Page 64 of Justice Delayed

“Only that forensics matched Jared’s fingerprints to one of the bills.”

Brogan stared at his colleague. “That’s called burying the lead.”

Seth grinned. “Yeah, I know. But it was totally worth it to see the expression on your face.”

“Jared must have had something to do with the kidnapping.” No evidence had tied Melender with the kidnapping, so the prosecution hadn’t brought it up at trial. Neither had her defense attorney, which was strange. With the lack of proof Melender had anything to do with the ransom pickup that had taken place while she was being questioned by police, the kidnapping aspect could have cast reasonable doubt onto her guilt in Jesse’s disappearance.

“Which means Harman did not.” Seth snagged a desk chair from an unoccupied cubicle and scooted closer to Brogan. “What I don’t understand is how, if she wasn’t tied to the kidnapping, Harman was convicted of murder. They never found his body.”

“I think it boiled down to a couple of things.” Brogan rubbed his chin. “First, her court-appointed attorney did squat to help her. In reading the transcript, it’s like he was going through the motions to give her the appearance of a fair trial. Second, the prosecutor hammered home the theory that Melender killed Jesse because of jealousy and resentment at being constantly asked to take care of her young cousins. Her aunt, housekeeper, Jared, uncle—they all said she wasn’t happy about the arrangement. Jesse could be a fussy toddler who often didn’t asleep through the night.”

“Where’s the attorney now?”

“In a cushy job at the law firm representing Thompson Energy.” Brogan let that sink in. “I believe it’s time we paid Dan Stabe a visit, don’t you?”

Seth grinned. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

* * *

Twenty minutes later,Brogan and Seth walked into the lobby of the building that housed Davis, Ramsey, and Stevens. Brogan checked his phone for the time. One-thirty. With any luck, most of the office staff would have headed out to lunch, leaving fewer people to observe their entrance. Seth had called Stabe’s assistant to ask about an appointment in the afternoon and been told the attorney had no openings. Brogan surmised that meant he was in the office but unavailable.

As they rode the elevator to the eleventh floor, Brogan went over their simple plan of attack in his mind. Seth would try to sweet-talk the receptionist to find out if Stabe might be holed up at his desk. If so, they’d ambush Stabe. Brogan put their chance of success at less than ten percent, but hoped they could catch the attorney by surprise. The elevator doors opened, and he caught sight of the receptionist. “Oh, no.”

The middle-aged woman manned her reception desk like the captain of a war ship. Her dark brown hair liberally streaked with grey was pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck. Pearl studs in her ears, a single strand of pearls around her neck, and round wire-rimmed glasses completed the austere picture.

“Oh, ye of little faith,” Seth muttered under his breath as he strode toward the desk.

Brogan glanced down at his phone to mime concentration on the small screen while trying to monitor Seth’s progress with the receptionist. To Brogan’s astonishment, within seconds, Seth had the woman laughing, then shaking her head as she clicked on her keyboard. A few more minutes of conversation, then Seth nodded once. He motioned to Brogan to join him at the desk.

“Brogan, this delightful woman is Audrey Evans.” Seth introduced the woman with a flourish.

“Nice to meet you.” Brogan offered his hand to Ms. Evans, who shook it with a firm grasp.

“Ms. Evans has graciously informed me that Mr. Stabe is in his office, eating lunch at his desk, and now would be the best time to…” Seth turned back to Ms. Evans. “How did you put it?”

Ms. Evans didn’t quite roll her eyes, but she came close. “I believe I said, ‘beard the lion in his den.’”

“Ah, right. ‘Beard the lion in his den.’” Seth tapped the counter lightly. “I can’t thank you enough for helping us out. If you’ll point us in the right direction to Mr. Stabe’s office?”

As Ms. Evans gave succinct directions, Brogan couldn’t wait to grill his companion. Seth led the way to Stabe’s office with Brogan at his heels.

Once out of Ms. Evans’ earshot, Brogan elbowed Seth. “How did you manage that?”

Seth waggled his eyebrows. “Wouldn’t you like to know? I never flatter and tell.”

Brogan shook his head. “Remind me not to leave you alone with any female I’m interested in.”

“Then I won’t be talking to Melender Harman alone?”

Seth’s teasing remark hit him in the gut, and Brogan nearly halted in the middle of the hall. He struggled to sound nonchalant in his response. “I doubt you’d be her type anyway.”

As they stopped in front of Stabe’s office, Seth slapped him on the back. “I knew you had it bad but didn’t realize you were that far gone.”

Brogan tried to mask his amazement at his colleague’s perceptiveness. “What are you talking about?”

“That you’re falling for her. Big time.” Seth knocked sharply on Stabe’s closed door.

Brogan opened his mouth to deny it, but found the words stuck in his throat. Because it was true. He was falling for Melender Harman. And the thought didn’t fill him with dread.

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