Kill the Ghost (Keep the Ghost Trilogy Book 3) by Scott Kelly

Author:Scott Kelly [Kelly, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Murder, police, Organized Crime, Noir, Mystery, Crime, Dark
Published: 2018-08-19T22:00:00+00:00

27. Ninth circle

No cigar this time, but a cowboy hat occupies the center of the table. Morgan dispensed with the redwell of documents and carries only a legal pad and pen, arms stretched around them, nails displayed. Another shade of normal, painted to look like the lives we lost.

“I hear Jack is being moved down here today,” I say as I walk in, hands cuffed, and take my seat.

“News to us,” Grayson intones. “But makes sense. They’re expediting things. They want their trial.”

“So, what about my offer?” I ask.

“He didn’t bite,” my attorney answers. “The prosecutor here won’t even consider it. All that shit in Florida has to be moved to Florida, and Kayla’s parents would be left with no resolution. Mostly, I think he wants his chance in the spotlight.”

I raise my hands in disbelief, which rewards the room with the piercing clack as the handcuffs reach their limit. “So, what? Proof that Jack killed someone else is useless?”

Grayson leans back, as though my words were a blow to his dignity. “To quote the Calhoun County District Attorney, his duty is ‘to ensure Kayla McPherson’s murderer is brought to justice.’ And Ocala didn’t think it was worth the battle, given Jack may get the death penalty here anyway.”

I lean forward on the desk, hands on either side of my head, chain stretched across my forehead. “So this is really happening.” All that time on the run, and I never thought this far into what happens after I’m caught. Always fixated on the arrest, on the first few nights. “I’m going on trial.”

The conciliatory tone in Grayson’s voice is oil in water. “Well, we’re not quite there yet. Jack’s attorney doesn’t think Jack is competent to stand trial, so he’s going to be tested by a shrink. So are you.”

“Jack’s not crazy,” I tell them. “He just doesn’t care.”

“That’s pretty crazy,” my attorney disputes.

I try to swat his statement out of the air, but only manage a clink of my handcuffs and raise of a shoulder. “That kind of crazy is inevitable. Why do I have to take the test? Aren’t you supposed to stop shit like this from happening?”

Grayson’s voice is hissing steam, now. “Because you hung me out to dry, you little punk.” The lawyer turns to Morgan. “Last week, paramedics found him in an alley, mostly dead. Heroin overdose. Sean here ran out of the hospital in the middle of the night—got him on camera, ass cheeks and all.” Then the sun aims my way again. “This is how it works: you lie to me; bad shit happens in your trial. If I knew from day one, I could have headed this off. Now they’re worried you’re suicidal, which means you can’t assist in your defense, which means you have to take this test.

My cheeks burn. I stare down at the table, searching for the words. Can’t bring that up without bringing up Banks—or do I pretend I’m an addict? What was I doing for the past

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.