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Back Legacy of Lies Save as PDF
Chapters (88)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CONTENTS
  5. PART ONE
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. PART TWO
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. PART THREE
  46. 39
  47. 40
  48. 41
  49. 42
  50. 43
  51. 44
  52. 45
  53. 46
  54. 47
  55. 48
  56. 49
  57. 50
  58. 51
  59. 52
  60. 53
  61. 54
  62. 55
  63. 56
  64. 57
  65. 58
  66. 59
  67. PART FOUR
  68. 60
  69. 61
  70. 62
  71. 63
  72. 64
  73. 65
  74. 66
  75. 67
  76. 68
  77. 69
  78. 70
  79. 71
  80. 72
  81. 73
  82. 74
  83. 75
  84. 76
  85. 77
  86. EPILOGUE
  87. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  88. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bo finally sighed. “All of this sounds good, but the only thing we have now is speculation and theories. Whether it’s Michael Zannick, Finn Pusser, Lou Horn, or Ennis Petrie, we need some evidence.” He paused. “And if this is a frame-up, why would the framer take your gun with him? Seems like it would be more beneficial to shoot Butch with your gun and leave it at the scene to be found. The true killer would likely be wearing gloves, so the only prints on the weapon would presumably be yours.”

Helen met Bo’s eye and didn’t blink. “I’ve thought of that, too, and you’re right. It doesn’t fit a frame-up theory, but you and I both know that criminals make mistakes. Perhaps the killer forgot to wear gloves before using my gun and didn’t want to risk his prints being found on the handle. Or maybe he intended to leave the revolver but got distracted by his efforts to steal the laptop. There are dozens of possibilities.”

Bo nodded his agreement before sighing again. “We need evidence, General.”

“My testimony that I didn’t steal anything, didn’t shoot Butch, and had my revolver taken away from me before I left his house is evidence.”

Bo peered at her. “That would require you to take the stand.”

“I have to take the stand, Bo.”

“Are you sure? Given all the evidence and the admissions you’ll have to concede . . . and the questions you’ll get about the abortion.”

She stood from her chair and put her hands on her hips. “I’ve been the district attorney general of this county for over twenty years. That jury has to hear from me.” She paused. “This town has to hear from me.”

Bo tended to agree with her, but he didn’t say so. “We’ll talk trial strategy when we get closer to time.” He turned to leave.

“Bo?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you know if Zannick’s rape trial has been reset?”

Bo remembered what Lona had told him the night before. “There’s a settlement docket next Thursday.”

“Trial is normally the Monday after the settlement docket,” Helen said, sighing. “Promise me something.”

“What?”

“Don’t let that bastard cut a deal.”

Bo stifled a sigh. There’s only so much I can do. But then he fixed her with a hard gaze. “I’ll try.”

43

43

Ennis Petrie liked to walk the streets of Pulaski at night. When the sun went down, he couldn’t feel their eyes on him, nor could he taste the shame of having once been someone in this town. He knew, of course, that after four years in lockup, many people had forgotten about him, and those who hadn’t probably wouldn’t recognize him after the weight loss, the crew cut, and the shaved face.

Regardless, during the daylight he could feel their eyes burning into him.