From the Heart: Romance, Mystery and Suspense a collection for everyone (43 page)

Chapter Forty-nine

Frank’s computer equipment took over Sam’s office. For the last hour, Frank showed and re-showed the piece of footage which was just over a minute long. “There’s no time code on the video, and every second of video you see contains thirty frames. I don’t how I caught it. Fluke really, see? It’s just a slight shadow in the edging.” Frank pointed a long bony finger to the laptop screen. “See? Look where you see Richard’s face, that second of video was thirty frames to alter, but that one spot by his right ear doesn’t meet the background. Whoever did this was good; this was not an amateur.”

“So I still don’t understand. How did they get Richard’s face on this video?”

Frank was far from a geek. His prescription dark framed glasses were always new, the height of fashion, and accentuated his striking oval face and his short, stylish brown hair. He dressed well, even when he tried to dress down in something casual. A good-looking single guy, and Sam was sure he played it up with the ladies.

“Well for one, Richard has to be on another tape, so there has to be other videos. Whoever did this would have copied the frames and overlaid it. Alter the lighting to match this video. I can tell you this much, it took time to pull this together. Oh and another thing, there’s no meta data or time stamp on this video which makes it even more difficult to find out if it’s fake. If you get me the original video, I can take a look at the binary data. Everyone has a signature. It may give us an idea of who altered it.” His grin told him Frank was almost patting himself on the back.

Sam widened his eyes at Diane and shook his head. She too knew what a conceited arrogant bastard Frank could be at times. But he was damn good at what he did.

“How do you know it’s a copy and not the original?” Sam didn’t want to tip off Frank, but he specifically requested the original video from the DA.

“Well duh, any second year videographer could see it was a copy.”

Sam dialed the DA’s office. “This is Sam Carre. I’m working with Harper Lee on Richard McCafferty’s defense.”

“What can I do for you?” uttered a distracted young male.

“Well for one thing, I asked for the original video from the surveillance of the crime scene. But our videographer has just informed me you sent a copy.”

There was silence on the other end. Sam could hear papers rustling before the ADA roughly cleared his throat. “I’ll have to get back to you.”

Sam could feel Frank’s arrogant eyes burning into him when he disconnected his phone.

“They’re screwing with you. Welcome to the dark side.”

Chapter Fifty

“I’m Jessica Shupe. I’m the court-appointed guardian for Ryley McCafferty.”

Maggie was on her knees in the winter garden with a handful of weeds no one had cleared during the fall now piled on the ground beside her. She jumped up and wiped the dirt from her hands on her torn blue jeans. Her heart sank a little more as she glanced at her stained sweatshirt, one of the comfortable unpresentable ones she reserved for yard work, never for entertaining anyone.

Maggie struggled to find something to ease her anxiety and calm her rattled brain—to explain to this woman she didn’t always look like this. Because this lady not only didn’t call first, which Maggie suspected was deliberate to rattle her, but the way she gazed at Maggie was as if she were a nobody.

Maggie extended her trembling hand out to the other woman to shake. Jessica crossed her arms in front of herself, and watched as Maggie dropped her hand, as if what she’d done had just crossed some line. She flushed, and in a moment of panic, she tripped over the bucket of weeds beside her and fell on her backside. She wanted to cry, but scampered up on her knees and rose with all the dignity she could muster. The screen door rattled.

“Maggie, I was wondering if you could give me a hand… oh, I didn’t know anyone was here.” Marcie stepped lightly down the stairs, holding her head high, her light blue dress shimmering as she strode with confidence—confidence Maggie would have killed for right about now—toward Jessica. Her strength oozed as she invaded Jessica’s space and stuck her hand out, daring the woman not to take it. For a moment, Maggie was sure the other woman was rattled. She blinked and appeared to hesitate and then accepted Marcie’s hand.

“I’m Marcie, who are you?”

Jessica shot a puzzled glance at Maggie before turning back to answer this assertive woman. “I’m Jessica Shupe, the court appointed guardian for Ryley.”

“Oh well, it’s nice to meet you, we’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I didn’t realize you were coming over. Maggie has made a fabulous salad for lunch. It would be great if you could join us.”

“No, that’s not necessary. I’m here to see Ryley.”

Maggie could feel the air thicken between the two women, like a pissing contest. She glanced at Marcie and then Jessica, two strong determined women, and wanted to shrink back.

“Well, unfortunately, we sit down as a family and eat together. If you check your watch, you’ll see it’s lunch time. You can join us at the table while we eat, and then you can spend time with Ryley after lunch. Or is it your intention to disrupt the peaceful mealtime of this family, sneaking in unannounced, maybe to catch everyone off guard?”

Maggie gasped and instantly covered her mouth with her grimy hand. Jessica re-crossed her arms and stuck out her jaw as she subtly tilted her head as if to concede to Marcie.

“I guess I’ll be joining you for lunch.”

“Very good. I’ll see to it another place is set for you. Oh and Ms. Shupe, Richard and Maggie are good people. Whether you believe it or not, please don’t play games.” Marcie held her head high and raised her eyebrows at the woman.

