Read Online Until the Final Verdict by Christine McGuire - Free Book Online Page B

out.”
    â€œKathryn’s not capable of murder.”
    â€œUnder the right circumstances, we’re all capable of murder.”
    â€œBullshit!”
    â€œYou can’t ignore the facts, and the facts say Kathryn may have murdered Robert Simmons.”
    Granz leaned back on the sofa, silent.
    â€œDave?” Nelson prompted.
    â€œWhat th’ fuck do I do now, Doc?”
    â€œYour job.”

CHAPTER

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22

    T HIS WEEKEND, their first as a married couple, Dave had hoped that he and Kathryn would share the happy news with Emma, then enjoy a special family dinner to celebrate.
    Now, he could barely force himself to drive to Kathryn’s condo, much less confront her with Morgan Nelson’s suspicions about Simmons’ murder. Worse, he knew he had to tell her he shared Nelson’s concern.
    So when he approached her condo complex, instead of pulling into the driveway, he drove around the block four times.
    Finally, unable to put it off any longer, he parked in the carport beside her Audi A4. He switched off the V-8, folded the toxicology report, shoved it in his pocket, walked up the stairs, stood on the landing for a few minutes, drew several deep breaths, and punched the doorbell.
    â€œI’ll get it!” Dave heard pounding footsteps.
    The deadbolt slid open. “Dave! I knew it was you.” Emma was wearing pajama bottoms and a Holy Cross Middle School sweatshirt, a half-eaten bagel in one hand, a phone in the other.
    â€œGotta finish dressing, we’re going to the mall. Mom’s in the kitchen.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and ran back to her bedroom, giggling at whoever was on the other end of the phone.
    â€œWho is it, Em?” Kathryn shouted.
    Kathryn stood barefoot at the sink, rinsing dishes and loading the dishwasher. She wore Gap jeans and an open-necked blue shirt.
    She looked so pretty as his wife that it took Dave’s breath away, and he started to put his hands on her shoulders, but changed his mind and stepped back. “It’s me, Babe.”
    She shut the water off, dried her hands, and slipped her arms around his waist. “I told you to be here early so we could sit down with Emma before dinner, but ten A.M.’ s overdoing it a little.”
    â€œI know.”
    She smiled mischievously. “You looking for a little affection before lunch?”
    â€œNo.”
    Startled, she leaned back to look at him. “Whatever’s on your mind, spill it.”
    He leaned against the counter and, not knowing how to broach the real issue, explained Nelson’s findings from Jemima Tucker’s autopsy instead.
    â€œIf Keefe or Sanchez left the semen, one or both had sex with her just before or during her murder.”
    â€œOr immediately after.”
    â€œYeah, that’s a possibility, too. Do we have probable cause to seize their blood for DNA comparison?”
    She walked around the breakfast counter, sat on a stool, leaned forward on her elbows and clasped her hands. “PC isn’t the problem. The judges are going to circle the wagons around one of their own—conflict out on Keefe, refuse to issue a warrant ordering Keefe to submit to a blood draw.”
    â€œIs there an alternative?”
    â€œGrand Juries can issue subpoenas ad testificandum to compel testimony and subpoenas duces tecum to obtain evidence, without probable cause—without even a firm basis for believing the subpoenas will prove the commission of a particular offense.”
    â€œIncluding blood samples?”
    â€œThere’s conflicting case law, but yes, if the Grand Jury has good reason to believe a crime was committed, and also believes the blood samples will significantly aid its investigation.”
    â€œWhat if they lawyer up to quash the subpoenas?”
    â€œThey have a legal right to contest them in court before complying, but I bet they won’t. Court hearings are public. By the time they were concluded, it