Conviction (Jessie Black Legal Thrillers Book 8) by Larry A. Winters

Author:Larry A. Winters [Winters, Larry A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

25

Leary looked at his watch. 12:30 AM. The approximate time that Daniel Klein’s killer supposedly entered the Kleins’ house and kidnapped the child. He pushed his coat sleeve over his wrist and turned to face the Kleins’ back door.

Given that no one on the street had seen anything that night, Leary’s hunch was that this was where the kidnapper had entered.

According to the discovery file provided by the DA’s Office, the police had found zero evidence of a break-in. The house bore no forced or broken windows. The police found no scratches on any of the lock plates or other damage that would be caused by a pick. Either the Kleins had left the door unlocked, or someone had unlocked it. And according to statements the Kleins had made to the police, they were always careful to lock all of their doors.

The theory the DA presumably intended to present at trial was that Daniel had unlocked the door himself before going to sleep, acting on instructions Max had given him during their piano lesson that day. But Leary had an alternative theory he believed equally—or more—plausible. The kidnapper had his own key.

This theory fit with Leary’s belief that the kidnapper was known and trusted by the Kleins. He would love to ask them if any friends or relatives had keys to the house, but it had become clear that he and Jessie would have no chance to talk to the Kleins before their appearance as witnesses at trial. And Leary knew Jessie would not ask them the question then, because Rule Number One of cross-examination—known even to a non-lawyer like Leary—was that you never ask a witness a question unless you already know the answer.

That’s why Leary was here tonight. To find as many answers as he could.

First he had to get inside the house, and he had no key and no one to unlock the door for him.

Normally, he would use a lock pick gun, but doing so risked damaging the Kleins’ back door, and he wanted to keep this visit a secret if possible. He was already taking a big enough risk coming to the house in the middle of the night. So he went old-school—crouching with a penlight and a lock pick set. There was still some risk of damaging the lock, but he was experienced with the tools and he took his time. After about a minute, the lock opened.

Leary entered the house, stepping through the doorway and into the kitchen. He closed the door behind him. There were no lights on, but enough moonlight shone through large windows that he didn’t need his penlight. He looked around at the cabinetry, appliances, and large granite island, and caught himself admiring the modern kitchen. He forced himself to look at the room through the eyes of the kidnapper instead.

Did you creep through this kitchen, as quietly as you could, while the family slept upstairs?

Yes, Leary thought. That was exactly what happened.

From the kitchen, he moved into a

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