on to it, even if it was only for a little while.
Metal clanged as Bennett opened the gate. Sheriff King’s truck was sitting at an angle on the dirt road. The rumble of a vehicle heading their way snapped Emilia into work mode. A dark blue SUV pulled to a stop. Malcolm was behind the wheel. His gaze clashed with Emilia’s and a shiver raced down her spine at the malevolence in his expression.
Bennett moved closer to her. Protective but not overbearing. Although Emilia could handle Malcolm, it was nice to have the support. Sheriff King said something to his son before getting out of the vehicle. Malcolm sped off.
“Bennett, Emilia.” Sheriff King strolled over and shook each of their hands. A Band-Aid covered a bruise on the back of his hand, the wound probably caused by an IV. “Thank you for meeting me. First, I want to apologize for my behavior last night. I started a new medication yesterday, and it interacted badly with another one of my pills. I honestly remember little of what happened, and was horrified to learn I held you at gunpoint. I’m very sorry.”
Emilia’s heart was moved by his humble apology, and she sent up a prayer of thanksgiving. Many things could’ve gone wrong—from Randy hitting someone while driving in his condition to accidentally shooting Bennett or her.
Bennett nodded. “I’m glad you’re okay and no one was hurt.”
“Thank you, son.” Sheriff King focused on Bennett before turning to Emilia. “It’s no secret I haven’t always seen eye to eye with the two of you. I’ve been arrogant, and the good Lord has taught me a painful lesson.”
To Emilia’s shock, Randy’s chin trembled. Tears shimmered in his eyes. “I was wrong about Derrick. Kathy Rose’s death is on me and I want to help you with the case in any way I can.”
Emilia wanted to believe the sheriff was sincere. She hoped he was. Yet, a small part of her wondered if Randy’s change of heart had anything to do with his son being a suspect.
Bennett tucked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans. “We’d appreciate any help you can provide. Let’s start with Malcolm. Is he Derrick's brother?”
“No. Malcolm’s birth parents aren’t from Fulton County. There’s no way they are brothers.”
“Why didn’t Malcolm simply tell me that?”
Sheriff King removed a package of cigarettes from his jacket pocket. “He should have. Malcolm is worried about being linked to Derrick. The man is a serial killer. If people even thought they were related, it could damage his good reputation. Not to mention his business and position on the city council.”
“We aren’t interested in spreading gossip,” Emilia said. “We only want to get to the truth.”
“It doesn’t matter. Investigations are never ironclad. Leaks happen. With the most recent murder in the news, people would assume Malcolm had something to do with it, even if he’s innocent. Blood ties still matter in Fulton County. It’s wrong, but that doesn’t change the way people feel.”
Emilia didn’t agree, but then again, she hadn’t lived in Fulton County. Maybe his assessment about the townsfolk was right.
Randy lit his cigarette with a trembling hand. Nerves? Or a side effect of Parkinson’s? Emilia couldn’t tell.
“My son has an alibi for the night Kathy Rose died,” Randy said. “He was in Houston attending a conference. Malcolm’s attorney will send Sheriff Wilson the details about it. Y’all will verify Malcolm was there and mark him off the suspect list.”
Convenient. If Malcolm had an alibi all this time, then why the runaround? Again, Emilia hoped this was a simple misunderstanding.
She pulled out the photograph of Alice with Derrick and Henry. “When I went to turn off your vehicle last night, I found this.”
“That’s the other thing I wanted to discuss with y’all.” Sheriff King took a drag and blew out the smoke. “After I came home from visiting my wife’s family, I started going through my notes on the Alice Nelson case. Bennett, do you remember I mentioned she attended a party on the night she disappeared?”
“I do.”
“That’s a picture from the party. Somehow that photograph ended up in my personal notes instead of the case file.” He pointed to Henry in the picture. “This guy is Henry Stillman. He and Derrick were close friends. Henry was also Alice’s boyfriend.”
Emilia’s mind whirled with the new information. “The case file identified John McInnis as Alice’s boyfriend.”
“Naw. I think they dated for a spell, but it wasn’t serious. If you’re looking for Derrick’s partner, I’d start with