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“No worries,” Alex said. “What’s going on?”
“They found Laura McAllister’s body early this morning.”
“Oh, God. That’s awful.”
Jacqueline walked into Alex’s apartment.
“I’m only getting early details. Her body was found by a professor on a running trail near campus. My source at the police department said early indications are that she was raped and strangled.”
Alex put her hands to her face but didn’t speak.
“Matthew Claymore’s parents just called me. The police took Matthew in for questioning.”
“On what grounds?”
“Detectives discovered a backpack near Laura’s body that they’ve linked to Matthew.”
“Linked how?”
“They’re saying it’s his backpack.”
Alex swallowed hard. “Now what?”
“If it’s true, and early indications say it is, then the backpack ties Matthew to the scene and we’ve got a major problem.”
“Jacqueline, I don’t believe it. I spent a lot of time with Matthew this past week. He’s not a killer.”
“Matthew provided DNA samples when we had our interview yesterday, so we’ll know soon enough.”
“Was there DNA on Laura’s body?”
“My source didn’t know, but he said it was a messy crime scene. If Matthew’s DNA is absent from the scene, that should take the suspicion off of him—backpack or not. If his DNA shows up on her body, then we’ll have some decisions to make. But the backpack found at the scene is my first priority. I’m on my way to the precinct to meet with him now, but before I do I wanted to see if you turned up anything since yesterday morning.”
“Yes, a lot,” Alex said, pointing to the couch. “I know just about everything about Laura’s story. Sit down and I’ll tell you. Can I get you something to drink?”
Jacqueline sat on the couch. “Ice water, please.”
Alex headed to the kitchen and prepared a glass of ice water. She handed it to Jacqueline as she sat across from her boss. As she did, Alex became awkwardly aware that her evidence board was in full view. She’d forgotten to pull the accordion divider closed, and now the standing corkboard easel, littered with photos of her parents, newspaper articles, and Post-it Notes, was on display for Jacqueline to see.
Alex stood and pulled the divider closed.
“Sorry, just a pet project of mine,” Alex said.
“I saw a photo of your parents,” Jacqueline said.
Alex smiled. “I’m sure Garrett’s mentioned it to you.”
Despite the crisis unfolding with Lancaster & Jordan’s newest client, Alex saw Jacqueline’s eyes take on a softer demeanor. Although Jacqueline had played only a supporting role years ago during Alex’s defamation case against the state of Virginia, she had been Garrett’s right hand in his fight to convince a judge to drop the charges against Alex and spring her from Alleghany. Alex’s past, and the case Garrett and Jacqueline had won for her, was a never-mentioned event at Lancaster & Jordan but would remain a time in history when all three had become inextricably linked to one another.
Jacqueline shook her head. “He hasn’t.”
Garrett’s silence about her board was more proof that he was the most honorable man Alex knew. If there were anyone Garrett would share the details of Alex’s lifelong obsession with, it was Jacqueline.
“It’s just . . . this thing I do,” Alex said. “Whenever I find new details about my family’s case, I pin them to the board.” Alex shrugged. “I know it sounds stupid.”
Jacqueline squinted her eyes. “Not at all. And don’t let anyone tell you it is. If it’s important to you, it’s important. Period.”
Alex smiled. “Thanks, Jacqueline.”
