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“She killed Franz. Just like she killed Jane. Treven always said it was a woman that killed Jane. He was too trusting and didn’t get her name, but he found her on social media. Hattie Ballard. The woman who just stabbed Franz.” He glared at Jensen. “You didn’t believe my son and he’s wallowed in prison for this woman’s crimes, and now Franz is dead too!” William was becoming increasingly upset and he was yelling.
Men peered in through the door, looking to Jensen.
Jensen stood and faced William. Ray stood shoulder to shoulder with him. Steffan stood and helped Hattie up, keeping her in the protective circle of his arms. He refused to let her go. Jensen and Ray would prove Rindlesbacher’s accusations were lies. The man was trying to frame Hattie again, and possibly free his own son from prison in the process. Had he schemed this entire thing with Franz and then used the man for his own selfish purposes like the Rindlesbachers’ were wont to do?
Hattie clung to him, her body trembling. “You believe me?”
“Of course I do.” He brushed her forehead with his lips. “Ray and Jensen will sort it out. Don’t worry.”
They were close enough in the small cabin that William obviously overheard Steffan. “The general and the chief will have no choice but to do what’s right, and that is to prosecute you for this man’s death.” He pointed at Hattie, then at Franz’s lifeless body. “And for your previous murder and escape from lawful custody. I only hope nobody aided or abetted her.” He gave Jensen a significant look.
Jensen didn’t quiver, simply raised an eyebrow at the man.
Hattie trembled, but she bravely jutted out her chin and said, “I didn’t kill anyone. You knocked me out and then you killed him.”
“You were lying on top of his corpse with a knife protruding from it. You killed him. Take that knife and run the fingerprints,” he told Jensen. “The evidence will prove the truth.”
“All right, everybody needs to calm down. Hattie had a listening device on,” Jensen said. “We’ll find it and that will help us sort out the mess.”
Steffan studied William. It concerned him that the man didn’t appear upset by the news of a listening device.
“Turn off your infrared goggles and let’s light this place up,” Jensen said.
Steffan had to release one of his hands holding Hattie to turn off the goggles and lift them onto his forehead.
Light bars strapped to Jensen, Ray, and other men’s chests lit up the small cabin. Jensen looked at the hole in Hattie’s torn shirt and around the cabin. He had a man come with the proper equipment to take the knife as evidence. The fingerprints would lead to William being the murderer as well, right?
Was there any way William could’ve knocked Hattie and Franz out and manipulated her hands on the knife to shove it in Franz’s chest? It was possible, but Steffan’s mind was scrambling for crazy scenarios. He held Hattie closer. This entire situation was a crazy scenario.
Jensen and an older officer went outside briefly. William didn’t move, just glared harder. Steffan and Hattie clung to each other. How would this mess end? He prayed for heaven’s help and insight.
Jensen walked back in with the older officer. “Frank will escort Prince Steffan and Miss Ballard outside so we can search and speak with Mr. Rindlesbacher alone.”
Steffan complied as the officer gestured outside with his gun, but he didn’t like it. He met Ray’s gaze. His brother was uncertain as well, and that scared him more than anything else.
Hattie was innocent. He wanted to scream it to the mountaintops. Jensen would never allow her to take a fall for something like this. He hadn’t five years ago when she’d been framed for Jane Presley’s murder by this man’s son. Jensen would do the right thing, and so would Ray. He had to trust his friend and his brother.
They walked out into the chilly morning air. Hattie shivered, but he didn’t think it had anything to do with the cold.
He wanted to listen in as they questioned William. He was certain he could stab holes in the man’s fabricated story. But Hattie was more important right now, and he had to trust that Ray and Jensen could pull apart William’s story better than he could. They dealt with criminals like William all the time.
“You all right?” he asked Hattie softly.
“Not really, but I’d be a mess without you holding me up.” She tried to smile up at him, but her lips were quivering. In the darkness and the shadows from the open cabin door and the police lights, the smile looked distorted. “I can’t figure out why Treven’s dad would even be here.”
“It’s an obvious setup,” Steffan reassured her. “Jensen and Ray will poke holes all through his story and he’ll be in prison right along with his son.” He gained strength from the idea as he spoke. “It will make it even easier to clear your name for Jane’s murder.”
She laid her head on his shoulder, and his chest swelled. “I hope so. Thank you for supporting me, for believing me, for seeing the best in me.”
He saw only good in her. “It’s no hardship, believe me.”
She smiled again, and then she simply clung to him. The men moving around them, the sounds in the cabin that could decide this very important woman’s fate, all faded as he focused on holding her and savoring every moment.
Why did it feel fleeting? Nobody could rip her from his arms. Nobody.
Praying silently as they waited, he wanted justice for murdered Jane and murdered Franz, and freedom and no more worrying, looking over her shoulder, or staying away from Augustine for Hattie.
Ray strode out of the cabin and up to them. Hattie turned slightly to look up at him, but Steffan didn’t release her and she didn’t try to move out of the circle of his arms.
