To the Last Drop by Sandra Balzo

Author:Sandra Balzo [Balzo, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2016-06-16T04:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

‘But I don’t understand,’ Lynne Swope said from the back seat of the Escape. ‘Why in the world would they arrest Ginny?’

‘I don’t know.’ Having left both Lynne’s Toyota and Sarah parked at my house, we were stopped at the light at the corner of Brookhill and Poplar Creek Road. Eric was driving, given the wine Lynne and I had consumed. ‘Are you sure they didn’t just bring her in for questioning, Eric?’

My son seemed to think that was a distinction without a difference. ‘Got me. They didn’t read her rights if that’s what you mean. Or handcuff her. They just rang the Swopes’ doorbell and when Ginny answered they asked her to get her coat and come with them. Just like on TV.’

‘Can she be questioned without my being there?’ Lynne asked.

‘Is she eighteen?’ I asked.

‘Just this past July.’

I didn’t need to turn to know she was close to tears. ‘Who was it who came to the door, Eric?’

‘Both detectives,’ Eric said. ‘That Taylor and Hallonquist.’

‘But not Pavlik.’ I’d tried the sheriff’s cell before we’d left but been bounced to voicemail. I’d left a message asking him to call as soon as possible but not giving any details.

Eric shook his head as the light turned green. The car behind us beeped.

‘One vehicle on Brookhill Road and it has to be behind us,’ I said as my cell phone rang. ‘Let’s hope this is the sheriff.’

It was. ‘Maggy?’

Eric pulled the Escape over to the shoulder to let the impatient driver pass. And listen in on the conversation with the sheriff, no doubt.

I put it on speaker. ‘Thanks for calling back. Eric says that Taylor and Hallonquist have picked up Ginny.’

‘Yes?’ Pavlik said, managing to neither confirm nor deny.

Acutely aware of the two sets of eyes watching expectantly, I pursued it. ‘Do you know why?’

Pavlik didn’t answer that either. ‘Is Lynne Swope with you?’

‘Yes.’ I glanced sideways at Lynne, who was signaling she wanted the phone. ‘I think she’d like to talk to you.’

Not bothering to wait for another noncommittal answer, I handed the phone to Lynne in the back seat. In the transfer, one of us must have accidentally turned off the speaker because Eric and I had to make do with hearing only the Lynne half of the conversation.

‘Discrepancy?’ Lynne said. ‘What kind of—’ She listened. ‘But, I don’t have a lawyer here. I mean that kind—’ She looked at me. ‘Yes, I can ask Maggy. Where—’ She listened again before handing me back the phone.

‘Hello, Pavlik?’ I said into it.

‘I just told Mrs Swope you could help her find a lawyer for her daughter. Start with Bernie Egan. He’s corporate but he should be able to refer her to somebody.’

‘You’re talking about a criminal defense attorney?’ I tried not to look at Lynne. ‘Why—’

Pavlik interrupted. ‘No arrest warrant has been issued but the girl wants a lawyer present before any further questioning.’

Curiouser and curiouser. Maybe I did need a scorecard for both Lynne and her daughter.

‘… In interrogation, for now,’ Pavlik was saying.

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.