“Maybe Marissa has met somebody, and she’d rather be with him.”

“Except she first claimed to have taken a few days to rest due to her health and abruptly decides to leave the state. Why now? Medical records would give us more insight,” I said.

“I’ll see about gaining access to her medical history. Interesting your theory indicates Marissa could be a narcissist, a high-functioning psychopath.”

“I’d forgotten about your psychology degree.”

“Comes in handy.” Mike chuckled. “But if true, she would implicate her dad.”

“From my one time meeting with her, she’s charming and kind. She demanded the right to talk to Shelby and did so, but later she cowered to Clay. Shelby told me she’d asked Marissa to make amends with him. If that was another Marissa ploy, those traits bring cunning to the table.”

“Give me a moment to piece this together.” Finally Mike spoke. “Sociopaths are very good at what they do, and often victims don’t know they’ve been used until it’s too late. But don’t jump to this until we have more evidence. We still have the testimony from the woman who identified Clay as part of a money-laundering business, but she could have been under orders to ID him. I’ll have her brought in for another interview.”

“I contacted the FIG to see if they have anything on Marissa, specifically any links between Eli Chandler and her. The voice distortion wasn’t in their database, and Chandler’s voice is there.”

“Denton, if what you’ve uncovered is legit, Marissa is the one who should have suffered in prison for fifteen years. I realize that’s a no-brainer.”

“Glad to hear I’m not losing my mind.”

“Because you’re falling for Shelby?”

“I’m pleading the Fifth.”

“At least you’re not in full denial. Have you detected any arrested development issues in her?”

“Such as?”

“Considering her age during incarceration and the need to find ways to cope with the trauma, has Shelby shown you a rough or distant personality? Even another means demonstrating a lack in emotional processing?”

I considered my conversations with her and her behavior. “A little distant or, should I say, cautious at times, but nothing unexpected. She’s in counseling.”

“Good. Mahatma Gandhi has a saying about women like Shelby, ‘The real ornament of woman is her character, her purity.’”

I sobered. “Took me a long time to see that. Thanks. As soon I hear back from the FIG, I’ll forward the report. If all this checks out with evidence pointing to Shelby’s innocence, I’ve got to confront her.”

I pocketed my phone and hobbled back to the cabin. Having Shelby close brought back all my thoughts of one day having a wife and family.

Later, Denton. Save her life first.

Shelby wore her hair in a ponytail, fresh and downright appealing. Her rare smile tempted me to act on my feelings. But not yet. She might level me, and I’d be no match on crutches.

She worked on her jewelry pieces, intently concentrating. I studied her. A beautiful woman who took my breath away. She must have sensed my scrutiny because she glanced up.