Orchid Beach (Holly Barker 1)

12

H olly was finishing a sandwich at her desk the following noon when the county attorney arrived, accompanied by a tall, slender, dark-haired man in a rumpled suit who needed a haircut. Jane made the introductions.

“Chief, this is Marty Skene, the county attorney, and the tall one is Jackson Oxenhandler, a public defender.”

“Did they ask for a lawyer?” Holly asked, shaking hands with both men.

“No,” Skene said, “but it seemed like a good time to do it.

I want everything on the up-and-up.”

“Sure,” Holly said. “Mr. Oxhander…”

“It’s Oxenhandler,” the tall man said. “There was apparently some livestock in the family history.”

“Oxenhandler, sorry. Have you met your clients?”

“Not yet.”

“They’re with Bob Hurst, right now, being questioned on another matter.”

“Another matter?” Oxenhandler asked, furrowing his brow.

“The murder of Hank Doherty.”

“You didn’t tell me this was a double shooting,” the lawyer said to the prosecutor.

“I didn’t know myself until this minute.”

“I want questioning ended now,” the lawyer said, “until I’ve had a chance to consult with my clients.”

Holly motioned toward the interrogation room. “Jane, ask Bob to come out here right now.”

“What’s the evidence against my clients?” Oxenhandler asked.

“Their tire tracks at the scene of the crime, possession of the victim’s weapon and a positive ballistics match between the bullet taken from the chief’s head and a thirty-two Smith and Wesson revolver found in the glove compartment of the accused’s van.”

“You go talk to your clients,” Skene said, “and then maybe you’ll want to discuss a plea. I’d like to wrap this up as soon as possible.”

Jackson Oxenhandler nodded and walked toward the interrogation room, passing Bob Hurst along the way. He stopped at the door of the adjoining room, looked in, then went on to the door of the interrogation room. He turned back and called out, “I’d like that room kept empty while we talk.” He disappeared into the interrogation room.

Holly turned to Hurst. “How’d you do with the Doherty murder?”

“They denied everything,” Hurst said.

“Come into my office for a minute,” Holly said, ushering him in and closing the door behind him.

Hurst took a seat. “What’s up?”

“I didn’t want to bring this up until now, but I’m extremely annoyed with you.”

Hurst look surprised. “Why? We just broke our biggest case in years.”

“When I left you, I told you to call me if there were any developments in the case. Would you call an arrest a development?”

Hurst shrugged. “Well, I was anxious to get on it when they were brought in.”

“I don’t give a damn how anxious you were,” she said. “I come from the army, and when I give an order I expect it to be obeyed.”