A Following Sea

by Michael Lindley

  Her son, Jonathan, had helped her with all of it, wanting to keep a few things but agreeing with Hanna to throw away much of Ben Walsh's personal effects, donating most of his clothes. When they found they had to sell the Charleston house and move out, there was a steady purge of not only Ben's things but much of what Hanna had accumulated over the years.

  As Hanna walked into the reception area of the law firm, she was greeted by the familiar face of the long-time receptionist, Helen Bray. The older woman with neat gray hair and well-tailored navy suit stood and said, "Hello Hanna. It's been too long."

  Hanna walked up to her desk and shook hands. "Helen, good to see you." The woman had always been cordial and gracious with Hanna and a real help in dealing with the firm after Ben's death.

  "How have you been, dear?"

  "I'm good, Helen. Thank you."

  "We still miss Ben so much.

  "Thank you, Helen. I have an appointment with Phillip at four." She looked her watch and she was five minutes early. "Someone else is joining us. He should be here shortly.".

  Helen Bray stood and said, "Yes, I know, dear. Let me take you back to the conference room. There's coffee and water there for you to help yourself."

  "Thank you," Hanna said as she followed the woman down the hall. They passed a few offices, some with familiar faces, some not. They walked into a large conference room with a wall of windows looking out at the skyline of Charleston.

  "I'll bring your other party back when they arrive," Helen said.

  "Alex Frank," Hanna said. "Detective Alex Frank."

  As Helen walked out, she said, "Mr. Holloway should be with you in a minute. He's very prompt you know."

  They smiled at each other and the woman left the room.

  Hanna placed her bag on the table with the few files and papers she had brought along. Alex had called her on his drive in from Dugganville to review the findings of the Medical Examiner's report. It was not a happy conversation. His father's case looked very bleak. She also sensed Alex was terribly distracted and when she asked him about it, she got little in response. He said he was just tired and very upset about his father's arrest.

  She looked up when Phillip Holloway walked in with his typical broad smile. He was dressed immaculately, as always. His hair seemed to have a bit more gray since she'd last seen him.

  "Hello, Hanna." He came quickly around the table and gave her a warm and thankfully, professional embrace.

  "Phillip, thank you for seeing us on this."

  "Of course. Of course." He went over to the credenza and poured some coffee. He held up an empty cup for Hanna.

  "No thanks." She sat down. "Alex should be here in a few minutes. I spoke to him just a while ago on his way into town."

  "How is Mr. Frank?" Phillip asked as he sat across the table from Hanna.

  "I'm sure he's been better. This case against his father looks very bad."

  "Yes, well, we'll take a look at that."

  "Alex has a copy of the ME's report to share with us," Hanna said. "The prelim is tomorrow morning here in Charleston."

  "What time?"

  "Ten o'clock."

  "I'll clear my calendar for the morning."

  "Thank you, Phillip. So, you'll be able to join me on this?"

  "Certainly.

  "Well, again, thank you," Hanna said. "Before Alex gets here, I wanted to speak with you about your fee. He and his father won't be able to pay your typical rates."

  Phillip didn't hesitate. "I understand. That won't be a problem. We'll work this out. I feel like you're family, Hanna, and I'm glad you've come to me for help on this case."

  "Thank you, Phillip. That's very kind."

  "So, you and Detective Frank are a couple now?"

  Hanna took a deep breath before speaking. "Yes, we've been seeing each other for a while now."

  Holloway smiled and nodded his head, then said, "Good, good. Always liked Alex. Glad to see you're moving on with things."

  "Phillip...," she started, but he interrupted.

  "Just visited Grace last week," he said.

  Hanna noticed he didn't say the word "prison". She had mixed feelings as she thought of her once dear friend in the state's women's prison. Hanna finally managed to ask, "And how is she doing?"

  Phillip started nodding his head again, seeming to try to find the right words. "Well, as you can imagine, it's a tough place."

  "Yes, I've visited clients there," Hanna said.

  "She feels horrible about all that's happened."

  Hanna didn't respond.

  "She hopes one day you'll be able to forgive her."

  Again, Hanna didn't say anything and then Helen Bray showed Alex into the room. Holloway stood and walked over to greet him.

  "Hello, Detective."

  Alex shook his hand. "Thank you for seeing us."

  "Really sorry about your father."

  Alex turned to Hanna who was sitting across the table and nodded.

  "Welcome back," she said.

  "Thank you for putting this meeting together," Alex said. He placed his bag on the table and pulled out the file from the Medical Examiner's office.

  Holloway said, "Helen, can you make copies of this for us?" The woman took the file and left the room. Phillip motioned for Alex to take the chair beside him. "Hanna filled me in on some of the details earlier on the phone, Alex, but what's the latest?"

  Alex looked across the table and wanted more than anything to reach for her hand, but instead he looked back to Holloway. "The evidence is real bad. There's little doubt my father was at the crime scene. Many people had witnessed their earlier fight and my dad's threat to kill the man."

  Holloway nodded slowly and attentively as he listened, then said, "Things aren't always as they seem."