“My interest is Ryley, and I won’t have my authority undermined.”

Maggie felt herself shrink back, even though she didn’t move a step. She’d never seen this side of Marcie—in control and unwilling to cut this woman any slack.

“Well, just remember, this is about a boy and his well-being, and not the pocket book of some politician or mind games of how you usurp his parents.” Marcie turned before the woman could respond.

“Maggie honey, you should have seen what Kyla did before I put her down for her nap, she pulled herself up to the coffee table and took two steps bouncing with her magical toothless smile.”

Marcie stepped around Jessica and linked arms with Maggie, guiding her into the house. And the entire way, Maggie could feel Jessica burning a hole in her back. And for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what she’d done to this woman who appeared to have already judged her as the unfit parent she prayed she wasn’t. She hoped she’d have the chance to repair the damage with Ryley.

And all the way inside, Marcie chatted and nudged Maggie along.

The kitchen table was set for five and Maggie scrambled to think who else was coming. Daisy was curled up on her doggy bed by the unlit woodstove. She lifted her head and trotted over to Maggie.

“Go wash up, Maggie.” Marcie hugged her and whispered
conspiratorially so Jessica couldn’t hear.

Daisy growled as if she just realized there was an intruder. “Daisy,
enough
.” Her loveable dog gazed up at her with those mud brown eyes.

“I’m going to get cleaned up. I’ll be back.” Maggie forced a smile that felt stiff and artificial as she slipped past Jessica who now wandered the kitchen, her arms crossed as she appeared to study every brick and item for cleanliness, and for a moment, Maggie wondered if she’d slip on a white glove and check for dust.

Maggie stood straighter and watched the intruder with fresh eyes. “Ms. Shupe, there’s a bathroom down the hall if you’d like to wash up.” Maggie hurried out of the kitchen before Jessica responded, and Daisy followed. Maggie stopped outside Richard’s home office at the base of the stairs. Richard was engrossed in whatever he was reading. “Richard, Jessica Shupe’s here. She’s staying for lunch.”

He dropped the papers he was holding and stood up. She knew that look, but he handled curve balls people threw better than she. “I didn’t know she was coming.”

“Neither did I. Guess she decided to surprise us, catch us off guard, maybe while we’re neglecting our kid. But have faith, Marcie had first shot.”

That made him smile.

“I’m going to wash up, apparently she doesn’t like dirt.” Maggie held up her hands coated in garden dirt and flashed him a wicked smile.

Richard didn’t seem to mind. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her nose. “Don’t forget that spot.” He patted her bottom.

Maggie hurried up the stairs and glimpsed Ryley lying on his bed playing with his Gameboy. She stopped outside his room. “Hey Ryley, put it away. Lunch’s ready. And before you go down, Ms. Shupe’s here. She’s going to stay for lunch.”

Ryley bolted straight up on his bed. Then jumped up as if he was caught doing something he shouldn’t. “Mom, what do I say to her?”

She walked straight toward him and hugged him, keeping her dirty hands off his dark blue shirt. “It’s okay. Just be you, relax. Remember what your dad said. Speak honestly about us and how much we love each other. Don’t rehearse anything. Don’t make something up. Take a deep breath. It’ll be okay. And Marcie’s downstairs with her; so is your dad. I’m going to wash up because she doesn’t like dirt.” Maggie walked Ryley to the stairs and sent him down with Daisy. She offered him an encouraging smile, and gestured with a sweep of her hand to keep moving. He hesitated just once at the bottom of the stairs, and then Richard must have seen him.

“Here’s my champ. Come on in here, Ryley.” He hurried into the kitchen, most likely into the safety of Richard’s arms. Daisy right behind him.

Maggie quickly washed up, including the dark streak of dirt across her nose and cheek. She pulled on a clean purple sweater, a newer pair of blue jeans, and ran a brush through her hair. She felt the chords of the executioner’s song ring as she treaded down the stairs into the kitchen, sitting in the empty seat between Richard and Marcie.

Jessica glanced up, but her bland expression was filled with something that had Maggie leaning a little closer to Richard. Richard broke the spell as he passed Jessica the plate of sandwiches. “Jessica dig in, there’s lots here.”

Maggie whispered to Marcie just as she shoved a forkful of salad into her mouth. “Where’s Sam, isn’t he joining us?”

She pressed a cloth napkin to the corner of her mouth. “No, I don’t expect him till dinner.”

“But I thought you set a place for him?” She didn’t know why it mattered. But she couldn’t let it go.

“Not for him. To welcome a stranger.” Marcie smiled.

“Oh, okay.”

Chapter Fifty-one

Harper and Diane leaned over Frank as he swiveled in Sam’s cheap tan office chair and showed them the shadow again, and where Richard’s face had been pasted into the video. “If we go back and look at the person who’s dragging Dan, he appears the same height and weight. But it’s dim. Not close up. So it’s hard to tell. But look here.” Frank tapped a few keys on the keyboard. “When I blow this up, see the watch? That band around his wrist?”

