Page 95 of Bring Them Home

“Oh yeah. It shows him, Nina, and another man, leading Abigail out of the house toward the back of the barn. I assume that’s where she was shot?”

“Jacob, you have no idea what you’ve just done. Forward that video to me. Trent and I will be getting a few warrants, including one to arrest Hernandez, thanks to you.”

“I’m sure I can’t take all the credit. Well, I’m heading home. I’m whipped.”

“I bet.”

The email from Briggs followed the end of his call by a few seconds. His message summarized the timestamp was from Thursday at 11:13 AM. Amanda clicked on the video and watched it play with Trent standing over her shoulder.

When it finished, she said, “Now, we have enough to nail him.”

FORTY-EIGHT

Amanda and Trent walked up the front path toward Judge Anderson’s house. It was beautiful and regal and set on a sizable parcel of land in Woodbridge. They briefed Malone before coming here and said they wanted to face Anderson in person for the warrants. While Malone wasn’t completely on board, he conceded with a word of caution. “Don’t level any accusations. Not one.”

She told him she wouldn’t, but she’d replayed this conversation a few times in the last hour. Living up to her promise was going to be challenging because she felt personally wronged by Anderson.

Trent knocked, disregarding the bell.

Footsteps approached the door, and it swung open. Anderson was standing there, grinning, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “What brings you two here? I’m sure my office would have told you I’m not on call at the moment. I’m⁠—”

“Gene, have you seen my pearl neck… lace?” A mature woman with platinum hair appeared startled at the sight of visitors on her doorstep. “Sorry for the interruption. I didn’t realize we had company.”

“Not exactly company, but…” The judge stepped back and motioned for them to come inside.

“I assume you’re Mrs. Anderson?” Amanda said. In all these years, they’d never met.

“Yes. Robin.”

“And I’m Amanda Steele, a detective with Homicide for the PWCPD.”

“I’m Trent Stenson, her partner.”

“Nice to meet you both.” Her pleasantry came out feeling forced, and she turned to her husband as if she were seeking an explanation for their presence.

“We shouldn’t take up much of your husband’s time,” Amanda told her.

“Good. Our plane leaves in a few hours.” She gave Gene a side-glance, her eyes narrowed.

“How lovely. You’re taking a vacation?” She drew her gaze back to Anderson and was proud of her performance. Her insides were jumping and her instinct screaming he was fleeing the country.

“It’s nothing really. Just a last-minute thing.”

“Our youngest is going through a crisis,” Robin offered.

“Where are they?” Trent asked.

“Elise is in Maine.”

“It should be nice there this time of year. Not too cool yet.” Amanda had never been to Maine, but she knew enough about the area to see the appeal of visiting. Their bitter cold winters would keep her from ever moving there. But was Maine their actual destination?

“Yes, well, you’ll need to excuse me. I need to finish packing.” Robin waved a hand over her head as she walked off into the house.

“Let’s go to my office.” Gene looked over his shoulder as he led them down a hallway. “I trust this must be an urgent matter for you to come here. And any later, you might have missed me.”

“It is an urgent matter,” Amanda confirmed. “Trent and I are used to working with you, and we know you might have an interest in this one.” The next steps would take finesse if she wasn’t going to cross the line that Malone had also stipulated. Don’t let on you suspect him of being corrupt.

Gene entered an office and sat behind an enormous mahogany desk. “Sorry that I don’t have any chairs for visitors, so you’ll need to stand. Tell me, what is this about? You said I’d have an interest in it?”