by Dan Decker
Cynthia hesitated for so long I thought she was going to tell me, but she stood instead.
“Do you have something that supposedly ties Ron to the murder weapon? Is that what you were getting at when you told me about the thousand dollars? Are you just waiting for the police to find it?”
“I must be going.”
She didn’t quite slam the door on her way out, but I smiled as she left.
I drummed on my desk for a moment and then picked up the phone to call Winston.
“Winston, great job today. I’ll be paying you a nice bonus. I still want you to check a few things out on the Cooper matter even though we have a resolution.” I hesitated. “Bill this to me directly.”
56
August 15 – 3:31 PM
I was sitting in my office doing some self-study CLE when Ellie knocked on my door.
“Have you seen the news?”
I shook my head. “What’s it about?”
“You’ll know when you see it.” Ellie smiled as she shut the door.
A few clicks later and I was looking at a video of Frank Ward.
“We are here to announce new charges in the murder of Gordon Howard.” Frank allowed himself a small smile, a rarity for him when on the job. “The state is charging Cynthia Cooper for the murder of Gordon Howard.”
I could not help myself. I sent a text message to Stephanie. “Doesn’t it feel good to know you didn’t miss the murder weapon after all?”
I wasn’t expecting a response, but part of me wanted to make sure she knew that it was my team who had cleared her name. Winston had been able to prove that Cynthia Cooper had been in the building after the police had released the scene by obtaining doorbell camera footage from Timothy’s neighbor.
I had just barely missed her.
If I’d arrived fifteen minutes earlier to start my investigation, I might have caught her hiding the murder weapon in Timothy’s apartment. The brass and the lip-gloss had undoubtedly come from her as well. It wasn’t a stretch to believe Barbara had left it where Cynthia had found it.
The same camera had recorded her on the night of the murder. I would never forget the rage on her face as she had walked down the hall. I wondered if she had expected to find Ron and Cynthia, believing they were using Timothy’s apartment for their illicit liaisons. As near as I could tell, Gordon’s death had been a crime of opportunity with Cynthia intending to punish Ron and Barbara by framing them for it afterward, but I couldn’t say for sure.
Whatever her plan, it had almost worked.
A part of me wondered if she had also blamed Timothy for keeping the affair from her and had not cared if he was caught in the crossfire.
One way or another, she had wanted to harm them and didn’t care who got caught in between.
Frank also announced that the charges against Ron and Barbara had been dropped.
I wonder if his firm will take Ron back?
I picked up my cell phone when there was a buzz, thinking it was a text message from Stephanie.
It was from Timothy Cooper.
“I better learn you never had anything to do with this.”
I just chuckled as I returned to my book.
Author’s Note
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Books by
Dan Decker
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Monster Country
Monster Country: Genizyz
Monster Country: Recruit (Novella)
Dead Man’s War
#1: Dead Man’s Game
#2: Dead Man’s Fear
War of the Fathers Universe
Prequel: Blood of the Redd Guard
Volume One: War of the Fathers
Volume Two: Lord of the Inferno
Volume Three: Enemy in the Shadows
East Wind (Short Story)
The Containment Team
Volume One: Ready Shooter
Volume Two: Hybrid Hotel
Thrillers
Jake Ramsey Thrillers
Black Brick
Dark Spectrum
Blood Games
Silent Warehouse (Short Story)
Nameless Man (Short Story)
Money Games (Short Story)
Other Short Stories:
Monkey House
The Hikers
Exit
Grizzly Wolf
The Mugger
The Red Survivor Chronicles
Red Survivor
The Sawyer Gambit
The Assassin in the Hold
About the Author
Dan Decker lives in Utah with his family. He has a law degree and spends as much time as he can outdoors. You can learn more about upcoming novels at dandeckerbooks.com.