She showed Bob a chart with lots of stars after her name.
“You’re pretty good at this being-a-student-thing. Do you like school?”
“Yeah, it’s fun. I like my teacher, and I’ve made some friends here.”
“You two better come eat,” Sabre said. “The food is getting cold.”
They all sat down and ate their lunch, with idle chitchat between bites. Sabre let Morgan finish her food before she started questioning her.
“I have to ask you something, and it’s very important that you tell me the whole truth. It could be a big help to Conner. Can you promise to tell me the truth?”
“I promise.”
“I need to know exactly what happened when Bullet left your house, from the time you woke up, to when Conner was arrested. Please think carefully about those few days.”
Morgan closed her eyes, exuded a calm focus, then opened them. “I got up and I was hungry, so I went to the kitchen. I heard Bullet shouting, and I saw Grandma on the floor. She had blood all over her, and it scared me. Before I could see anything else, Conner grabbed me and took me to our room. I waited for the yelling to stop. It seemed to go on for a long time. It got quiet once, and I thought it was over, but then it started again. I could tell Bullet was really mad. I stayed in the room for maybe another hour after it stopped, just to be sure.”
“Did Conner stay in there with you?”
“Only for a little while. I didn’t want him to leave, but he said he had to talk to Daddy.”
“Did he come back?”
“He came in once and told me to stay in the room until there was no more noise in the house and I was sure the fighting had stopped.”
“Did you hear more fighting?”
“No, but I heard that my dad whipped Bullet pretty good before he left. The next thing I saw was when Bullet jumped on his bike and took off. I could see that from my bedroom window. Shortly after that, I heard the garage door open and a car leave.”
“Do you know who was in the car?”
“No, but it must’ve been my dad—and maybe Conner. When I finally came out, the only one left was my mom, and she was still asleep.”
“Did you see your mom?”
“No, but she had to be there. She never gets up early after a party.”
“What did you do then?”
“I ate some cereal and watched TV.”
“When did your grandma come home?”
“I don’t know exactly, but Mom was already awake, so it must’ve been after one o’clock.”
“You saw your mom before your grandma came home?”
“Yes. Mom came into the living room, and she was already dressed. She talked to me for a minute and then went back to her room. It wasn’t long after that when Grandma came home.”
“Who else came into the house that day?”
“My dad returned just before dark. I don’t know when Conner came because I was already asleep. He was the last one.”
“You saw your dad that day?”
“Yes. I was already in my room, and he came and knocked on the door.”
“I thought he had a key.”
“He does, but he never came in without knocking.”
“Was that the last time you saw him?”
“No. I saw him the next morning. Grandma made pancakes, and Conner and I were eating. Daddy was drinking coffee, and Derek came by. They went outside and talked, then Daddy came back inside, went to his room, and got a bag.” Morgan’s eyes looked sad. “He told us he was leaving. He said he didn’t know how long he’d be gone, and if anyone asked, to tell them he’d left a few days earlier and was in Donovan.”
“Did you know he wasn’t really going to prison?”
“No.”
“Why do you think he told you to say he had left a few days before?”
“Sometimes my family has secrets, and it’s easier to just do as they say.”
Morgan looked conflicted, so Sabre moved on. “The other guys, Judd and Andy, did they return that day?”
“No.”
“Did they come back any time before Conner was arrested?”
“They could’ve when I was at school, but I didn’t see either of them.” She paused, remembering something. “Judd showed up one day and talked to my grandma for a little while. He didn’t stay long.”
“Is there any chance Judd could have gotten into your room while he was there?”
“No.” Morgan shook her head vehemently. “I’m sure of it, because I went to my room right after he got there, and I stayed until he left. Besides, it’s locked.”
“And your grandma doesn’t have a key?”
“No.”
“And you never saw your dad, Judd, Andy, or Derek again?”
“Nope.”
“Who else came to your house after that?”
“Emily was there once. No, twice. She came by with Conner the next day, but she waited for him while he got something from our room, then they left. The next time was the day Conner was arrested. She came home with him after school. They were in the room together for quite a while doing homework.”
“Were you in the room?”
“I was helping Grandma in the kitchen.”
Sabre had a thought. “Did your grandma ever come into your room to tuck you in—between the time Bullet left and Conner was arrested?”
“Only once, I think.” Morgan closed her eyes to focus. “It was the same day Bullet beat her up. The day he left.”
“And she never came into your room after that?”
“No. I’m sure of it. Conner was home every night until he was arrested, and then I left too. It was only a couple of nights.”
“If she didn’t have a key, how did your grandma get in that last time?”
Morgan smiled. “We have a secret code so I know it’s her. She knocks once, and if I’m alone, I knock back once. Then she knocks four times and I let her in.”
“What does your grandma do when she tucks you in?”
“She reads to me. The books sound better because of the way she talks.”
“Your grandma has a beautiful accent,” Sabre said. “After she reads to you, then what?”
“She usually stays until I fall asleep, then she leaves.”
“Does Conner know your grandma comes in the room?”
