Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Foley sat behind his desk, glaring at me but saying nothing. I’d explained my reason for being there, my involvement in the case, and the support I was hoping but not expecting to receive from him. At the moment, it seemed he was in shock—and no doubt trying to decide how to handle the situation.

We’d worked together on several homicide cases in the past and had always done a decent job of not stepping on one another’s toes. This time, things were different. Foley was certain Owen was guilty.

And to throw an additional wrench into the mix, Foley was married to my sister. Not only did we interact on a professional level, we had a personal relationship as well. If we were on opposite sides about who murdered Claire, I guessed there’d be a fair amount of turbulence between us.

I’d never cared for long silences, and I had just hit my breaking point.

“Is there anything you’d like to say?” I asked.

“There’s a reason I haven’t spoken, you know. It’s the only way I can control my temper.”

“I’m not saying Owen’s innocent. I won’t know until I investigate more. If you’re right, and he’s guilty, I’ll drop the case.”

“I’ve told you he’s guilty. There’s nothing more to say, Georgiana.”

“I’m not trying to disrespect you. I hope you know that.”

“You disrespected me the moment you accepted the case.”

“I don’t see it that way,” I said. “Besides, I’d accepted it on a trial basis.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “How many times do we need to go over the facts? Owen’s story has been inconsistent from the start. His prints were on the bloody knife found at the scene, which just so happens to be the same knife used to slice her throat. When we arrived, he had blood all over him. According to their neighbor, they were having marital problems. The same neighbor also overheard them have a heated argument.”

I crossed one leg over the other, considering my response. “You’re right. So far, some of those things could point to him being guilty. But he insists he’s innocent.”

Foley threw his arms in the air. “Most murderers profess their innocence at this stage, and you know it. The guy’s got no alibi for the time of her murder.”

It had only been a week since Claire’s murder.

Even if the police had spoken to her friends and neighbors, I assumed there was more I could get out of them.

“I’m aware Owen doesn’t have an alibi,” I said.

“Ask me, it’s an open-and-shut case. Or it was until you came barging in here, deciding to poke holes in my arrest.”

“I’m sorry we’re not seeing eye to eye on this one. I don’t want it to be this way.”

“Then it’s simple. Drop the case.”

“It’s just … I told her I’d look into it, and I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t.”

“You’re going against me, then?”

“Come on, Foley. I understand you’re upset. I don’t like being on opposite sides of this any more than you do, but given our line of work, it was bound to happen at some point.”

Staring at the ground, he shook his head and mumbled, “I’m disappointed in you.”

He may have been disappointed, but I suspected there was more to his reaction to me taking this case. Given I wasn’t backing down, I wondered if he was second-guessing himself. Perhaps they’d been a little hasty in making the arrest. Foley was a proud man, but he was also level-headed and logical. If he’d made the wrong move, it would be hard for him to take.

“I can see we’re not getting anywhere with our conversation,” I said. “And I don’t want to upset you any further, so I’ll go.”

“Fine by me. You can show yourself out. And hey, don’t expect any help with this one. You won’t get it.”