Shielded In The Shadows

“And the blanket?”

“Yeah, there was a blanket wadded up on the couch. Looked like he’d been taking a nap shortly before or when I got there...” He stopped. His words. And his tracks. Damn. He’d forgotten to tell Emma about the pillow and blanket on the couch—and had thus tainted her case.

Chapter 10

“I didn’t tell you about the pillow and blanket on the couch.” Jayden resumed pacing, silently cursing himself. “I didn’t find them relevant.”

“No one else did, either, except his attorney. She claims that Luke only uses that room to keep his clothes. He’s never slept in that bed or touched that pillow. There were no fingerprints on the gun, or on the pillowcase, other than yours...”

“I did not plant that gun there.”

“No one’s claiming you did. They weren’t going to take a defense that would put the burden of proof on them. Or put your word against theirs. They say the gun belongs to Luke’s sister’s boyfriend, according to the story they’re all sticking to. He wanted it in the house for protection from Luke. Just in case.”

“That’s bull. I

talked to him during the prerelease home inspection interview. He keeps his gun in his vehicle, which he keeps locked at all times, and said he’d park on the street until Luke found a place of his own. And it’s a Beretta. I found a Glock 9.”

“The Glock was unregistered, and the story is the boyfriend bought it off the street when he knew Luke was coming to stay with his sister. For her to use if she needed it.”

“So the sister knew it was in the pillow.”

“That’s the story. And that, because Luke had no knowledge it was there, he can’t be held accountable to it. I had a chance to question both the sister and her boyfriend and their stories seemed too practiced to me, but the judge bought them. Luke’s out. At least until the parole board has a hearing.”

That Jayden would attend. If they still moved forward on it. The judge had thrown out the gun violation charges. There would still be a parole hearing. Luke had still been on premises with a gun. But with the court’s ruling, there was little likelihood that the board would revoke parole. Feeling like he’d let Emma down didn’t set well with him, but what bothered him a whole lot more was Luke’s wife and daughter being in danger again.

The same instinct that told him Bill Heber was not hurting his wife was yelling loud and clear that Luke would do that to his family, the first chance he got.

“The preliminary is Monday,” he told her.

“I’ve already called up north, letting them know that he might be back out. His wife and daughter will be at the shelter until after the preliminary hearing on Monday anyway.”

“And after that?”

She sighed. He felt it clear to his bones. Somedays were harder than others to find the energy to keep fighting the fight.

More so for Emma than for him, he imagined. Every probation officer he knew was on the same side. But for Emma...she fought her own peers every single time she stepped into court.

“Did you know the attorney?” he asked.

“No. She was someone from LA.”

“I wasn’t aware Luke had the money to hire an attorney from anywhere...”

“Apparently she knows his sister. Took the case on, gratis.”

“You think they’re all three lying to her, too?”

“I wouldn’t put it past them. The sister was a particularly good witness.”

A schoolteacher with impeccable credit and a no-nonsense attitude, she’d impressed Jayden, too, during the preliminary home visit, which was why he’d allowed Luke to live with her. But if she’d lie for him...kind of a wrench in the gut.

“You still at the office?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“You want to come by for dinner? I laid out steaks and am pretty decent at the grill.”

“Only if I can bring the wine.”