defender was going to work on Billie’s behalf. He hadn’t sounded that interested, frankly, in proving her innocence. He’d actually sounded as if he believed in her guilt.
Lorna didn’t have enough money in cash. Maybe they’d take something in collateral. Her eyes fell on her SUV. A shiny black eight-month-old BMW—her first new car in over seven years.
What do you think, Mom? What would you do?
The phone rang, and she ran back into the house to grab it. It was Joel Morgan, telling her where and how to post the bail for Billie Eagan. She took the information, called the bail bondsman, and made the arrangements.
Then, before she changed her mind, she called the number on Regan Landry’s card. She was just about to leave a voice message when Regan picked up.
“Hello?”
“Regan, it’s Lorna Stiles.”
“Lorna! How are you?” Regan sounded genuinely pleased to hear her voice. “I almost didn’t pick up, the caller ID has another name on it.”
“Palmer. My grandmother’s phone. I guess my mother never took Gran’s name off the listing. I don’t know that I was even aware of that.”
“Oh, you’re at your mother’s?”
“I’m at the farm, yes. My mother passed away last month, and I’m here to try to get things in order.”
“Oh, Lorna. I am so sorry. Had she been ill?”
“Yes, for almost two years.”
“I am so very sorry. I know what it’s like to lose a parent at this stage of your life. It’s hard, isn’t it?”
“Very.”
“I appreciated the letter you sent after my dad died. I wish I’d known about your mother.”
“Thanks, Regan.”
“But you aren’t calling to tell me about that, are you?” Regan asked gently.
“No, actually, I called to ask you for some advice.”
“Anything. Shoot.”
Lorna told her about Billie Eagan’s situation.
“So, you believe this woman is innocent?”
“I do.” Lorna heard the conviction in her voice, and added, “Apparently my mother believed it, too.”
“Are you sure? You have only Mrs. Eagan’s word for that, right?”
“True enough. But I think Mom would have. I doubt she’d have done so much to help this woman if she believed Billie had murdered her son.”
“That makes sense.”
“I need to find the truth.” Lorna took a deep breath. She hated asking for favors, especially from an old friend she hadn’t seen in years. But she could think of no one else with experience in this area. “I guess I need some guidance, Regan. I know that you investigate old crimes, and then write about them. I’m wondering if maybe this is the type of thing you look into.”
“Actually, it would be, under normal circumstances. Right now, though, I’m working on a tight deadline and running late on a book that I should have finished a week ago. If I weren’t tied up, I’d be more than happy to delve into this for you. I am so sorry I’m not in a position to help you out right now.”
Lorna felt her heart sink. “That’s all right, Regan. I knew it was a long shot. I just couldn’t think of anyone else to talk to.”
“Well, let’s think this through for a minute. What you want is an investigation, right? You need to look into the old case. You need to find out what happened that night this woman’s son disappeared.”
“I suppose I’d have to start there, yes.”
“Have you considered a private investigator?”
“No, I haven’t. But I could.” Lorna frowned. “How would you go about finding one that’s reputable?”
“I have a friend who’s in the FBI. Maybe he knows someone. Would you like me to ask?”
“Regan, I hate to put you to all that trouble.”
“Oh, no trouble at all.” Regan laughed. “Actually, I was trying to think of an excuse to call him. You’ve given me one.”
“Anything to help a friend.”
“If I hang up right now, I might even get him before he leaves for lunch. Can I call you back at this number?”
“Yes, but let me give you my cell number as well.” Lorna waited
Lorna didn’t have enough money in cash. Maybe they’d take something in collateral. Her eyes fell on her SUV. A shiny black eight-month-old BMW—her first new car in over seven years.
What do you think, Mom? What would you do?
The phone rang, and she ran back into the house to grab it. It was Joel Morgan, telling her where and how to post the bail for Billie Eagan. She took the information, called the bail bondsman, and made the arrangements.
Then, before she changed her mind, she called the number on Regan Landry’s card. She was just about to leave a voice message when Regan picked up.
“Hello?”
“Regan, it’s Lorna Stiles.”
“Lorna! How are you?” Regan sounded genuinely pleased to hear her voice. “I almost didn’t pick up, the caller ID has another name on it.”
“Palmer. My grandmother’s phone. I guess my mother never took Gran’s name off the listing. I don’t know that I was even aware of that.”
“Oh, you’re at your mother’s?”
“I’m at the farm, yes. My mother passed away last month, and I’m here to try to get things in order.”
“Oh, Lorna. I am so sorry. Had she been ill?”
“Yes, for almost two years.”
“I am so very sorry. I know what it’s like to lose a parent at this stage of your life. It’s hard, isn’t it?”
“Very.”
“I appreciated the letter you sent after my dad died. I wish I’d known about your mother.”
“Thanks, Regan.”
“But you aren’t calling to tell me about that, are you?” Regan asked gently.
“No, actually, I called to ask you for some advice.”
“Anything. Shoot.”
Lorna told her about Billie Eagan’s situation.
“So, you believe this woman is innocent?”
“I do.” Lorna heard the conviction in her voice, and added, “Apparently my mother believed it, too.”
“Are you sure? You have only Mrs. Eagan’s word for that, right?”
“True enough. But I think Mom would have. I doubt she’d have done so much to help this woman if she believed Billie had murdered her son.”
“That makes sense.”
“I need to find the truth.” Lorna took a deep breath. She hated asking for favors, especially from an old friend she hadn’t seen in years. But she could think of no one else with experience in this area. “I guess I need some guidance, Regan. I know that you investigate old crimes, and then write about them. I’m wondering if maybe this is the type of thing you look into.”
“Actually, it would be, under normal circumstances. Right now, though, I’m working on a tight deadline and running late on a book that I should have finished a week ago. If I weren’t tied up, I’d be more than happy to delve into this for you. I am so sorry I’m not in a position to help you out right now.”
Lorna felt her heart sink. “That’s all right, Regan. I knew it was a long shot. I just couldn’t think of anyone else to talk to.”
“Well, let’s think this through for a minute. What you want is an investigation, right? You need to look into the old case. You need to find out what happened that night this woman’s son disappeared.”
“I suppose I’d have to start there, yes.”
“Have you considered a private investigator?”
“No, I haven’t. But I could.” Lorna frowned. “How would you go about finding one that’s reputable?”
“I have a friend who’s in the FBI. Maybe he knows someone. Would you like me to ask?”
“Regan, I hate to put you to all that trouble.”
“Oh, no trouble at all.” Regan laughed. “Actually, I was trying to think of an excuse to call him. You’ve given me one.”
“Anything to help a friend.”
“If I hang up right now, I might even get him before he leaves for lunch. Can I call you back at this number?”
“Yes, but let me give you my cell number as well.” Lorna waited
Similar Books