  "Well, let's hope so," Hanna said. "Alex, has your father been able to recall anything else?"

  He shook his head "no".

  Holloway said, "We need to get a doctor in to see your father right away. I want his wounds examined. I also want a psychiatrist to spend some time with him, maybe help with his memory."

  "Okay," Alex said. "They're bringing him down to Charleston in the morning for the arraignment."

  "Right," Phillip said. "I'll talk to the DA about getting some time with our client in the morning before the hearing."

  Helen Bray came back in with copies of the file and handed them around the table before leaving again.

  Holloway started looking through the report. Alex turned to Hanna and forced a smile. This time, Hanna did reach across the table for his hand and Holloway noticed and looked up from his reading for a moment before continuing.

  Hanna said, "How are you doing?"

  Alex squeezed her hand and said, "Not one of my better days." They stared at each other for a moment before Holloway interrupted.

  "So, tell me about the knife wounds. They haven't found a weapon yet?"

  Alex said, "No. They do have a piece of boat rigging they think caused the massive head wound. You'll see they found my dad's fingerprints on it." He watched as Phillip Holloway continued to read and shake his head in concern.

  "Did your father own a knife?" Holloway asked.

  Alex thought for a moment. "Always carried a big knife in a belt scabbard when he was on the boat."

  "Have they found it?" the lawyer asked.

  Alex said, "No, and my dad doesn't know where it is. It wasn't on him when he was arrested."

  "Yes, I see that here," Holloway said as he continued reading. He looked up. "We need to find that knife."

  After the meeting with Phillip Holloway, Hanna invited Alex to her apartment for dinner. She had shopped earlier in the afternoon and had some things to pull a salad together. Alex told her he needed to go by his own place first to change and get some clothes to take back to Dugganville after the hearing in the morning.

  Hanna heard a key turning in the lock at the door to her offices
downstairs. She went down the back stairs and out to the lobby to meet Alex. She closed the door and turned to reach for him. He took her in his arms and held her, their cheeks together, then she kissed him. "Welcome back, Detective."

  Alex forced a smile. "Not sure how I'll ever be able to thank you. Holloway talked to me about his fee on the way out when you went to the restroom."

  Hanna nodded as they turned to go up to her apartment. She took him by the hand. "What did he say?"

  "It's on him, gratis."

  "Really!" Hanna was truly surprised. "I knew he felt guilty about Ben and how all that came down."

  "He's damn good, Hanna."

  "Yes, never a doubt he's a good attorney," she said. "Has a few personality issues as you know."

  Hanna's apartment on the top floor of her office building had a small living area that led to an even smaller kitchen with a table only big enough for two people. A single bedroom and bathroom were at the back of the place. It was beautifully decorated with some of the few pieces of furniture and artwork Hanna had kept after the sale of her house down on South Battery.

  She had a bottle of wine open on the counter and poured a glass for Alex. She noticed he didn't take a sip but placed it over on the table. The salads were already served and they both sat down across from each other, unfolding napkins and placing them on their laps. Hanna studied Alex's face for a moment as he started in on the food. He looked tired and gaunt, understandably after the ordeal with his father and all that lay ahead.

  "Not much chance for bail in the morning?" he asked.

  Hanna looked up. "No. We will certainly try, but it's very rare in a case like this to let a "murder one" defendant out on bail."

  "How long will it take to come to trial?"

  Hanna took a bite and swallowed. "Depends on the prosecutor, the assigned judge's schedule. Could be quite a while. The DA's office will want to build a solid case."

  "My old man is not gonna do well in jail."

  "No one does, as you know," Hanna said.

  Alex finally reached for his wine and took a sip, then said, "I'm sure the prosecutor is looking at the evidence and thinking this is a "slam dunk" case. I sure as hell would if this was handed to me."

  "What else have you learned?" Hanna asked.

  He stood and walked to the sink. "Mind if I get some water?"

  "Sure, I'd like a glass, too. You know where they are," she said, pointing to the cabinet to the right of the sink.

  Alex poured the drinks and came back to the table.

  "So?" Hanna asked.

  Alex seemed distracted and paused a moment. "I'm sorry?"

  "So what else have you learned?" she asked.

  He stared at her for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "There's no doubt about motive. The two have been at each other for years and the fight the night of murder at the bar obviously looks bad. There's clear evidence he was on the boat the night of the murder. His shoe prints from the blood spill are irrefutable."

  Hanna interrupted. "And his prints are on that piece of rigging that looks to be one of the murder weapons."

  "Right." Alex took a bite of food and thought for a moment. "There are a few things that could create reasonable doubt."

  "Such as?"

  Alex put his fork down. "The bruising and contusions on Pop's hands could have been caused during the fight at the bar."

  "And the blood spills on his clothes?"

  "Yes," Alex said. "It's also possible he was on Bayes' boat after he was killed. That could explain the shoe prints in the blood."

  "It could," Hanna said, "But why would he be there and why didn't he report the attack?"

  "Maybe he heard the struggle. Our boat's not far down the docks. He might have gone down to see what was happening and either panicked when he saw the body or was too damned drunk and just can't remember."

