Page 54 of Kept in the Dark

He wrapped her in a hug, and she accepted the gesture. “Hi, Uncle Eli. I was in the neighborhood and wanted to drop by. Is Aunt Loretta here?”

“She’s napping right now, but come in.” He led her through the living room and into the dining room. “Would you like some coffee?”

Hailey declined, “No, that’s okay.”

He sat across from her at the table. “I gotta admit, I thought you’d be outta town already.”

She smiled softly, used to the comment. “Something came up to keep me here longer, which is actually another reason why I stopped by.”

“Are you moving back?” The sparkle in his eye fed her guilt.

She chuckled and shook her head. “Uncle Eli, I have a whole life in Alabama.”

“And you can pick this one back up, Hailey girl.” He held up a hand before Hailey could protest. “All I’m sayin’ is that you ought to think about it.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it,” she said, winking at him. “I actually need to ask you about my mother…about the night she died.”

He shifted slightly and looked down at the floor. “What about it?”

Hailey looked down at the table for a moment and then looked back at Eli. “Do you honestly think Sara did it? I know the evidence was circumstantial at best and I just…” She sighed. “I don't know. As an eighteen year old, it was easy to believe she did it. But now, I just don’t think the evidence was there and I want to know what you saw when you investigated.”

Washington visibly tensed and the happiness in his eyes turned to anger…or was it guilt?

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re right, the evidence wasn’t much, but it was enough to get a plea deal. Why are you bringing this up now? She served her time and now she’s free.”

“We found evidence that has the potential to prove she’s innocent.”

He stood abruptly, startling Hailey. “You think I didn't do my job? That I put away an innocent woman?”

His agitation wasn’t something Hailey had been expecting. Regaining her composure, Hailey placed her hand on his. “Uncle Eli, I don’t think that at all. I just want to hear your side before we start looking into my mother’s case again.”

“Who’s ‘we?’ What do you mean you’re looking into her case?”

“Like I said, I found something that could prove Sara is innocent, so Trey is working on getting the case reopened.”

A beat.

He clenched his jaw and removed his hand from hers. “Everything is in my report for Trey to read. I need to wake up Loretta for our afternoon walk. You can see yourself out.”

With that, he walked away from the table and up the stairs.

“Hello?” David coughed out as he clutched the phone. He hadn’t expected the bourbon to burn so much. He dabbed his mouth with a handkerchief and ignored the blood that stained the fabric.

Fuck.

He really should listen to his doctor and stop drinking, but he didn’t want to give up this one pleasure.

“Hailey came by my house. She’s asking questions.”

“What did she say?” David poured himself another drink, welcoming the burn as it slithered down his throat. It reminded him he was still alive.

He hadn’t planned on spending the day drinking, but after his talk with Trey and Sara’s little visit, he couldn’t seem to stop himself. He was on edge, and he hoped the liquor might help, despite his doctor’s protests against it.

Eli’s voice went up an octave. “She said she’s got evidence that Sara is innocent, and now Trey is snooping around.”

“I’m aware. What else did she say?”

“You already knew? Why didn’t you warn me?” he demanded.

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