Nothing Left to Loose

Rachel

Jerry and I spent hours searching for a link between the victim and Kimberly only to discover there's none to be found. I look up from my desk, shaking my head. "You're right, Jerry, there isn't a single thing that ties these two together."

"I talked to the antique dealer, and he says he remembers her asking about a gun but doesn't remember anyone trying to sell him a weapon the way she claims."

"What time did he say she came in?"

Jerry grabs his notes. "It was a little after twelve. He said she couldn't find anything, so she left."

"That would put her in the area around the time the murder occurred."

"I still don't think she did it, Sergeant. I think someone is trying to frame her."

"They're doing a good job of it then. Jerry, I want you to re-canvass the area. See if you can find someone that'll put her anywhere but the crime scene. Kirk, check the security cameras in the area, and I'll check the local shops."

***

Larry

Julia is at one end of the couch. I'm at the other stacks of papers are in between. Julia is reviewing my other case hoping to find something I missed. I look over to find a perplexed look on her face. "What's wrong, Julia."

"I think I might've found something. You said that the...."

"Hold that thought," I say, picking up my ringing cell. "Hello."

"I wanted to emphasize the importance of winning this case." The phone shuffles. I then hear Lilly calling for me in the background. Spring off of the couch, I yell, "Please, don't hurt my daughter, please don't hurt my baby girl." I hear two gunshots and then silence. "Why did you kill her? Why?" I sob, falling to the couch.

"We haven't yet, but I will if my nephew spends so much as an hour in jail." The call disconnects.

Precious memories of my daughter race through my head. I then imagine her bleeding on the cold, hard ground. Tuning towards Julia, I say, "They threatened to kill my daughter. They threatened to kill my baby girl."

Rachel

I look up from my computer to find Jerry weaving his way across the busy precinct towards my desk. I sent him and a few others to a riot on the north side of town.

"Did you handle the situation?"

"I have for now, but I'm afraid they'll be back as soon as everyone leaves."

"What's going on?"

"A bunch of people is protesting Julia's release. I told Bill it might be a good idea to leave the city until things calm down."

"What did he say to that?"

"He didn't agree at first, but his kids talked him into it, claiming they can't take any more teasing at school."

Rachel thinks back to her horrid school days."Kids can be so cruel sometimes."

Jerry slams his hands down on his desk."None of this wouldn't be happening if I could find something to prove she innocent."

"I've checked all the security footage around the square and can't find Julia on any of the cameras," Kirk says.

"I haven't found her at any of the shops, other than the antique store." Placing my hand on the stack of tapes, I add, "I still have a few to go."

"So she could've been in the deli like she claims."

"I didn't find her on the tape, but she could've come in around the time the camera glitched."

Jerry springs out of his chair.

"Where are you going, now?"

"I'm going to see if one of the deli workers will collaborate her story."

"I already tried, and no one remembers seeing her that day."

"Somebody has to remember something. Grabbing his equipment, Jerry runs for the door.

Larry

"Let's go over your case again, Julia says, taking the folder from my hands.

"The police claim my client shot Brian Logan in the woods late Friday evening. When they searched his house, they found bloody clothes, shoes, and the murder weapon. The blood splatter belongs to the victim. They also have a surveillance tape from Stubbs Grocery showing the two of them leaving together, twenty minutes before the shooting occurred. Approximately ten minutes away from where the body was discovered."

"Are there any fingerprints on the weapon?"

"No, and he didn't have gunpowder residue on my client's hands. The District Attorney claims he's wearing gloves when the crime occurred."

"Were the gloves ever located?"

"No."

I continue to read through the file. "According to this, the police didn't have a warrant when they searched the house."

"They claim that they saw the bloody clothes in the trash can when they were talking to his roommate, which gave them probable cause to search the apartment."

"How did the police see the clothes if they were in the trash?"

"I imagine they were lying on top."

"What if they weren't? What if they had to dig to find them."

"That'd make all the evidence they found the fruit of the poisons tree. Julia, you're a genius." I lean over and kisses her.

"I hope you don't do that to all your partners."

"Just the cute ones." I wink. "I'll call my client and find out for sure."

"Ask him where the cops found the gun and shoes." Picking up his phone, Larry dials a number.

"Vinnie, this is Larry Wilson. I have a couple of questions concerning your case....I'll see you in a few."

I turn towards Julia and say, "We might win this after all."

"Then you're family will be safe and sound."

"To be honest with you, I don't care what happens to my wife, but Lilly, she's my little angel."

Julia glances around at my pictures scattered across the room, smiles, and says, I can tell."

"Photography is my hobby."

"Lilly must be your favorite subject." I laugh.

"She is. Why don't we work on your case while we're waiting for Vinnie?"

"Alright."

"I've talked to everyone you put down on the list, and the only one who remembers seeing you is the antique dealer. He said you came in a little after twelve and left about twenty minutes later. The defense is going to argue that gave you enough time to walk down the alley and shoot the victim."

"But, I was at the deli when the shooting occurred."

"I'm afraid Keisha doesn't remember waiting on you that day."

"She has to. She just has to," Jumping off the worn sofa, Julia paces the floor.

"Did you talk to anyone else at the deli?"

"I don't think I did." She glances towards the ceiling. "I was in such a hurry that I ordered ate then left. Oh, this is hopeless, just hopeless" I fall back on the couch.

"I'm not giving up just yet. The case with your husband is pending, so they shouldn't be able to bring it up in this proceeding unless you say something that will allow it into evidence."

"I won't say a word about what happened between Andy and me."

"I still want to get the facts straight in case they trick you into it somehow. According to your neighbor's testimony and your hospital records, I can show the constant abuse."

"That's good, right?"

"Yes, but I still need to know what happened to you leading up to the day you disappeared." I grab my notepad off the table.

"He knocked me unconscious and then set the house on fire."

"The neighbor found you and called an ambulance, correct?"

"Right, then a week later, he comes into the hospital, dressed up as a technician. He told everyone he's taking me for more tests but drives me to an old shack in the woods. instead."

"Where he beat you and raped you."

"He and his friends. I got loose and ran out of the cabin. That's when I saw him with that bimbo, Kimberly."

"She's already dead?"

"Right, not wanting to end up like her, I killed him and ran."

"Then you assumed Kimberly's identity?"

"Right."

"I was able to retrieve a message Andy left on Kimberly's phone earlier that day claiming he's going to take care of you once and for all, which shows intent to harm. So the next step is to prove you stabbed him in self-defense."

"I did, I did. Andy was coming at me with a knife in his hand."

"The defense could argue premeditation since you grabbed the fire poker from the house."

"I took it so I could protect myself."

"We'll have to show that there was a pending threat on your life which shouldn't be hard."

Hearing the doorbell ring, we both turn towards the entranceway."

"I bet that's Vinnie." I open the door expecting to see my client but see a small, bloody body by the doorway instead.