Free Linda Crowder - Jake and Emma 02 - Main Street Murder by Linda Crowder

husband.  Even when Joyner and Jake were on opposite sides of a case, Joyner respected the attorney’s integrity.  “What would you suggest?” he asked.
    “I’d be happy to work with Cheri, primarily using talk therapy to help her reach a place where her mind feels safe enough to consciously release those memories.”
    Joyner smiled ruefully, “That doesn’t sound as fast as hypnosis.”
    Emma smiled back at him.  “No, I’m sorry I have no quick fixes to offer, Detective.  I’d like to see whoever hurt Cheri brought to justice too, but there is no substitute for time in healing the mind.”
    Joyner rose, “I’ll mention it to Ms. Jackson when I see her.  Of course, the state victim’s fund will pick up your fee.”
    “Detective,” Emma’s voice carried a question that stopped Joyner before he reached the door.  He turned to face her.  “Jake thinks there is no connection between the conversation I heard during the parade and the attack on Cheri.”
    “You think he’s wrong?” asked Joyner.
    “I don’t know.  I think it’s an awfully big coincidence but Jake says coincidence happens all the time.  Besides, he thinks it would have been too big a risk for a man to attack a woman in a ladies room in a crowded arena so a woman had to have done it.”  Detective Joyner nodded.
    “I just wondered what you’re thinking,” continued Emma. 
    “I think your husband makes a lot of sense,” said Joyner, watching Emma frown.  “If I were a betting man, I’d bet on Cheri’s attacker being a woman - someone who had a grudge against her perhaps.”
    He continued, “Still, like you, I don’t like coincidences so until I can prove otherwise, I’m treating these cases as if they are connected.  That’s why I’m hoping Ms. Jackson will be able to tell us what happened sooner, rather than later, in case she might still be a target.”
    He turned to leave again, then stopped himself and walked back to Emma’s desk.  He sat back down in his chair and lowered his voice, “Emma, does Kristy Castle normally have access to your patient files?”
    Emma looked surprised at the question.  “No, of course not.  Casper’s a small town so I maintain an especially high level of confidentiality.  I keep all my own patient files in here,” she gestured at a four drawer filing cabinet tucked into a corner of her office, “and I have the only key.”
    “What information would Ms. Castle have access to?” continued Joyner.
    “Billing information because she handles all my invoicing, and contact information because she manages my schedule.  Why do you ask?”
    Detective Joyner was silent for a moment then answered, “Right now, Kristy Castle is the only person I know was alone in the restroom with Ms. Jackson and who left the arena with her hands and clothes covered in blood.”
    “She found Cheri!” said Emma.  “She went back to look for her when Cheri wasn’t at their seats.  Of course Kristy had blood on her hands and her clothes.  She was trying to save Cheri’s life - and she did!”
    Joyner held up his hands.  “Now don’t look at me that way, Emma.  I’m not accusing your friend of stabbing Ms. Jackson.  I’m just saying that I’m a cop and as a cop, everyone is a suspect until they aren’t a suspect - surely you understand that?”
    Emma sighed.  “Jake would have said the same thing,” she told Joyner, “But that doesn’t make me like it.”
    “Just so long as we understand each other,” said Joyner.  “I need you to leave Kristy Castle out of the loop in your work with Ms. Jackson.  If the attack on her really is connected to the murder in Ms. Castle’s building that makes Ms. Castle a prime suspect for both.”
    Emma steamed at this but she didn’t have a logical argument to offer.  Joyner didn’t know Kristy like she did.  He didn’t know she would never have hurt Cheri and he only had Kristy’s word that she had barely known her neighbor before he died.