  Hanna said, "You'd have to be pretty drunk to forget something like that. They did get a blood alcohol level on him, didn't they?"

  "Yes, it was off the charts. Gilly says he was staggering drunk when he left the bar, almost incoherent. He tried to give him a ride home, but he wouldn't get in the car. Gilly was afraid he'd fall in the river."

  "We can get a medical opinion on the man's mental and physical capabilities with that level of intoxication," Hanna offered.

  Alex nodded. "The other thing is, the knife wounds."

  "They haven't found the knife, right?"

  "No, but my dad's knife he carries on the boat hasn't been found yet, either. The scabbard he carries it in on the boat was empty on his belt when they found him the next morning."

  "I saw that in the sheriff's report," Hanna said. "If they don't find the knife, I'm sure the prosecutor will try to show the wounds are consistent with whatever type of knife your father carries."

  Alex took a deep breath and a long drink of water. "Sheriff Stokes is going to get a diver down around the boat in the morning."

  Hanna thought for a moment, then said, "Could be good or bad. If they find your father's knife..." She shook her head.

  "How is it good?" Alex asked.

  "What if they don't find it or they find a different weapon that could have caused the wounds?"

  Alex said, "Well, we'll see. I'm going back up in the morning after the hearing. Hopefully, I'll get there when the diver goes down. I also have a long list of people I want to talk to."

  "I can't go with you," Hanna said. "I'm leaving for Atlanta after lunch tomorrow. My dad's surgery is on Thursday."

  "Right," Alex said.

  Hanna watched him and could tell he was still thinking about something else. "Alex?"

  He looked up at her, seemingly surprised. "What? I'm sorry."

  "I should be back on Friday," Hanna said. "We can stay in touch by phone and I'm sure Phillip will have a game plan for after the hearing tomorrow." She reached for his hand and it felt cold and damp. "What else?" she asked.

  She watched as Alex scrunched his mouth, seeming to consider her question. When he didn't answer, she said. "Let's get you to bed." She stood and went behind him to pull his chair back. "I brought that robe you like back from the beach."

  He stood up and took her in his arms and then stared back at her for a moment. "Best news I've had all day."

  Chapter Nineteen

  Alex was startled by the sound of running water. He opened his eyes and squinted at the sun coming through the window blinds. He realized Hanna was up and in the shower. Her robe lay on the end of the bed and thoughts of their lovemaking the night before came back to him. What he remembered most was the guilt he felt the whole time in not telling Hanna about Adrienne and the picture of his son he carried in his bag back from Dugganville. He had been trying most of the previous day to decide how best to share this with her. Several times he was about to go into it and then he hesitated and pushed it off. He knew the longer he waited, the more difficult it would make the whole situation. He wasn't usually this indecisive, he thought to himself. Should I tell her before she leaves for Atlanta?

  He heard the water in the shower turn off and looked at his watch on the nightstand. It was 7:30. The hearing was at 10. He'd have time to go down to the precinct to check-in before taking his planned leave. He reminded himself to call his partner, Lonnie, to get an update on the situation with Moe Hall. He could hear Hanna moving around in the bathroom. His bag with the photo of his son, Scotty, was in the kitchen. He was about to go get it when Hanna came out with a towel wrapped around her. She was brushing at her wet hair.

  "Good morning," he said. He looked at the pile of his clothes on the floor beside the bed.

  "You slept like a rock last night," she answered, coming around the bed and stopping as he sat up against the pillows and the headboard. She sat beside him and started to brush at his unruly morning hair.

  He grabbed her arm and pulled her into a tight embrace and said, "You did your best to keep me up half the night."

&n
bsp; He watched as she smiled back at him, then she reached for his watch. "We have a lot of time before we have to get down to the courthouse."

  He smiled back. "Yes, we do."

  She pulled the towel off and dropped it beside the bed. "Don't want you drifting off to sleep again!"

  Alex saw Lonnie coming through the door to their offices. He had been gathering files and paperwork he thought he might need up in Dugganville while he was away, but he was thinking mostly about Hanna. Their early morning tryst had left him with almost no time to get to the office before his father's hearing at ten. He still hadn't told her about Scotty. He felt a sick feeling in his gut as he chastised himself again for delaying the inevitable.

  Lonnie stopped at his desk and said, "Wrapping things up?"

  Alex nodded. "Anything on the deadbeat dad?"

  "Got a couple of plainclothes checking some of his past known locations this morning."

  "Okay, good." Alex quickly filled him in on the latest on his father's case.

  "Sorry, man," Lonnie said. "You need help up there, you know you can call."

  He saw Hanna standing next to Phillip Holloway in the hallway outside the courtroom as he came off the elevator. He watched Hanna smile as he walked up, and the guilt flushed through him again. He shook hands with Holloway and kissed Hanna on the cheek.

  Phillip said, "Met with the prosecutor and the judge a few minutes ago. They're going to delay the hearing for fifteen minutes to give us more time to meet with your dad. They're bringing him up right now."