Decker said, “So it seems to me that by his words and actions, Hawkins has waived his privilege, because how else can we prove his innocence if we can’t look at your files?”
Finger sighed. “Well, you make a compelling argument, I’ll give you that. And I guess it couldn’t hurt at this point. But it’s been a long time. You think I still have that stuff?”
“Most attorneys I know never throw anything away,” replied Decker firmly.
“So you’re thinking he’s innocent now, after all this time?”
“Some people here thought I’d killed my family,” said Decker.
“I wasn’t one of them,” said Finger quickly.
Decker rose. “So let’s go get those files.”
“What, you mean now? They’re in storage probably.”
“Yeah, now.”
“But I’ve got to be in court in twenty minutes.”
“Then I’m sure your secretary can help us. Now.”
“What’s your rush?”
“After all these years, I’m not waiting on the truth one second longer than I have to,” replied Decker.
Chapter 9
“IT’S OVER HERE.”
They were in a climate-controlled storage unit. After consulting the iPad she was holding, Christine Burlin pointed to a shelf in the far back of the space.
“You seem very well organized,” said Lancaster appreciatively.
“Well, of course I am. Mr. Finger is not the best in that regard, so I have to make up for it. And I can assure you that I do.”
Lancaster whispered to Jamison, “She has four kids, the oldest is in eighth grade, and I think she still dresses them in Garanimals.”
There were only two boxes dealing with the case, Burlin told them. She made Lancaster sign an electronic receipt before she would allow them to take the containers. They trudged back to their cars with Decker schlepping both boxes.
Lancaster said, “You can take them back to the station. Captain Miller has arranged a room for you to use.”
“How is Captain Miller?” said Decker.
“Ready to retire,” said Lancaster. “But aren’t we all. I’ll meet you back there later.”
“Wait a minute, where are you going?” asked Decker.
“I have other cases to work,” she said incredulously. “And this one is not officially on my plate or even a case for the department.”
“But Hawkins’s murder is.”
“And we don’t know if it’s connected to what’s in those files. So, you go through them and let me know what you find out, if anything. And let me go about trying to solve some new crimes, like Hawkins’s murder.”
She got into her car and drove off. When Decker didn’t climb into their rental, Jamison paused, her hand on the car door. “What’s up?”
“That’s what I want to know: What’s up with Mary?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve known her a long time. She’s not telling me something.”
“Well, she has that right, Decker. But she might come around. And it’s nice that you’re worried about your old partner,” she added.
They drove to the police station and were directed to the room reserved for their use. As they were heading down the hall a man in his early sixties stepped out of an office.
Captain MacKenzie Miller was still short, wide, and puffy, with an unhealthy tint to his skin. But his smile was broad and infectious. “Look what they let in the door,” he said.
He put out his hand for Decker to shake. He nodded at Jamison and shook her hand too, then pointed to the badge on her jacket. “I heard. Congrats, Alex, I know that wasn’t easy.”
“Thanks, Mac.”
Decker eyed the man who had been his superior his entire time on the police force. Miller was a good cop, tough, fair, and he didn’t bullshit. He had actually stopped Decker from putting a bullet in his brain once. It would be impossible to dislike the man after that.
“Well, you’ve been establishing quite a rep for yourself at the Bureau. Ross Bogart keeps me updated.”
“Didn’t know that,” said Decker, the boxes pressed against his wide chest.
“Nice to know there are some things you don’t know,” said Miller. He eyed the boxes. “Lawyer’s files? Hawkins?”
“Yes,” responded Jamison.
“We’ll, I’ll let you get to it, then. It’s good to see you both. Let’s grab a beer later if you’re able.”
Decker said, “Can I ask a question?”
“Would it matter if I said no?”
“What’s going on with Mary?”
Miller folded his short arms over his thick chest. “Why do you think anything’s going on with her, Amos?”
“We know each other. Something’s off.”
“You knew each other. It’s been a couple of years. People change.”
“People don’t change that much,” replied Decker.
“Then ask her.” Miller wagged a finger at him. “Just be prepared for whatever answer she has. You up for that?”
Decker didn’t answer, and Miller didn’t look like he had expected a response.
“I appreciate your letting us work on the case.”
“Well, I want to get to the bottom of it as much as you do. If we messed up, we have to make it right. You have my full backing.”
“Thanks, Mac,” said Jamison.
“I’ll leave you to it, then.” He disappeared back inside his office.
They proceeded to the room and Decker put the twin boxes down on the metal conference table. He took off his coat and slung it over a chair back.
Taking the top off one box, he said to Jamison, “I’ll take this one. You go through the other.” He slid it over to her.
“What exactly are we looking for?” she asked, opening the box.
“Hopefully you’ll know it when you see it.”
She sighed, sat down, and lifted out the first few files.
* * *
Four hours later they had each gone through both boxes.
“Not a whole lot here,” noted Jamison.
“This is the defense’s side of things. I’ve asked Mary to have someone pull the department’s files.”
“They keep things that long?”
“Probably only because nobody had the time to throw them out.”
“Ken Finger didn’t seem to have much evidence to go on.”
“That’s why the jury convicted his client after only two hours of deliberation. And an hour of that was spent at lunch.”
“He was pretty tough on you on cross-examination,” said Jamison, holding up a transcript of Decker’s time in the witness box.
“That was his job.”
“But you were quite firm in your statements.”
“Because I believed them to be true.”
“Meaning you no longer do?”
Decker looked at her over a piece of paper he was holding. “Meaning back then I didn’t necessarily see the forest for the trees.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I might have been so eager to get a conviction on my first homicide investigation that it didn’t strike me as odd that a guy would burgle a house that early in the evening when it might be full of people.”