Page 51 of Justice Delayed

Ms. Alonso:Jared, Jillian, and Jesse.

Delaney: What about Melender?

Ms. Alonso:Miss Melender wasn’t home that evening.

Delaney:Mrs. Thompson said she left her niece in charge of Jillian and Jesse.

Ms. Alonso:I don’t know why she said that because Miss Ruby knew Miss Melender had a party that night with some friends from school.

Livingston: Mrs. Thompson said Melender didn’t go out much.

Ms. Alonso: She didn’t usually, but she went to this one.

Livingston:What party was this?

Ms. Alonso:It was the senior class party at the Rice house, the one on the street behind the Thompsons with the fountain in the front driveway.

Delaney: You’re sure this party was on the evening of June 14?

Ms. Alonso: Yes. I helped her pick out a dress and fix her hair before I left for the club.

Livingston: Then who was watching the kids? Surely the Thompsons didn’t leave a three-year-old and a one-year-old home alone.

Ms. Alonso: Of course not. Miss Ruby told Jared that he was in charge until Melender came home.

Brogan jotted down the questions that flooded his mind after reading the transcript. Had the police followed up on the party to see if Melender had attended? What did Jared say about what unfolded earlier that evening? He decided to read Jared’s statements next and reached into the box holding the transcripts. After flipping through the folders, he couldn’t find Jared’s. “Are you reading Jared’s file?”

Melender glanced up. “Yep, I’ve got it here.”

“The nanny says Ruby told her Jared was in charge of his siblings while you were at a graduation party. Did the police ask him about that?”

She shook her head. “Jared told the police he was home all night, but apparently Ruby said he came in around 1 a.m. Jared never said he was left in charge of the kids.” She shuffled through some papers. “I’m about to read the FBI interview. Do you want me to read it out loud?”

“Sure.” Brogan sat back to listen as Melender cleared her throat.

“This is with FBI Special Agents Theresa Reardon and Sheldon Martinez, who noted they interviewed Jared at home.” She flipped a page. “They asked a bunch of the same questions the police did. Ah, here they ask about the disappearance.”

Agent Martinez:Who do you think kidnapped Jesse?

Mr. Thompson: How should I know? I certainly didn’t.

Agent Cane: How well did you get along with Jesse?

Mr. Thompson: He was a toddler. You can’t have much of a relationship with a toddler who can’t even talk.

Melender skimmed through a couple of pages of background as the agents probed Jared’s relationship with Jesse. On the top of page three, she slowed down.

Agent Cane: He was your half-brother. Wouldn’t that mean you’d have to share your inheritance?

Mr. Thompson: You know how much money my father has?

Agent Martinez:Why don’t you tell us?

Mr. Thompson: He has millions tied up in property and businesses and has more money in overseas accounts than you’ll ever see in your lifetime.

Agent Cane: So you think the kidnappers knew that when they snatched Jesse?

Mr. Thompson: It’s not exactly a secret, although he’s so stingy with money, you’d think he was flat broke.

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