CHAPTER NINETEEN
With no clear direction as to where to go next, Ava and Frank simply sat in the car, still in front of Garver Financial Planning. Ava could tell that Frank was in his own head, trying to figure out some way to help her prove Carter’s innocence. She wasn’t fully convinced Frank thought Carter was innocent; rather, she felt that her insistence was somehow driving him. But at this point, there was no sense in keeping their theories separate. They had limited time and if they were going to find the real killer, they were going to have to work together better than ever before.
“We’re not going to have enough time to get this done, are we?” she asked.
“It is a pretty tight deadline the judge gave you.”
“I don’t understand this at all. I mean, there’s a very small cast of characters we have to work on. What the hell are we missing?” She cringed a bit as she said this. Though she did not see hell as a particularly vulgar word, she was pretty sure it was the first time she’d ever said anything unladylike in front of Frank. He’d seen her throw punches and get angry at suspects, but never use a vulgar word.
But Frank apparently didn’t even notice. “Well, maybe the cast of characters isn’t quite as small as we’re thinking. After all, before we met with him, Alfred Moss seemed like a fitting candidate. And he wasn’t at the club when Monty was killed.”
“Plus, there’s the fact that if Carter is telling the truth, then most of the band wouldn’t have seen the killer, either. The only people to actually see the killer would have been Carter, Albert Long, and Monty Lincoln. One is dead, and we’ve spoken to the other two already.”
“There’s another thing to consider,” Frank said, “and I don’t think it’s something you’re going to want to hear.”
“I know. You’re suggesting that maybe Carter did it. But you know he didn’t.”
“I’m fairly certain he’s innocent of murder. You’re right. But that doesn’t mean we have to automatically assume he’s being truthful about everything.”
“What would he have to lie about if he’s innocent?”
“Beats me, but we’re quickly finding out that hardly anyone has been one hundred percent honest and forthcoming.” He sighed and said, “And I do find it hard to fathom the idea that Carter found the body after he was arguing with the man but never saw the killer. Something there isn’t adding up.”
She knew this was right. And based on that, it made her wonder if maybe she was being a bit too set in her own assumptions. Was she so sure that Carter wasn’t the killer that he was overlooking some of the most basic facts?
“Here’s an idea,” Frank said. “Because all we’re doing right now is wasting time. I think we need to go our own ways for a few hours. I’ll go talk to Carter again. Maybe when it’s just me and I put a bit of pressure on him, he’ll fess up to anything he’d hiding.”
Ava didn’t like the idea of Frank potentially bullying Carter, but she did have to admit that he’d be more effective. He was also right in that it made more sense to attack their limited amount of time by taking two different routes.
“And maybe I’ll head back to the precinct. Some of the lesser crimes are handled downstairs in the WB. “I’m sure there have to be arguments between wealthy white men that don’t get the proper attention and are just shoved down to the ladies just to make sure nothing huge comes of it.” But even as she spoke this out loud, it sounded empty and desperate. She honestly had no idea where to go from here.
Frank nodded and started the engine. As they headed back for the precinct, Ava marveled over just how quickly certain things could change. Because of just one single newspaper article, she had somehow been transformed from borderline heroic to some laughable, stubborn dame. And it had literally happened overnight. She knew it was probably selfish of her, but she couldn’t help but feel that solving this case would save not only Carter Epps, but her name as well.
And Clarence’s, she thought. Don’t forget that you’re only even in this position because everyone respected Clarence. Whether you like it or not, your performance is going to reflect on him.
It was just one more bit of pressure on her shoulders and she could feel it all weighing down on her as Frank worked his way back to the precinct. When he pulled into the rear lot, he got out and opened her door for her. Even under pressure and with a ticking clock driving them, he was still chivalrous and kind.
“I know how you work,” Frank said softly. “I know you have these sudden spurs of genius. So please don’t isolate yourself to the precinct. Go where the case leads you.”
“Are you kidding?” she said. “After that article this morning and all the sidelong glances I got, I really don’t plan on staying here long.”
“Just leave a note on my desk if you decide to go anywhere or have any big breaks.”
“I will. And take it easy on Carter. I can’t imagine what it’s like to know that you could very well go to prison for something you didn’t do. And if the charge is murder, we both know he’s likely looking at the electric chair.”
“I’ll do my best,” he said. He kissed her quickly and she noticed that he didn’t even bother to take a look around to see if anyone might notice. With that, he got back into the car and she watched him pull off.
It didn’t occur to her until she walked in through the rear of the building that Frank had fully intended to park in the back not because of convenience in parking, but to make sure she would be able to get to the WB offices without passing by the bullpen area and, as a result, the glares and whispers of everyone currently on shift.
From the back door, she simply had to walk down a single hallway of old rooms filled with records older than ten years and a bit of old storage. She took a right, passed by a few offices, and then came to the stairs that took her down to the Women’s Bureau. All told, she passed only four people and none of them seemed to even notice her.
The moment she stepped in through the door, she saw and heard Lottie all at once. The pretty blonde, flawless and a living portrait of just about every man’s fantasy, applauded playfully as Ava came into the WB office. Lottie was the only woman currently in the office, the other desks unoccupied.
“As I live and breathe, it’s every woman’s hero, Ava Gold!”
“Oh God, please don’t,” Ava said as she walked to her desk.
“You’re right,” Lottie said. “I read that article in the paper this morning. Seems I’m not supposed to like you anymore. Did you know that you’re stubborn and entitled? Those are quotes, you know.”