Read Online Blood Silence by Roger Stelljes - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Roger Stelljes
Tags: Fiction, General, Suspense, Thrillers, Mystery & Detective, Crime, Hard-Boiled, Police Procedural, Collections & Anthologies
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she asked for a lawyer. Who did she get?”
“Lyman Hisle.”
“Well, then, at least she’s got the best. She’s got a chance.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Karma is one angry bitch.”
L yman Hisle was a criminal defense attorney without peer in the Twin Cities. The case of Meredith Hilary—a double murder and the sure-fire local media attention it would draw—was right in his wheelhouse. That, and Edmund and Ann Hilary, as well as Teddy Archer, Meredith’s godfather, were all close, personal friends. Their daughter and goddaughter would get his best in representing her.
And it would be a tough case, which was apparent when Lyman discussed it with Meredith last evening, listened to the detectives question Meredith, and not to mention his conversation with the Hennepin County Attorney, Candace Johnson.
His client, to put it charitably, was in a spot.
“Meredith, kiddo, here’s how I see things. Thursday morning, you met with your private investigator, who confirmed that your husband was having an affair with a woman named Callie Gentry, a woman who was also his client, a woman who’d spent a great deal of time in your and your husband’s law firm for the past several months. He shows you these pictures of her having sex with your husband.” Lyman held them up. “He even has pictures of Sterling taking Gentry to your house out on Lake Minnetonka, not to mention actual video of them having sex. That night, after you’ve confirmed the affair, you and your husband go to the president’s birthday reception and, lo and behold, who is also in attendance? Callie Gentry, of course. So, just after you’ve seen pictures and video of Sterling and Gentry having sex, she shows up at that event, and on top of that, the two of them left the event together. Oh sure, they didn’t walk out of the hall together, but the Hennepin County sheriff’s detectives have pictures and surveillance video of them getting into his car together. Then, the next morning, your husband and Ms. Gentry are found dead, shot a combined thirteen times at your lake home, with your gun, which has your fingerprints on it.”
“Lyman, she didn’t do this,” Edmund Hilary asserted.
“Edmund, I’m talking to your daughter here,” Lyman scolded. “She needs to hear this, as do you, because this is the Cliff Notes version of the prosecution’s very convincing opening statement.” Lyman looked back at Meredith, whose eyes were squarely on him. “The Hennepin County attorney tells me there are no signs of forced entry into the house, and witnesses, shortly after the shots were heard, saw a silver Mercedes sedan racing away from the scene. You own a silver Mercedes S550, and you arrived at the Orono police station in it, and witnesses shown pictures of it say it looks like what they saw driving away.”
“It’s not like it’s the only Mercedes in the world,” Ann Hilary suggested.
Lyman ignored her, keeping his gaze on Meredith. “Neighbors report hearing the shots fired at 1:30 A.M. , and that’s consistent with time of death. Now, you claim you arrived at your parents’ cabin up north of Alexandria, two hours away, at 2:30 A.M. or so, which, if true, means you couldn’t have possibly killed your husband and her lover. But nobody can verify your time of arrival at your parents’ cabin, so your alibi is, at this point, essentially worthless.”
“I understand,” Meredith stated, nodding.
“Do you?” Lyman asked. “Because given all of that, you are in a very difficult position here, young lady. So I’m going to ask this question once. Do I need to start talking to the Hennepin County attorney about a plea?”
“No,” Meredith answered defiantly. “I didn’t do this. I can’t sit here and say I’m heartbroken he’s dead, because of what he did. We didn’t love each other anymore—the marriage was not going to last. But I didn’t want him dead, and I didn’t kill him. I don’t know why, but someone is setting me up. No plea
“Lyman Hisle.”
“Well, then, at least she’s got the best. She’s got a chance.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Karma is one angry bitch.”
L yman Hisle was a criminal defense attorney without peer in the Twin Cities. The case of Meredith Hilary—a double murder and the sure-fire local media attention it would draw—was right in his wheelhouse. That, and Edmund and Ann Hilary, as well as Teddy Archer, Meredith’s godfather, were all close, personal friends. Their daughter and goddaughter would get his best in representing her.
And it would be a tough case, which was apparent when Lyman discussed it with Meredith last evening, listened to the detectives question Meredith, and not to mention his conversation with the Hennepin County Attorney, Candace Johnson.
His client, to put it charitably, was in a spot.
“Meredith, kiddo, here’s how I see things. Thursday morning, you met with your private investigator, who confirmed that your husband was having an affair with a woman named Callie Gentry, a woman who was also his client, a woman who’d spent a great deal of time in your and your husband’s law firm for the past several months. He shows you these pictures of her having sex with your husband.” Lyman held them up. “He even has pictures of Sterling taking Gentry to your house out on Lake Minnetonka, not to mention actual video of them having sex. That night, after you’ve confirmed the affair, you and your husband go to the president’s birthday reception and, lo and behold, who is also in attendance? Callie Gentry, of course. So, just after you’ve seen pictures and video of Sterling and Gentry having sex, she shows up at that event, and on top of that, the two of them left the event together. Oh sure, they didn’t walk out of the hall together, but the Hennepin County sheriff’s detectives have pictures and surveillance video of them getting into his car together. Then, the next morning, your husband and Ms. Gentry are found dead, shot a combined thirteen times at your lake home, with your gun, which has your fingerprints on it.”
“Lyman, she didn’t do this,” Edmund Hilary asserted.
“Edmund, I’m talking to your daughter here,” Lyman scolded. “She needs to hear this, as do you, because this is the Cliff Notes version of the prosecution’s very convincing opening statement.” Lyman looked back at Meredith, whose eyes were squarely on him. “The Hennepin County attorney tells me there are no signs of forced entry into the house, and witnesses, shortly after the shots were heard, saw a silver Mercedes sedan racing away from the scene. You own a silver Mercedes S550, and you arrived at the Orono police station in it, and witnesses shown pictures of it say it looks like what they saw driving away.”
“It’s not like it’s the only Mercedes in the world,” Ann Hilary suggested.
Lyman ignored her, keeping his gaze on Meredith. “Neighbors report hearing the shots fired at 1:30 A.M. , and that’s consistent with time of death. Now, you claim you arrived at your parents’ cabin up north of Alexandria, two hours away, at 2:30 A.M. or so, which, if true, means you couldn’t have possibly killed your husband and her lover. But nobody can verify your time of arrival at your parents’ cabin, so your alibi is, at this point, essentially worthless.”
“I understand,” Meredith stated, nodding.
“Do you?” Lyman asked. “Because given all of that, you are in a very difficult position here, young lady. So I’m going to ask this question once. Do I need to start talking to the Hennepin County attorney about a plea?”
“No,” Meredith answered defiantly. “I didn’t do this. I can’t sit here and say I’m heartbroken he’s dead, because of what he did. We didn’t love each other anymore—the marriage was not going to last. But I didn’t want him dead, and I didn’t kill him. I don’t know why, but someone is setting me up. No plea
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