Free One Deadly Sister (Sandy Reid Mystery Series #1) by Rod Hoisington Page A

restaurant around one o’clock.”
    “Then the police got it backwards. The ointment and bandage went on about noon and he was shot later that day. Any GSR from the shot would be on top of the bandage, not under it. You see how evidence can get screwed up?” Kagan slowly wrote himself a note.
    Ray liked that. The old-timer knew what he was doing. “You’re hired.” They shook hands on the engagement. Would the guy live on to the conclusion of the case, was an additional question.
    Ray went on and related the whole episode. The lawyer squinted down at the pad, slowly creating his notes. He occasionally pointed to his ear to request a louder repeat. He kept writing for several minutes after Ray had stopped. He thumbed forward and backward through the pad’s pages. “Why would Loraine Dellin make up such a fairy-tale? Two murders out there and you’re connected to both, plus a rape.”
    “She connects me to Barner because we discussed him, and Tammy Jerrold knows I saw Towson because I told her.”
    “What do the police know? Did you tell them this story?”
    “No, not yet.” Ray tried to remember what he had said to Detective Goddard. “I gave him all the background info he asked for. He asked how I knew Towson and where I was that afternoon. I said I met him at the party last week. I didn’t answer his question on where I was the afternoon of the shooting.”
    “At least you stopped talking.” Kagan spoke slowly. “What evidence do you think they have to justify an arrest? Any prior arrests? Do you own a gun?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Not nothing, for one thing your burned hand is evidence of an argument. Any previous arguments, perhaps at the party or such as that?”
    “Didn’t talk to him at the party. And he was alive when I left him Saturday.” Ray was warming up to Kagan and feeling better. Maybe there’s hope.
    “Indeed, as far as we know, their total case right now is you happened to meet him on the day he was shot. Let’s hope someone saw him or talked to him after you left. Someone other than the murderer.”
    “I thought he was going to phone Tammy and warn her about me. That would show he was alive after I left, but she said he didn’t. Also, can we get the police to check out who sent me that text message with Towson’s address? It’s on my phone they took.”
    “We need to hire our own investigator.” He drew a dollar sign in the corner of his yellow pad and pointed to it. Ray saw it and understood. Kagan continued, “Okay, here’s what we do. They have you scheduled for a First Appearance in front of the judge at two. Before that happens, I want you to tell your story to Larry Moran. He’s the state attorney for this jurisdiction. He has absolute power over your incarceration.”
    “That doesn’t sound good.”
    “He has assistant state attorneys, yet he handles the high-profile cases personally. He’s a real cutthroat. Don’t expect any pleasantries. Even so, your statement can’t hurt. You’ve nothing to hide. I’ll go see him right now to set it up. They should be eager to get your statement. Perhaps we’ll get an idea of the evidence they have. They won’t drop the charges. Nevertheless we might do enough good to get you bonded out of here.” Kagan stood to leave. “Okay, before I go, is there anything I can handle for you personally?”
    “Not really.”
    “Contact a relative, collect your mail, put a dog in a kennel?”
    “No, thanks anyway.”
    “No relative for me to call?”
    “No.”
    “You travel light, don’t you?”
    “I’m beginning to realize that.”
    Attorney Jeremiah Kagan left and made the short walk across the boulevard to the office of State Attorney Lawrence Moran, located in the courthouse. Moran was indeed eager for a statement from the suspect. “Bring him on.” Moran and Police Chief, William Oehlert, were already feeling pressure from the public.
    The chief was personally troubled about the crime for another reason. He didn’t want