Page 125 of The 1 Lawyer

“She’s working through it. It’s a process, gonna take time.”

Mason shook his head in wonder. “Drilled him right between the eyes. Where’d she keep that gun of hers?”

“She’s been sleeping with it on the bedside table since that break-in last year. If it had been under the mattress, we’d both be dead.”

“How’d she pull it off? Was it a lucky shot?”

“Mason, it wasn’t luck, it was skill. She’s a dead shot. You should know that, after all these years.”

“She never bragged about it.” He looked pensive. After a moment, he shook it off and grinned at me. “So! What’s up, what’s the news that you wouldn’t tell me over the phone? Got to be something big for you to drag me over here to hear it in person.”

“It’s big.”

“Is it Gordon-James? Has he finally come around? I keep thinking he’s gonna call, tell me he’s dismissing the charges against you and Rue.”

I picked up a pen, twisted it in my hands, put it down. “The murder case hasn’t been dismissed.”

“Sorry to hear that.” I watched him. He did look sorry. “So. What’s up?”

“The FBI is investigating.”

“Really!” Mason gazed off, digesting the information. “Hadn’t heard that.”

“The state police called them in after the search of Roman’s home. They found evidence of multiple victims over the years, crossing state lines. They’re pulling out all the stops, looking at cold cases all across the Gulf.”

“Wow. Incredible.”

“They called me in for another interview.”

“Again? I know you had to go in to ID Carrie Ann’s wedding ring.” Mason grimaced. “Taking her ring. God, Stafford Lee. That’s sick.”

“Yeah. Really sick.”

Mason’s brow wrinkled. “You never mentioned it was missing.”

“The coroner said she wasn’t wearing a ring. I figured she’d gotten rid of it.”

That led to an awkward pause. Mason broke the silence. “Shit, Stafford Lee—that had to be tough. Hard on you, bringing up bad memories. Is Jenny still set on moving in with you? You could put it off, I guess.”

My voice was calm, controlled. “No, we’re not putting it off.”

“Excellent. I’m glad to hear you’re moving on, going forward. You’ve had a rough time.”

“True. We have, both of us. A close call.”

“But everything’s okay?”

“Yeah. We’re alive. And I’m free, for now. It’s lucky I’m not in prison. Locked up for the rest of my life.”

Mason slid down in the seat, shaking his head. “Come on, Stafford Lee—that was never gonna happen. You would’ve beat that case. The evidence wasn’t strong enough to convict you.”

“You think?”

“Damn straight! The jury wouldn’t have convicted. Not a chance.”

My throat was tight. I had to take a couple of deep breaths.

Finally, I said it. “Is that what you told yourself?”

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