Harper, Sam, and Diane squinted at the low quality color video to see what he was trying to show them. The man wore black gloves and a long sleeved dark shirt, but his left wrist was exposed and there was some type of cloth bracelet, green and white, around his wrist.

“What is that?” Harper had been salivating from the moment he walked into Sam’s office, so much Sam thought he’d jump up and down.

“That is what is called a friendship bracelet to represent a deep bond with someone. Best friends wear them to signify the powerful link they share.”

Diane crossed her arms, her jean jacket pulled at the seams in back. “As far as I know, I’ve never seen anything like that on Richard.”

“What about the original video? Have we heard back from the DA?” Harper hadn’t changed; he still wore the same dark Armani suit.

“Yeah, just before you got here. The DA called. Said we do have the original copy the police gathered at the scene, but they’re sending over their copy just to be sure there wasn’t a mix-up.”

“Smart, so he can show the judge how they’ve bent over backward to assist us.” Harper pointed to the screen. “So can you testify this video is in fact a fake and show proof it’s been altered?”

Frank swiveled around in the chair again, much like a bored teenager. “That’s what I do best. And you’ve just got this piece of evidence thrown out, which throws a monkey wrench into the state’s case.”

There was a soft tap on the office door. A thin woman with red hair tied back in a ponytail, dressed in black casual slacks, and a blazer stood in the open doorway. “I’m Assistant District Attorney Melanie Jackson. I have our copy of the video. Did I just hear correctly you have evidence the video’s been altered?”

Harper and Sam glanced at one another. Tipping their hand to the DA was not a smart move, but neither was leaving the office door open for anyone to walk in and hear. Damn, he needed to get a bell or something on the front door.

“Yes, I’m afraid we’ve discovered this tape’s been altered.”

Frank slid his chair across the cheap industrial carpet. “Is that the only other copy of this video?” He pointed to the small cassette in her hand.

The woman appeared far from shy. She stepped up to the computer and handed the video to Frank. She stood over him and watched the screen while he loaded the video and forwarded to the last one second frame. What Frank did next on the keyboard to bring up codes and text, Sam wasn’t sure, but he leaned back and sighed and then swiveled the squeaky office chair and faced the cute ADA. “Well, Miss ADA, this here’s a copy too. So where’s the original?”

Her face took on a hint of pink. As Frank turned his hard pretty boy gaze with all its charm on her, she started to stammer. “Look, the video you have was taken right from the crime scene. You’re obviously confused.”

Sam took a step back from the group and leaned against the side of his desk. “Well, what’s clear is whoever altered this video, planted a copy to be found. I’m pretty sure we just blew a big wide hole right dead center through the middle of your case. My question to you, Miss Jackson, is the DA prepared to launch a new investigation into who planted the evidence? Because I bet they’re one in the same, and who really killed Dan.”

Melanie was focused on the screen and the highlighted spot where Richard’s face was pasted. She peered at Sam before pulling out her cell phone. She said not a word while she waited. “This tape’s a copy, too. They have some tech here, and the security video was altered. He’s going to testify someone pasted Richard McCafferty’s face into the footage.”

Whoever she spoke to on the other end was obviously in charge. She shut her eyes for a second and pressed her fingers to her forehead. “Okay, I understand, sir. I’m on my way back.” She disconnected her cell. “I need my copy of the tape back.”

Frank stuck the tape back in its plastic case, held it up to Melanie, and winked as he deliberately slid his finger over her hand. She frowned as she snatched it away.

“So, are you reopening the investigation?” Sam didn’t move from where he leaned against desk.

She shook her head, holding it high. “The DA wants our own people to take a look at the video. As it stands, we’re still prepared to go ahead with the case. We still have enough evidence against your client to prosecute.” She stepped around Frank and left as quickly as she came.

Sam was surprised, but at the same time, he wasn’t. He knew when you built a case as high profile as this, the last thing the DA wanted was to admit they had the wrong guy. Instead of doing the right thing and reopening the investigation, they were playing same old game they’d always had—trying to save face.

“Sam, we need to find out who planted that tape. And I mean
we
. Diane, can you talk to whoever was at the crime scene and processed the forensics? Find out their take. Sam, Frank, great catch. We’ve blown a hole wide open in their case. If we can’t convince the DA to look at other suspects, we have no choice but to get ready. We go to trial in less than a week. We have all their key evidence, or what they sent over. We need to sit down with Richard and go through his movements. They’ve dissected his statement line by line, and they have a detailed description of his movements for the week prior, and they have his cell phone records. They’ve talked to a lot of people. The unidentified 911 caller called from an untraceable cell phone. We need to find out who she is. You find her for me. I don’t care how you do it, just find her.” Harper buttoned his jacket as he glanced at Sam and then Diane.

Sam rubbed his chin. He really hated not being in charge. “And then what, find out why she lied? Where the body is? It won’t be that easy Harper. But again I’m going to say it. Maybe what we’ll find is who really killed Dan.”