Finding Tessa by Jaime Hendricks (best ereader for comics .TXT) 📗

“Montgomery!” A cop shouted his name and he rose onto wobbly legs. “Time for your arraignment.”

When Jace was led to the courtroom, he had mere minutes to consult with Robert Brown, the attorney that Evan had procured for him. Jace’s mood lifted, because this man looked like a champion, from his custom navy suit to his shiny red pocket square. He was about Evan’s age, and Jace assumed they were law school buddies or colleagues. They shook hands—another win. Robert’s paw engulfed Jace’s hand and pumped firmly twice, never breaking eye contact. He exuded confidence, something Jace was sorely lacking at this stage of the game.

“Hello, Mr. Montgomery. I’m Robert Brown. Evan filled me in, and I’ve talked to the DA. Obviously, say nothing except ‘not guilty’ when the judge addresses you. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Thanks, Mr. Brown.”

“Robert, please call me Robert,” he corrected.

“Robert. I didn’t do this. I didn’t kill her. I never went near Rosita.”

Saying her name out loud reminded Jace that he’d barely thought about the fact that Rosita was actually dead—all he’d thought about was that he was being blamed, and his mind had been engrossed with Tessa’s disappearance. Rosita had issues, sure, but Good Lord, they were friends and he didn’t want her dead.

They were called quickly, and the judge read the charges, which still sent a shiver up and down Jace’s spine. Murder in the first degree. Jace abided by Robert’s rules and only said not guilty even though a speech burned at the tip of his tongue as the rage of such a certain mistake ate apart his insides.

Robert went on to plead for bail, mentioning that Jace was an upstanding citizen who’d spent most of his life in the county, being born and raised here, and that he was a pillar of the community, the manager of the town’s local bank, and didn’t have as much as a speeding ticket.

The judge was not amused but took it all into account.

“Bail is set at two-hundred-fifty-thousand dollars. If met your client will be fitted with an ankle monitor and placed on house arrest until a trial date can be set.”

The gavel pounded on the desk, and that was that. A quarter of a million and quarantined at home for however long. While Tessa was out there somewhere, and the cops weren’t doing shit to find her, and now he was completely helpless.

“Hang tight,” Evan said from a row behind him. “I’ll have you out of here in no time. And just so you know, I went over this morning to walk and feed Candy, so she’s good.” He looked at Jace’s new attorney. “Thanks, Robert.”

Robert winked and made a little gun shape with his hand toward Evan’s direction and double clacked his mouth, a gesture that told Jace they were old college or law school buddies. Colleagues without history didn’t act like that in open court.

It took two hours for Jace to be released. He was handed his clothes and his plastic bag of personal effects and immediately slid his wedding ring back on. He put on his street clothes—something he never thought he’d have to call them—and braced for the shitstorm he knew would be outside.

Evan waited for him in the front.

“Robert had to go,” Evan said. “He’s working another case that needed attention, but he’ll serve you well. I’ve known him a long time.”

“Great. Thanks. I really can’t thank you enough.”

Evan placed an arm around Jace’s shoulder. “Come on, man. We’ve been friends since sixth grade. I wouldn’t leave you hanging.” He cleared his throat. “Neither would my parents. I secured bond because they put up their house as collateral.”

Of course Mr. and Mrs. Soderberg did that for him.

“Oh, Jesus, Evan. Can we call them so I can thank them?”

Evan nodded toward the door, where reporters were gathered. “Let’s get you out of here safely first. It’s a mess out there.”

Jace blew a puff of air from his mouth. “Terrific.”

“Just walk with me to my car. Don’t say a word. Jace, they’re going to try to antagonize you, like they did at your house a few days ago. Don’t engage. Please,” Evan begged.

Jace knew he had to heed Evan’s advice this time.

His head low, Jace walked through the open door that Evan held with his right arm and quickly made his way down the steps. The questions and accusations flew, like he knew they would. “Did you also kill your wife?” “Were you having an affair with Rosita Morales?” “Where did you get the gun?” “Did you kill Jane Doe?” “Where’s Tessa’s body?” Over and over. Carina Killhorn’s raspy voice was a decibel louder than everyone else’s, or maybe Jace just heard it clearer because he hated her so much. How dare she call his parents and upset his ailing mother? He lifted his head and was about to go back at her but pushed the feeling down. Listen to Evan.

“Did she put up a fight or did you shoot her in cold blood?” Carina shouted.

Jace’s blood fizzed so much in his body he was sure it was carbonated by then.

“Keep walking,” Evan said reading his mind. “Excuse me. Excuse me!” he shouted as they went past the throngs of reporters, who kept hurling accusations even as Jace sat in the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt.

Evan pulled out slowly, careful not to hit anyone, even though secretly Jace hoped his friend would roll his tires over one of Carina’s pointy-toed heels.

“Well. That was a first,” Evan said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the seriousness of the mood.

He sniffled and wiped his nose on his left arm. “Rosita is dead.” The floodgates in his eyes opened up like a dam. Too many innocent women dead, and Jace was terrified that Tessa would turn up next. “Why aren’t they looking for Tessa? Why are they wasting time with this bullshit?” He pounded a fist on the dashboard.

Evan squeezed his shoulder from the driver’s seat. “I know, man. I’m