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Dread overcomes me. “What does Julia have to do with anything?”
Alex sits down opposite me. “Their case is based on her testimony. She claims you two were romantically involved at the time of your wife’s death, although there is zero evidence she was living in the Lowcountry over the summer.”
“I hardly know Julia. We met after Labor Day through our children. I took her out once. We haven’t even slept together. I can’t imagine why she would lie. Have you actually seen her statement?”
“Beaumonts’ attorneys haven’t gotten her statement yet, but they’ve assured me it’s forthcoming. For now, my primary concern is getting you before the magistrate so you don’t have to go back to jail.”
There’s a tap on the door, and Cody Porter, the kind officer who provided bandages for my hands, sticks his head inside. “Miss Stone, I just got word from the magistrate. He will hear your case now.”
The second trip to the magistrate court takes less time than the first. I plead not guilty, the judge pronounces an exorbitant amount for bail, and Ashton arranges to pay it.
On the way out to Marsh Point, Alex says, “The second arrest took up all our time. I need to get on the road to Columbia. But I’ll be in touch soon. Just so you know, Will, I plan to throw every resource I have at your case.”
“I hope your resources include a magician. Because it’s gonna take a bag of tricks to get me out of this mess.”
THIRTY-THREE
JULIA
While Conrad is at school on Monday morning, I pack up all our belongings and load them in the trunk of my car with the overflow in the back seat. I leave a check for next month’s rent on the kitchen counter and hide my key to the cottage under a planter on the back porch. Once we’re safely out of town, I’ll text Fry and explain the situation.
With a few minutes to spare, I walk through the sand dunes to the beach to say a final goodbye to the ocean. I feel silly when tears stream down my face. I’ve grown accustomed to the ocean’s presence in my life, and I will miss it.
I’m heading down Beach Drive on my way to pick up Conrad when a black sedan with a blue light flashing in the dashboard speeds up behind me. I slow down and pull over to the side of the road.
Detective Rourke appears beside my car, and I roll down the window. “What do you want? I’m certain I wasn’t speeding. Do I have a taillight out?”
“I’m a detective, Miss Becker. I don’t do traffic violations.” He glances in the back seat. “Where are you headed?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m on my way to pick my son up from school.”
He opens the back door and pokes around in the bedding. “Looks to me like you’re going on a camping trip.”
“That’s just stuff we’re not using anymore. I’ve been meaning to take it to Goodwill.”
He slams the back door shut. “You can’t fool me, Miss Becker. I know what you’re up to. You’re leaving town.”
“What choice do I have? I would rather die before perjuring myself.”
“And die you might. And so might your son.” The detective flashes his phone at me. “I have a member of The Six on speed dial. He would love to know your whereabouts.”
I give his phone a skeptical look. “You’re bluffing.”
“Are you willing to take that risk?”
I look from the phone to his face. “You’re asking me to lie under oath, Detective. What you’re doing is unethical. Your duty is to uphold the law, but you’re intentionally breaking it.”
“My tactics may be unconventional, but my intentions are honorable. I’m using whatever means necessary to get a guilty man off the streets.”
“Nothing about you is honorable. You’re the scum of the earth.”
Leaning over, he stares me in the eye. “If you try to leave town, we will hunt you down. Go home, Casey. Give this situation some more thought. Once you’ve carefully considered your options, you’ll see that my way is your only way out.”
“Don’t hold your breath, Detective.” I stomp my foot on the gas pedal, spewing gravel on him as I swerve the car back onto the road.
Dread turns my gut to stone. Detective Rourke means what he says. There is no escaping this situation for me.
I’m the first to arrive in the carpool line. I lean my head back against the seat and close my eyes while I wait for the bell to ring. I’m at a complete loss. There is no way out of this situation. I could accept Mr. Whitfield’s bribe. In addition to the large sum of money, he offered protection and a new life.
