“When I was clearing the house, I saw the bottles of zolpidem in the bedroom,” Lance added.
“That’s the same drug that was used on Shannon.” The sheriff swept his hat from his head and scratched his scalp. The sheriff glanced at Justin’s front door. “It sure looked like he was planning to commit suicide. But Justin has an alibi for Noah’s murder. He was with his friends all night.”
“I see two immediate possibilities. One, Isaac and Chase are lying for him.” Morgan extended one finger then a second. “Two, Isaac said that Chase and Justin slept on his couch. They’d all been drinking. What if Justin slipped out and killed Noah while the other two were sleeping?”
“I suppose that’s one theory.” The sheriff removed his hat and swept his hand through his wispy hair.
“But why would he have killed Shannon and his best friend?” Morgan asked. “The two crimes are very different. There’s no pattern.”
“Maybe Noah knew what Justin had done to Shannon,” Lance offered. “Then Justin killed Noah to shut him up.”
“But who tried to kill Justin tonight?” Morgan rubbed the ache in her temple. Thinking made her head hurt.
“Adam is still on the loose.” Lance scanned the dark woods, as if the shooter might be out there somewhere. “He has a temper and a history of violent behavior. Our computer expert tracked some of the threatening emails Haley has received to Adam Carter’s house.”
“But how would Adam know that Justin killed Noah?” Morgan couldn’t connect the dots.
“We won’t know until we find Adam.” The sheriff sighed. “Do you know why Justin would have killed Shannon Yates?”
“No.” Morgan shook her head. “But he has access to zolpidem, he knew Shannon from his business with the inn, and the surveillance videos at the club show that he was there the night she went missing.”
“Shannon’s rapist used a condom.” The sheriff scrubbed both hands down his face. “But several other DNA samples were found on her body. We’ll see if Justin’s DNA matches any of them.” He gestured behind him. “We still have a whole scene to process. And if Justin survives, hopefully he’ll be willing to talk.” The sheriff set his hat back on his head. “Standing around here yakking won’t help. I’ll get back to the scene.”
“Now that Justin has confessed to killing Noah,” Morgan said, “I’d like the charges against my client dropped.”
“I will look at the charges after all the evidence has been examined.” Colgate nodded.
Frustrated, Morgan tensed. “Zolpidem would explain Haley’s amnesia. If Justin killed Noah, then we think he gave the drug to Haley so he could frame her for the murder.”
“I will review all the evidence and talk to the DA.” The sheriff used a nonnegotiable tone.
Morgan wanted to thump the sheriff upside the head. “Justin admitted to killing Noah. You can hardly keep Haley under arrest for a crime another person has confessed to committing.”
“You are the only one who heard that confession. What if you didn’t hear him correctly?” Colgate pulled a roll of antacids from his pocket and put two in his mouth. “I promise you that the case will receive a thorough review. If the evidence bears out, then the charges will be dropped against Haley.”
Morgan protested, “Sheriff—”
Colgate held up a hand. “Ms. Dane, have patience. If Justin killed Noah Carter and Shannon Yates, then he is no longer a danger to anyone. I will not rush into anything. You’ll have to let the process work itself out.”
“The same process that was going to put my client away for a crime she didn’t commit?” Morgan shot back.
“It isn’t perfect,” the sheriff admitted. “But it’s all we have to work with. I wish you’d have come to me with this information instead of handling it yourself.” The sheriff chewed and swallowed two more antacid tablets. “Then maybe Justin wouldn’t have been shot, and I’d have a signed confession.”
“Sheriff.” Morgan raised her voice. “I have left you numerous messages over the past few days. You haven’t returned any of my calls.”
The sheriff exhaled, his chest deflating. “I have a hundred and eighty voice mails.” He pulled at his collar. “And I don’t even know how many random messages.”
Sharp had been right. Colgate was clearly in so far over his head, he couldn’t see the surface.
“Are we free to go?” Morgan swallowed her irritation.
“Yes. We have your statement. I’ll call you if I have additional questions.” The sheriff walked back toward the house.
She turned to Lance. “I don’t like this.”
“Me either. Haley deserves to have her name cleared ASAP. But that’s a technicality. What I like even less is the fact that whoever shot Justin is still out there.” Lance pulled out his phone, pressed a button, and held it to his ear. He lowered his phone. “Sharp isn’t answering.”
“There are places out toward Eliza’s house with poor reception.” But worry filled Morgan. “Let’s drive out to Eliza’s house. Haley deserves to know what happened as soon as possible. She didn’t kill Noah, and there’s a solid explanation for her amnesia.”
“And we’ll both feel better if we keep an eye on Haley until the shooter is brought in.” Lance turned and opened the car door. “The sheriff might be right. The answer to our questions could come from the evidence they collect tonight or from an interview with Justin.”
Morgan hurried to the passenger side. “But this case is so strange, I’m not comfortable making assumptions. The more people protecting Haley the better.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Sharp sped out to Eliza’s place in record time. He’d called to let her know he was coming, and she opened the gate as he drove up. There were no protesters in sight. Maybe the bastards had tired of tormenting Eliza and Haley.
Eric the bodyguard let him in and led him back to the kitchen. Eliza sat at the island drinking from a mug. The sheets shrouding the great room still felt claustrophobic.
“Where’s Haley?” Sharp couldn’t wait to tell her some good news for a change.
“She took a sleeping pill.” Eliza greeted him with a quick hug. Her body felt thinner, frailer than it had just a few days ago. “She’s out cold.”
“I suppose it’s good that she’s getting some rest.” But disappointment filled Sharp.
“It’s a relief.” Eliza’s body sagged. “She’s been completely exhausted. I didn’t know what to do for her. Do you want some tea?”
“Not now. Sit down. I have news.” Sharp stood back and waited until she eased back onto her stool. “Justin O’Brien confessed to killing Noah.” He told her what happened at Justin’s house that evening. “It’ll take the police a little while to sort through the evidence, but Morgan will push to have the charges against Haley dropped ASAP.”
Eliza’s mouth gaped for a few seconds. “But Justin and Noah were close friends.”
“Yes. Our best theory is that Justin killed Shannon Yates and Noah found out about it. Justin wouldn’t have much of a choice but kill his friend to save himself.”
Sharp also suspected Justin might have been involved in Adele Smith’s death, but they would likely have to wait for the DNA samples to be analyzed.
“But then who shot Justin?” Eliza asked.
“We don’t know yet. Adam’s still on the loose. He has a history of violent behavior. We know he sent Haley threatening emails. He was one of the trespassers on your lawn. If he somehow learned that Justin killed Noah . . .”
They also didn’t know who’d thrown a rock through Lance’s windshield or who’d set Lance’s house on fire. Was Adam angry enough to do all those things?
Eliza shuddered. “I hope he’s satisfied that it was Justin and not Haley who killed his brother.”
“The police are still looking for him. They’ll find him eventually.” If Adam had shot Justin, Sharp thought Adam would either run or he’d try to finish what he started by attacking Justin at the hospital. Either way, Sharp couldn’t see Noah’s brother bothering with Haley if he knew Justin had murdered Noah.