“I don’t think so. It would be okay if he did, but it’s fun to have a secret with Grandma.”
“Morgan, do you like Emily?”
“Yeah, she’s nice. She always says ‘Hi’ to me, unlike some of my brother’s friends.”
“But none of them were there after Bullet was shot, right?”
“That’s right. Conner hasn’t had anyone over for quite a while. Except Emily.”
Chapter 56
Sabre called JP and, just as she expected, he didn’t answer. She didn’t like that he was hanging out with his brother, and she didn’t like the things that had been happening on this case. She hoped JP wasn’t in trouble. But something else was going on. JP was acting different than she had ever seen before. He was angry, and it seemed to be directed at her.
When the phone beeped, she left a message: “JP, I really need to talk to you about Conner’s case. The judge made a ruling on the fitness hearing, and I have information that might help find the killer.” She started to hang up, then added, “I think I know who killed Bullet. Please call as soon as you can.”
It wasn’t long before JP called back.
“Everything okay?” Sabre asked.
“I can’t seem to make any headway on this case, and it’s driving me mad.” His voice was stilted and cold.
“I may be able to help. First, we won the 707 hearing. Conner will be tried in juvenile court.”
“That’s great news, Sabre. Good for you.”
“It wasn’t just me. I hate to say it, but I think it helped that Conner got beat up in the Hall.”
“You can thank Gene for that.”
“What are you saying?”
Sabre asked. “Never mind. Don’t tell me. I don’t need to know that.”
“Then I won’t,” JP said. “I still think Soper is the killer. I’m considering taking another shot at questioning Muriel. Something’s not right. She knows more than she’s telling.”
“You think she would protect Soper over her grandson?”
“Only if she thinks Conner won’t get punished. I should tell her we lost the 707 hearing and he’s facing life in prison. That might shake her.”
“Let me tell you what I found out from Conner and Morgan.” Sabre summarized what she’d learned, and gave him her theory of the case.
“You’re a genius, kid.” His voice sounded normal, soft and loving. For a second, Sabre felt like her JP was back, but then he seemed to harden again. “I’ll get right on it.”
“Call me as soon as you know something,” Sabre said.
She waited for a response, but her phone was silent. He had already hung up.
~~~
JP and Gene drove to Muriel’s house, determined to get the truth.
“Back so soon,” Muriel said, as they entered.
“Yes,” Gene said. “There’s something you need to know.” He walked into the living room.
Muriel’s eyes widened as she followed. “What is it?”
“The judged ruled against us on the 707,” JP said. “Conner will be tried as an adult.”
Muriel staggered to a chair and sat down. “Oh no. That’s not fair.” She lowered her head and covered her eyes.
“You’re right. It’s not fair.” JP sat down across from her. “Especially since he didn’t do it.”
Muriel dragged her hands from her eyes to cover her mouth. Her words were muffled, but understandable. “And you know who did.” It was more a statement than a question.
“Yes, we do,” JP said. “You want to tell us what happened?”
“I didn’t mean to kill him.” She started to sob. “I just wanted to scare Bullet enough so he would leave us alone.”
“What happened?”
“When he left, I was so angry. I was in pain, and I was so tired of living in fear all the time. I went to Roxanne’s room and got Gene’s gun from the box. At first, I just planned to have the gun with me, in case he came back. Then I started thinking that if he came back and I shot him, the kids would witness it, and I didn’t want that. So, I decided to go after him and scare him. I never planned to kill him.”
“How did you know where he was?” JP asked.
“He took his camping gear, so I figured he was at this place he always went. We used to go there quite a bit, so I knew how to find the spot. It’s not a real campsite, just a secluded chunk of government land.”
“Had he set up camp when you found him?”
She shook her head. “He still had all his gear on his bike when I got there. He was just sitting there on a rock, holding his head. I got the feeling he was in pain. When he turned around, I saw his face looked pretty bad, like someone had beat him up.”
“Did you know he and Gene got in a fight before he left?”
“Yes, but he had blood everywhere. I think someone else got to him too.”
Muriel stopped talking and looked into her lap.
JP prodded her. “What did Bullet do?”
“He wasn’t exactly happy to see me. In fact, he was furious. He yelled, ‘What the hell are you doing here? Did you come to finish the job Gene started?’ I tried to talk to him, but he jumped on his bike and drove off. I followed him. When he got near the highway, he stopped. I don’t know why, but he got off his bike. I parked too, then grabbed the gun and got out of the car. I took one step toward him, pointing the gun the whole time.”
“Did you say anything?”
“I said, ‘I don’t ever want you at my house. If you come back, I’ll kill you. You’re never going to hurt me or anyone I love again.’” She paused.
Gene cut in. “And then you shot him?”
“No. He said something like, ‘You don’t scare me with your little toy pistol. You don’t have the guts to kill me, or you would’ve done it already.’ Then he suddenly came at me. He grabbed my hand that held the gun and punched me in the face with his other one. I fell back against the car. I felt the jolt of the gun in my hand as it went off. Bullet staggered back a couple of feet and collapsed to the ground.”
