Reasonable Doubt by Tracey V. Bateman

what does he look like after all these years?”
    A grin lifted Keri’s lips. Always the romantic, of course Denni would want the essential information.
    “Tom Cruise meets Brendan Fraser. Only better.”
    “Oh, wow.”
    “Yeah.”
    “So which one’s mouth is his like?”
    Warmth crept up Keri’s neck, and she knew her face was red. “I guess it’s more like Brendan’s.”
    “Has he kissed you yet?”
    “Denni! He’s a suspect in a murder case!”
    “Oh, come on, I find it hard to believe Justin is capable of murder. Besides, suspects can’t kiss?”
    Keri rolled her eyes and fought the urge not to divulge the information about the couple of close calls. Besides, the more she thought about those moments, the more humiliated she became and the more convinced that Justin was playing her. Cons tried it all the time with female corrections officers and cops. A good-looking prisoner could play on the vanity or poor self-image of a vulnerable officer. It had happened time and again. But she wouldn’t let Justin do that to her. No way! She was not vulnerable to him.
    “I can’t get romantically involved with him.”
    “So that still doesn’t answer my question. Come on…kiss or no kiss?”
    “No! The guy is most likely going to the pen for a really long time, if not forever. I don’t exactly think we should be discussing him like a potential prom date.”
    Keri could sense Denni sober. “You’re right. Dad said he’s got a couple of kids?”
    Thankful for the change of subject, Keri stated, “Yeah, Billy’s a real sweetie. He lights up the house.” Her mind went back to the incident over the board game in the kitchen. “Josh is…let’s just say he’s been through a lot.”
    “Children deal with trauma differently.”
    “I guess. I don’t know. It just seems like there’s more to it. Like he’s been touched in a way that Billy hasn’t. I think he’s dealing with a trauma Billy didn’t go through.”
    “Like what?”
    “I wish I knew.”
    “Does Justin have the boys in counseling? Or did he, before he took off?”
    Ashamed, she hated to admit the truth. “I don’t know. I never asked him. Never even occurred to me.”
    “Well, it’s my job to ask that stuff. Don’t worryabout it. There’s nothing to be done right now, anyway. There may be counseling available for them once they enter the foster-care system. If it comes to that.”
    Keri tried to imagine Billy and Josh living happily in a foster home, but she had trouble conjuring up a convincing image. A sudden thought occurred to her and she sat straight up with a gasp. “Hey, they wouldn’t split them up, would they?”
    “They’d try not to. But you never know what homes are available.”
    “I hate this.” She rested her forehead in the palm of her free hand. “I hate that those boys would have to be without their dad. Justin’s a great dad. Even if they get to stick together, they’ll be miserable without him.”
    “So you don’t think he did it?”
    “Did what?”
    “Killed his wife?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. I hope not. I just said he’s a good dad.”
    “A good father wouldn’t kill his children’s mother, Keri.”
    “That’s not for me to decide. It’s not for anyone to decide except a jury of twelve.”
    An exasperated sigh hissed through the line. “This is Justin Kramer we’re talking about. I don’t believe you can be as objective as you’re trying to sound. It has to be eating you alive. You need to take a position and stick to it.”
    Keri’s ire rose at the firmness in Denni’s voice. When was her older sister going to stop bossing her around? “I don’t have a position one way or another. I only mentioned on an impersonal level that I’ve noticed Justin takes adequate care of his boys. That doesn’tmean I plan on letting him slip through my fingers again.” Keri cringed. Had she really said again?
    Denni’s chuckled answered her question. “I knew you weren’t over him.”
    “I