Chapter 20

After Frank raised his head and pushed back the transcript, he made a slight grunt. I got right into the issues. “We can’t suppress your statements. We’re going have to live with the fact that you talked to the police voluntarily.”

“I don’t see how it hurts me,” he blurted.

I paused. I wanted to be diplomatic but he deserved to be told the truth. “Well for one, you admit to being with Hannah. Two, you admit to beating her with the mug and then leaving her there, wounded. The prosecution is going to say you had motive, opportunity, and all the factors point to you.”

“But, I didn’t kill her, Jake!”

“Listen, folks have been convicted for murder with less evidence than what they’ve got here. Hannah was strangled and that’s how she died. Even though there’s no admission that you choked her, the prosecutor is going to tell the jury you’re lying or covering up that part.”