JP waited. Muriel didn’t say anything.
“Then what?” he prompted.
“I stood there for a few seconds, trying to figure out what had happened. There was blood all over his neck, face, and chest. I couldn’t even tell where he’d been hit. At first I was afraid to get too close for fear he would grab me, but he wasn’t moving at all. Finally, I reached down and checked for a pulse. There was none. So I took out his cell phone and called 9-1-1. Using my best American accent, I told them I was driving by and saw what looked like a man on the ground by his motorcycle. Then hung up and drove off. About a mile down the road, I threw the phone into the canyon.”
Gene started to say something, but JP waved him off. “How did the gun end up in Conner’s room?” JP asked.
“I was afraid someone would find it if I put it anywhere else. I knew the gun was important to Gene, so I didn’t want to throw it away. I knew no one had a key to Conner’s room, and I only put it there until I could figure out what to do.”
“You have a key to his room?”
“No. As far as I know, only Conner and Morgan have keys.”
Gene didn’t correct her.
“How did you get in?” JP asked. But he thought he knew, based on what Sabre had told him.
“Morgan and I had a secret knock so she could let me in when Conner was gone. That night, Conner was out somewhere, so I took the gun in my book bag and hid it in the corner of their closet after Morgan fell asleep. After that, I never was able to get back into the room without Conner there. Then he got arrested, and they found the gun.”
“Dammit, Muriel!” Gene shouted. “Why did you let Conner take the blame? He’s your grandson, for God’s sake.”
“I just got scared, and Gene, you’re always saying they don’t do anything to these kids when they get arrested. They just slap them on the wrist.”
“He’s not going to just get a slap on the wrist,” JP said, struggling to control his fury. “If Conner was convicted as an adult, he could’ve been sentenced to life in prison.”
“I would’ve never let that happen.” Muriel tilted her head. “Wait a minute. I thought you said he would be tried as an adult.”
“I lied. We won the 707 hearing. But even if he lost in juvenile court, he would’ve spent years in custody with gang members, murderers, and other violent offenders. Incarceration is never a picnic.”
Muriel dropped her eyes again. “I know. I feel terrible for what he has already gone through. How do I get him out of juvenile hall?”
“We’ll start by talking to Conner’s attorney. She’ll know the best way to handle it.”
JP called Sabre and told her about Muriel’s confession.
“I’ll call and get an appointment with DDA Benson,” Sabre said. “Can you bring Muriel in to give her statement?”
“Just let me know when and where.”
JP hung up. They waited in silence until Sabre called back.
“We’re meeting in thirty-five minutes with Benson and her investigator,” Sabre said. “Is that enough time?”
“We’ll be there.”
~~~
Sabre was concerned about JP’s behavior. He hadn’t sounded angry this time, like he did the last time they spoke, but there was still no affection in his comments. She had to find out what was wrong. She decided she’d insist on having that conversation soon.
She called Bob on her way to the DDA’s office and told him about Muriel. “You know what that means, right?”
“That you’re going to win?”
“I meant that Conner will be released, and you’ll get another minor to handle if they file on him too.�
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“Do you think they will? He wasn’t in as much danger as Morgan.”
Sabre sighed. “His grandmother let him take the rap for a murder, and his father is likely headed back to prison. His mother is a mess and hasn’t done any of her programs yet. Yes, I expect they’ll file on him.”
Chapter 57
Sabre saw JP pull into the parking spot next to her and felt a twinge of excitement—as she always did when she saw him. She stepped out of her car, hoping to get a warm greeting. But because of the way he’d been acting lately, she braced for more detachment.
JP climbed out, and so did Muriel. “Have you two met?” JP asked, without any other acknowledgment.
“We haven’t,” Sabre said.
JP introduced them, and Sabre thanked her for coming.
“Am I doing the right thing?” Muriel asked in a soft voice.
The question struck Sabre as odd, but then she realized Muriel was asking her as an attorney. “You’re doing the right thing for Conner. I’m his attorney, not yours, so I’m not comfortable advising you. But your grandson doesn’t deserve to be behind bars.”
Muriel didn’t respond.
“You said it was an accident, right?” Sabre prodded.
“Yes, it was.” Muriel’s voice rose a little.
Sabre’s instinct was to tell her not to talk until she had spoken to an attorney. Then she thought of Conner. “Just tell the truth.”
“Will they arrest me?”
“Maybe.”
Muriel gasped.
Sabre touched her on the shoulder. “I can’t be certain, but I expect they won’t arrest you today. They’ll question whether you’re trying to cover for your grandson. They’ll do their own investigation after you make your statement, then decide what to do.”
They stepped inside the DA’s building before anything more was said. Muriel turned to Sabre and asked, “Is Conner okay?”
“For now. He doesn’t know anything about this yet. I didn’t want to get his hopes up about being released, until we know more.”
They walked in silence to the conference room, where they met up with Marge Benson and her investigator, Larry Villareal.
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