Reasonable Doubt by Tracey V. Bateman Page A

didn’t mean ‘again.’ I mean I’m not letting him go until I know for sure if he’s going to be arrested. As in he’s not getting away from me. “Stop! Police!’ And all that. So don’t try to make me sound like a simpering, wishy-washy female cop.”
    “Oh, hey, speaking of that. Dad said you’re up for chief. How great would that be if you got it? I can’t even imagine a woman as chief of police there. That’s like having a female president. Only bigger considering we’re talking about Briarwood. Monumental.”
    Keri’s mind raced, trying to keep up with Denni’s line of reasoning. “Yeah, well, if I’m arrested for contributing after the fact, I’ll pretty much lose all hope of that.”
    “So I guess you have to decide what’s most important to you. Your job or helping an innocent man?”
    “If he’s innocent.”
    “He is. You know it in your heart.”
    Denni’s words played over and over in Keri’s mind long after they’d said goodbye. If she could only be sure Justin was innocent or guilty. At this point, she couldn’t risk everything on a whim and a few tingles whenever he came close. When the phone rang again, she jumped. “Hello?”
    “Keri, honey? This is Ruth. I’m seeing a car off the road here.”
    “Well, Ruth, you’ll have to call the station. Remember I’m on vacation at the cabin with Dad?”
    “Well, of course I remember! I’m not in town. I left the café in Doris’s hands and hightailed it right out here.”
    “Ruth! What do you mean? Chief Manning said the crews weren’t getting through.”
    “Oh, well, it was slow-going. Took me the better part of four hours to get here.”
    Four hours? The woman must have driven fifteen miles per hour the entire way.
    “What are you doing here two days early?”
    “When your Daddy told me about those sweet boys and your handsome Justin, I couldn’t stay away. I figured you’d need more groceries, for one thing, and I picked up a few coloring books and some toys to keep the kids occupied.”
    The woman actually giggled. “Well, there’s my cuddly bear standing on the front porch waiting for me. Yoo-hoo! Hi, honey cakes!” She clicked off the phone without saying goodbye.
    Keri rolled her eyes and pressed the button to shut off the phone. It was downright embarrassing how much in love those two were. But, she had to admit, she loved Ruth and was glad her dad had found a woman he could dote on. She grinned and went to greet the object of her dad’s affection.
     
    Justin couldn’t hide his surprise at Keri’s suggestion they pull his car out of the ditch.
    “What?” she asked, staring petulantly at him as though she were Oscar the Grouch caught in a random act of kindness.
    He shrugged, unwilling to antagonize her and risk a change of heart. “Nothing. I’m ready whenever you are.”
    Scowling, she grabbed her coat, hat and gloves. “Well, don’t read anything into it. Ruth suggested it. I just agree that we should get your car out of the ditch.”
    “All right.” He slipped into his own coat and gloves and followed her outside.
    She remained silent as she fired up the Jeep and waited for it to warm up. Only when she’d eased the vehicle onto the road, did she speak. “Got your keys?”
    “Yep. Right here in my pocket.”
    She gave a practically imperceptible nod.
    Justin cleared his throat. “So, Ruth is quite a pistol, isn’t she?”
    Keri’s lips turned slightly up at the corners. “I think that’s why Dad likes her. He likes unconventional women.”
    “I remember your mom being sort of a free spirit, too, wasn’t she? I used to love coming over and tasting her new recipes or seeing new curtains.”
    Keri laughed. “She moved the furniture around every other week. She always needed something new.” Her eyes clouded. “That’s why she was out that night.”
    “The night she was killed?”
    “Yes.” Her voice came out a hoarse whisper. “She was painting the living room and ran out of paint. She