Page 27 of The Guilty Trial

Nothing.

She crouched beside the figure and reached out to grasp the shoulder. The fabric felt cold beneath her fingers, and when she applied gentle pressure, the resistance was immediately familiar. Rigor mortis had already set in.

She pulled harder, rolling the figure onto its back. An empty Nyquil bottle slipped from the dead hand and landed softly in the dirt.

Aris Bennett’s cloudy and fixed eyes stared up at nothing. Vomit had dried around his mouth and down the front of his shirt. Behind her, Jason made a strangled sound and turned away quickly, his hands going to his knees.

Allie studied Bennett's face. Whatever rage had driven him, whatever debts and grievances had consumed his last weeks of freedom, none of it mattered now.

Based on the lividity she could see, and the progression of rigor mortis, he'd been dead for at least twelve hours. Probably longer.

“He's been here since last night,” she said quietly.

Jason straightened, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Allie stood and pulled out her phone. She was about to dial when it buzzed with an incoming call. Marze's name appeared on the screen.

“Bishop,” he said. “We've got another body.”

Chapter Fourteen

Residence of Richard Vance

Gig Harbor, Washington

Allie watched Gig Harbor's familiar streets pass by her window, some of their names registering somewhere in the back of her mind. She’d ridden her bike down these roads countless times as a kid, escaping to the edges of town where she could pretend her life was normal. She hadn't ventured into this part of the community in years.

Jason glanced over at her. “You're close to home. How’s Grams doing anyhow? Heard anything from Colorado?”

Allie pulled out her phone and checked for messages. “Not today. She usually calls in the evening.” She put the phone back. “Gladys is in hospice now. Grams says it probably won't be much longer.”

“I'm sorry to hear that.”

Allie watched the houses slide past. “Grams keeps saying she's fine, but I know it's hard on her to watch an old friend go through that.”

Jason nodded. “When's she coming back?”

“Soon, I think. She doesn't want to leave until...” Allie trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence.

“Understandable.”

“Yes, it is,” she sighed. “But I miss her. It’s strange having the house all to myself. I don’t really like it.”

“Well, Victoria’s been wanting to see you, so maybe the two of you can get together.”

A smile pressed into her lips. “Oh, don’t worry about us. We’ve got that covered.”

Jason laughed. “I’m sure you do.”

A minute later, he turned onto Soundview Drive, a boulevard of large homes with pristine landscaping. Allie noted the addresses climbing higher as they drove deeper into the neighborhood toward the Sound.

Jason slowed as they approached a sprawling two-story colonial set back from the road. White columns framed the front entrance, and the lawn spread out in manicured perfection, not a blade of grass out of place. Two FBI vehicles were already parked in the circular driveway alongside a Pierce County crime scene van and multiple police cruisers. Marze’s black sedan sat closest to the house.

The front door stood open, and Marze appeared in the doorway before they'd made it halfway up the steps. As usual, his expression gave nothing away, but Allie caught the tension in his shoulders. “Glad you're here. Come on in.”

Allie paused as soon as she stepped into the foyer. The house had been torn apart. Books yanked from shelves, cushions thrown from furniture, drawers upended and their contents scattered across the hardwood floors. Artwork hung crooked on the walls. A ceramic vase lay shattered near the stairs, its pieces glinting in the afternoon light streaming through the windows.

“The house cleaner arrived around noon,” Marze said, leading them deeper inside. “She found the judge in his study. She's pretty shaken up, but we got a statement from her. She said she's been cleaning for Judge Vance every Wednesday for the past ten years.” Allie frowned, prompting Marze to ask her what she was thinking.

“Just that the first victim was a prosecutor and the second is a judge. Makes me wonder if this is somehow connected to a case they both worked on.”