spilled from his darker than usual amber eyes. Though I knew he would never walk the streets again in West River, New York, I was well aware of the fear that seeped from my toes to the top of my head.

I had managed to clear my mind of Frank's face when he was discovered dead in the freezer. Now it would take more time to shed the look the former investor shot my way.

I felt Chief Hayes hands on my shoulders. "Don't worry about him, Laila. He will always blame you for what happened to him. He won't be a threat to you any longer. He chose his own path."

I relaxed. "Frank Duvall chose his path, too. I'm sorry he had to die in such a terrible way but he took chances that could only end in a bad way." At times like this I was more convinced than ever that evil people existed in our world. "Go on home, Laila. You did a good job."

My boots crunched on top of the snow when I left the precinct. I decided to drive to Tommy's Bar. Before I went inside, I took several deep breaths of the cold crisp air. There was no way I could hold my breath until I left but maybe the clear air I sucked in would hold well enough. The faint odors now familiar to me remained. I stepped into the muted bar. Two women sat in a corner booth, drinking martinis, or so I thought that was their drink of choice. Billy looked at me in what came across as exasperation. He gestured to the end of the counter. Joe hung off the bar stool, shifted back in place, and slid again.

"Hi, Joe," I said. "Do you remember me?"

His crooked grin and nod told me yes. "I don't have anything else to tell you about that night. You know, the night Frank was killed in cold blood?" I found myself understanding just about every word he slurred. My intention wasn't to get familiar with this bar or his speech. I called to Billy and ordered a coke. This time I planned to oblige him and a

ctually drink it.

"I have all the information I need. I came in to tell you some good news."

When he swiveled to face me, he managed to stay on the stool. His whiskey glass was half full. I sipped my coke through the requested straw. I tried not to notice the smudges on the glass.

"You may have a chance to get some of your money back from Jared Freedman's estate."

"Did he die?"

"No, but you might be able to gain from his recent misfortunes." I didn't want to prolong my good news any longer. "He was arrested and charged with Frank's murder. He is on his way to the State Prison."

"He'll get off," said Joe.

"No, he won't this time. He confessed to the murder."

"You aren't just saying that to make me feel better."

Billy sauntered closer to us from behind the counter. He pretended to rearrange glasses. His back was to us, but his ears were wide open.

"I'm not just telling you this. He was arrested and now charged. There is a mountain of evidence against him. If I were you, I'd get a good lawyer to fight for me while this case is red hot."

I noticed Billy's profile when he turned slightly toward us. For the first time, a hint of a smile edged from his mouth. I left, wondering if Jared Freedman had cheated him, too.

Opening the door to outside, I heard Joe's voice. "Billy, it looks like your brother-in-law is finally going up the river."

Well, well, I thought. Lighter on my feet, I knew that much more than Frank's murder opened up for the world to see. A lot was in store for the one-time investor. Now I knew which one of Jared's brothers-in-law was a friend of Frank Duvall. It had to have been Billy, the bartender, who clued Frank in on Jared Freedman's illegal dealings.

I was rooting for Joe. Maybe for Billy, too.

Chapter Thirty

"I'll be up all night packing," I said to Jacob. "Santa's death has kept me busy."