Juanita dragged in a lungful of smoke, savored it for as long as she could before allowing it to escape.
She’d promised her son she would quit.
Maybe when this was over.
Fear wrapped around and around her heart, tightened like a threatening serpent.
What had she done?
Christ. She’d made the mother of all mistakes.
How was she supposed to know the son of a bitch would go this far? Yeah, he dabbled in drugs. Had himself a regular little habit going on. But with all he had going for him, who would have imagined he would dothis?
Shelley was dead.
Juanita clasped a hand over her mouth to hold back the desperation rising in her throat.
This couldn’t be happening.
Okay, okay. Don’t panic. She shoved the half-smoked cigarette into the abandoned Coca-Cola can on her desk.
No one knew. It was her secret.
“You’re okay.” She pulled in a deep breath. “Just do your job, Juanita.” She braced her hands on the desk and let the air seep slowly into her lungs. “No need to panic.”
Nobody would ever know.
She shook her head.
No way.
This murder had nothing to do with her.
She hadn’t killed anybody.
She had nothing to worry about.
A stillness crept over her, narrowed her view until one vivid truth filled her consciousness.
No, she had nothing to worry about except ...
CJ Patterson.
Chapter Sixteen
815 Wheeler Avenue
Huntsville Police Department, 2:55 p.m.
Braddock reclined in the uncomfortable metal chair and propped his feet on the table as two uniforms delivered Banks to the interview room.
Banks, looking exactly like a man with a hellacious hangover, stared in bewilderment as the door closed. He’d still been in bed when the cops arrived.
“What the hell?” He turned around, stumbled back a step as his gaze landed on Braddock. He held up his hands. “I done told you everything I know.”
“I wish that were true,” Braddock said as he dropped his feet to the floor and stood. “But, you see, I know you’re lying.” He walked around the table and pulled out the other chair. “Have a seat.”
Banks glared at him for about ten seconds, then swaggered to the chair and plopped down in it. “What do you want?”
