with Robert.”
Lifting her tear-streaked face, Amber studied Immy. “Do you really believe that? Truly?”
“With all my heart.” Immy nodded serenely.
Amber’s gaze darted from one girl to the next, who each nodded in agreement. Then Amber stared at her lap. “I hope you’re right. All of you,” she whispered.
SIX
“A ll I can say is that Robert Ellison will be charged on counts of second-degree murder as soon as he awakens. That’s all I can tell you.”
Clark leaned closer as the local news showed Sheriff McGruder on the courthouse stairs. He stared at the television, which only displayed the sheriff’s retreating back. The news reporter rambled on, telling the good people of Mystique about the murder of Howard Alspeed and implying no one aside from Mr. Ellison could be guilty. After all, his fingerprints were on the murder weapon.
No comment was made how Mr. Ellison had received his own injuries.
Heat sprinted up the back of Clark’s neck. This might be a small town, but the sheriff was wrong in what he was saying, and the news station even more wrong to air his sound bite. Everyone in Mystique watched the news, and most people would believe every single thing said on air. Didn’t they realize they tarnished the jury pool with half facts?
Disgust pushing him, Clark shut off the television. Poor Mr. Ellison. Clark knew all about media hype and how what was reported often wasn’t the truth. Knew it firsthand and knew itwell. He hadn’t met Mrs. Ellison, but maybe it would put her mind at ease to know Clark would do what he could to help. He had the Ellisons’ home address—maybe he should visit Mrs. Ellison?
Lord, what do I do? I know I haven’t been obedient, but I’m trying to get back on track. I could use a little direction here.
Clark paced the worn wooden floors of the living room. Would Mrs. Ellison find him too forward if he showed up on her doorstep at such a trying time? Would it put her mind at ease? He’d have loved for someone, anyone, to have believed in him during his ordeal.
He grabbed his keys and wallet, checked the address for the Ellisons’, then headed to his car. Driving into the ritzier part of town, Clark found the house. He parked the car and knocked on the door. No one answered. Had he made a mistake in coming?
Finally the door opened, and a young woman appeared. “Yes? May I help you?”
“I’m Clark McKay. Mrs. Ellison?”
The leggy woman tilted her head. “Uh, no. I’m Sheldon Powers, a friend of Amber’s.”
“Is Mrs. Ellison here?” He hadn’t thought this trip through very well. Mrs. Ellison was probably at the hospital.
“Yes, but I don’t think she’s up for guests at the moment.”
“Shel, who is it?”
No mistaking that voice. Gabby.
She joined Sheldon at the door, displeasure lining her delicate features. “Mr. McKay, what are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see Mrs. Ellison.”
“What for?” She planted her hands on her hips, widening her stance. Pure defensive move.
Most definitely he’d made a mistake in coming. Nothing to do about it now. “I just heard the news.”
“And what?”
“And wanted to come by and see if I could help.”
Gabby’s expressive features sharpened. “Help? How can you help?”
He straightened up, amused at how her defensive stance faltered a bit at the reminder of his height. “I thought maybe it would put Mrs. Ellison’s mind at ease to know I don’t believe Mr. Ellison is guilty.”
“What?”
“I realize I don’t know him well, but…” How could he admit he knew exactly how Mr. Ellison was feeling?
He paused. “I’d like for KLUV to do a special tonight.”
“You’ve already told everyone you’re the owner.”
He caught Gabby’s eyes narrowing. “I want to come out in support of Mr. Ellison’s innocence.”
Gabby crossed the threshold, disbelief in her tone. “And you want to go on the air with that tonight?”
“I do. I think our listeners need to know we support
Lifting her tear-streaked face, Amber studied Immy. “Do you really believe that? Truly?”
“With all my heart.” Immy nodded serenely.
Amber’s gaze darted from one girl to the next, who each nodded in agreement. Then Amber stared at her lap. “I hope you’re right. All of you,” she whispered.
SIX
“A ll I can say is that Robert Ellison will be charged on counts of second-degree murder as soon as he awakens. That’s all I can tell you.”
Clark leaned closer as the local news showed Sheriff McGruder on the courthouse stairs. He stared at the television, which only displayed the sheriff’s retreating back. The news reporter rambled on, telling the good people of Mystique about the murder of Howard Alspeed and implying no one aside from Mr. Ellison could be guilty. After all, his fingerprints were on the murder weapon.
No comment was made how Mr. Ellison had received his own injuries.
Heat sprinted up the back of Clark’s neck. This might be a small town, but the sheriff was wrong in what he was saying, and the news station even more wrong to air his sound bite. Everyone in Mystique watched the news, and most people would believe every single thing said on air. Didn’t they realize they tarnished the jury pool with half facts?
Disgust pushing him, Clark shut off the television. Poor Mr. Ellison. Clark knew all about media hype and how what was reported often wasn’t the truth. Knew it firsthand and knew itwell. He hadn’t met Mrs. Ellison, but maybe it would put her mind at ease to know Clark would do what he could to help. He had the Ellisons’ home address—maybe he should visit Mrs. Ellison?
Lord, what do I do? I know I haven’t been obedient, but I’m trying to get back on track. I could use a little direction here.
Clark paced the worn wooden floors of the living room. Would Mrs. Ellison find him too forward if he showed up on her doorstep at such a trying time? Would it put her mind at ease? He’d have loved for someone, anyone, to have believed in him during his ordeal.
He grabbed his keys and wallet, checked the address for the Ellisons’, then headed to his car. Driving into the ritzier part of town, Clark found the house. He parked the car and knocked on the door. No one answered. Had he made a mistake in coming?
Finally the door opened, and a young woman appeared. “Yes? May I help you?”
“I’m Clark McKay. Mrs. Ellison?”
The leggy woman tilted her head. “Uh, no. I’m Sheldon Powers, a friend of Amber’s.”
“Is Mrs. Ellison here?” He hadn’t thought this trip through very well. Mrs. Ellison was probably at the hospital.
“Yes, but I don’t think she’s up for guests at the moment.”
“Shel, who is it?”
No mistaking that voice. Gabby.
She joined Sheldon at the door, displeasure lining her delicate features. “Mr. McKay, what are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see Mrs. Ellison.”
“What for?” She planted her hands on her hips, widening her stance. Pure defensive move.
Most definitely he’d made a mistake in coming. Nothing to do about it now. “I just heard the news.”
“And what?”
“And wanted to come by and see if I could help.”
Gabby’s expressive features sharpened. “Help? How can you help?”
He straightened up, amused at how her defensive stance faltered a bit at the reminder of his height. “I thought maybe it would put Mrs. Ellison’s mind at ease to know I don’t believe Mr. Ellison is guilty.”
“What?”
“I realize I don’t know him well, but…” How could he admit he knew exactly how Mr. Ellison was feeling?
He paused. “I’d like for KLUV to do a special tonight.”
“You’ve already told everyone you’re the owner.”
He caught Gabby’s eyes narrowing. “I want to come out in support of Mr. Ellison’s innocence.”
Gabby crossed the threshold, disbelief in her tone. “And you want to go on the air with that tonight?”
“I do. I think our listeners need to know we support
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