Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 #1 by Margaret Daley, Katy Lee

apartment complex.” Selena rose. “I fixed some coffee after talking to you on the phone. Do you want some?”
    â€œYes, please.”
    She escaped into the kitchen, needing time to decide what to tell him. There was no way her uncle was involved. The intern on her uncle’s staff hadn’t been there that long. He ranked at the bottom of the office personnel, doing all the work no one else wanted to do. She doubted her uncle had had any dealings with the young man.
    â€œWhat was Michael Jeffries doing for Littleton?”
    The question took Selena by surprise. She spun around, her hand over her heart. “I didn’t hear you come in here.”
    â€œSorry. I learned to be silent when I was a Navy SEAL.”
    She leaned against the counter, the thump of her heartbeat calming. “Littleton had an appeal, and Michael took over the case from Greg’s court-appointed attorney. His secretary told me Michael felt the guy botched the case from the beginning.”
    â€œIs that why Michael thought Littleton was innocent?”
    â€œThe evidence was circumstantial. Greg found Saul Rather’s body in the parking lot early in the morning. Minutes before, Greg heard what he thought was a car backfiring. When a tenant found them, Greg was kneeling next to Saul’s body. Greg’s prints were the only ones on the gun. Greg testified he moved it when he checked to see if Saul was alive.”
    â€œThat’s what he was convicted on?”
    â€œGreg isn’t the smartest person. He was shocked at finding a body and wasn’t thinking straight.”
    â€œSo what was his motive?”
    â€œThe night before, Saul and Greg had a fight near the apartment’s pool. Some of the tenants witnessed it. Saul accused Greg of coming into his apartment and stealing from him. He was going to talk to the management office about firing Greg.”
    Nicholas scowled. “No one else had a motive?”
    â€œNot that the police could find, but I’m not so sure they looked too hard. With the murder of a senator’s staff member, they wanted to close it quickly. I believe my uncle put some pressure on them, too. I don’t think he wanted his name in the paper associated with a murder victim. He was up for reelection at that time. This all happened almost two years ago. Greg’s been in jail since the crime.”
    â€œGreg? You keep saying his first name as if you know him. Do you?”
    She turned toward the counter and reached for a mug for Nicholas, filling it and topping off hers.
    â€œSelena, are you avoiding my question?”
    Her grip on the coffeepot handle tightened. She put the glass carafe down and passed him his mug. “I have met him.”
    â€œWhen? How?”
    â€œAt the end of last week, I went to see him at the prison, and we talked for a while. I used the fact I was the niece of a US senator to have a quiet, extended time to interview Greg and determine if I agree with Michael.”
    One of his eyebrows shot up. “And?”
    â€œI think he’s innocent.”
    Nicholas took a sip of his coffee. “Why?”
    â€œFor one thing, the thief in the apartment complex was discovered not long after Greg was convicted. Michael followed up on that and discovered the items stolen from Saul’s apartment were pawned by the man caught, so Littleton was innocent of stealing from Saul. No motive. But the assistant DA said that didn’t really prove anything. The threat of being fired was enough of a motive. People have killed for less.”
    â€œTrue.”
    â€œThere’s only so much I can glean from the court records and Michael’s secretary’s memory. My thoughts and notes of the meeting were on the stolen computer tablet. I’m going back out to talk to Littleton. I know of a couple of witnesses who testified to the argument between the victim and Greg, but there were others who weren’t at the trial. I’m