Free Cold Case in Cherokee Crossing by Rita Herron

have cut a deal with the A.D.A. for an insanity plea and had Hank moved to a psychiatric hospital.
    He studied the photographs of Mulligan’s body, the dozens of stab wounds, and understood why the jurors had voted him guilty.
    But they hadn’t had all the facts.
    Would these revelations be enough for a judge to grant a retrial?
    He doubted it.
    He needed a look at the autopsy report. But it wasn’t in the file.
    He would get it, though. If there were evidence of a second perpetrator, maybe that would be enough to convince a judge to stop the execution.
    * * *
    A VERY SHIVERED AND dug her feet into the covers. She wished she could just disappear forever.
    Maybe if she pulled them up high enough over her, she could hide underneath and he wouldn’t find her.
    The ping, ping, ping of the rain on the tin roof sounded like nails driving down. Footsteps sounded.
    Then his voice mumbling something she couldn’t understand. But she knew what would come next.
    “Leave her alone!” Hank shouted.
    “Shut up, you little bastard.”
    Then a slap across the face. She’d heard the sound so many times she should be used to it, but it still made her stomach heave.
    “Beat me, but leave her alone,” Hank bellowed.
    Tears leaked down Avery’s cheeks. Hank was always taking care of her. She clenched the sheets, sweating all over. She had to tell someone. Get her and Hank out of here.
    She jumped from the bed and rushed to the door. Wade slammed his fist into Hank’s stomach, but Hank lunged at him. They wrestled and fell to the floor. Hank kicked at Wade, his foot connecting with Wade’s knee.
    Wade grunted in pain and punched Hank again, this time so hard blood spurted from Hank’s nose.
    Avery covered her scream with her hand, terrified, as Wade dragged Hank to his bedroom.
    He was going to tie him up. Hank wouldn’t be able to help her.
    She slammed her door and tried to lock it. Looked for the stick she’d sneaked into the house to try to fight him off with.
    Wade shouted an obscenity, then began to pound the door with his fists. The door jarred. Wood splintered.
    Avery jumped back against the wall. She was trembling all over. Felt sick to her stomach.
    The door splintered and Wade stormed in. His face looked red, his eyes full of rage. He swung his hand out to grab her.
    “Come here, girl. You got to earn your keep.”
    Avery screamed, “No,” and swung the stick out. She hit him across the face, and he staggered. The rancid smell of his breath struck her as he lunged toward her and grabbed the stick.
    Then he shoved her onto the bed. She looked up and saw the stick coming at her, and she covered her face with her hands and screamed again as he delivered the first blow....
    Avery jerked awake, shaking all over and clawing at the bedding.
    It took her a moment to realize that she was having a nightmare.
    That Wade Mulligan wasn’t here now, and that he could never hurt her again.
    Her phone jangled, a trilling sound that sent a shiver through her. Hand trembling, she reached for it, praying Jaxon had good news.
    But another voice echoed back. One that sounded garbled.
    Only the words were clear.
    “Your brother is a killer. He deserves to die. And you’ll die, too, if you try to get him off.”

Chapter Eight
    Jaxon’s phone buzzed, waking him at 6:00 a.m. “Sergeant Ward.”
    “Jaxon, it’s Casey Chambers. I have some information for you.”
    He sat up and grabbed a pen and pad from his nightstand. “What is it?”
    “I found the social worker who placed the Tierney kids with the Mulligans.”
    “Delia Hanover,” Jaxon said. “I saw her name in the trial transcripts.”
    “Right,” Casey said. “She left the office where she worked a couple of years after Hank Tierney was arrested. Now she works with the local school system.”
    “Give me her contact information.”
    “I’m texting you her phone and address now.”
    “Thanks. Anything else?”
    “I did some digging around and discovered four other