Rita Herron - The Missing Mccullen

BJ stared into her coffee, willing an answer to come to her. “I’m not sure,” she said honestly. “He claims that he cared about Sondra, but denies that they were lovers. Sondra had a three-year-old little boy. That child is missing.”

Maddox murmured something beneath his breath. “The sheriff thinks Cash did something with the kid?”

“Yes, but I don’t.”

Maddox’s gruff voice jerked her from her thoughts. “What did Cash say about the boy?”

BJ massaged her temple where a headache pulsed. Kids were her soft spot. Sometimes she missed her own son so badly she could hardly breathe.

“Finding Tyler seems more important to Cash than his own defense.”

“Hmm. Interesting.” Maddox paused. “Who is the boy’s father?”

“He claims he doesn’t know.” BJ sighed and recounted her conversation with Cash. Maddox was paying her, but she still had to be careful with client/attorney privilege.

“So Cash is either lying or someone drugged him and framed him,” Maddox said matter-of-factly.

“Exactly.”

Only to clear him, she’d have to prove it.

“Ray’s still looking for the other twin. I’ll have the DNA tests run on Cash and compare them to Tyler’s. And I’ll dig up what I can find on the Elmore family,” Maddox offered. “Then I’ll have that camera footage analyzed.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Meanwhile she’d talk to Elmore and get hold of Tyler’s birth certificate.

After the bail hearing, she’d pay a visit to Cash’s current boss and the place where he’d been living. There might be something in his room to tell her more about Cash.

Good or bad, she had to know before she committed to his defense.

* * *

CASH WISHED TO hell he’d had a shower and clean clothes before standing in front of the judge. But he’d had no choice. The sheriff had confiscated his clothing as evidence and given him a county jumpsuit.

Sheriff Jasper shot him a sinister glare as he shoved him in the back of the police car.

Cash had racked his brain to figure out who was bailing him out, and who’d paid for the lawyer, but he didn’t dare ask Sheriff Jasper.

He kept his mouth shut on the short drive to the courthouse. Outside, dark clouds hovered as if a storm was gathering on the horizon.

“Judge’ll go easier on you if you tell us where the kid is,” Sheriff Jasper growled.

Cash choked back a curse. He had to remain calm or the bastard would make things worse for him. “If I knew where he was, I’d tell you.”

The sheriff grunted. “If he turns up dead, we’re gonna fry you.”

Sweat trickled down the side of Cash’s face. Outside, the trees swayed in the wind. Even with the breeze, it had to be a hundred degrees.

“Instead of blaming me, why don’t you search for Tyler?” Cash said. “If he’s with Sondra’s killer, he could be in danger. Then that’s on you, not me.”

Jasper met his gaze in the rearview mirror. Anger slashed the man’s jaw. “I got the man who killed his mother right here.”

Cash sent him a mutinous look, but remained silent. No use defending himself. Jasper had one mind-set—send him to prison.

They reached the courthouse, and the sheriff parked, then lumbered to the back door to let Cash out. The handcuffs and manacles around his ankles jangled as he walked, but he forced his head up high.

Still, humiliation washed over him as he entered the building. The pretty lawyer lady was waiting. She maintained that professional mask, every damn strand of hair tucked into place.

Did she really believe he was innocent, or was she just doing a job?

It didn’t matter. As long as she cleared him, he’d find a way to repay her. Then he’d find Tyler and make sure the kid was safe.

Seconds later, Cash took a seat beside her, his nerves on edge as the bailiff announced the judge’s entrance. Silence descended for a moment as the judge, a tall, imposing man with suspicious eyes, reviewed the case file.

Finally, he pounded his gavel and called the session to order. His gaze penetrated Cash like he was pond scum.

Cash’s gut churned as the charges were read.

BJ gestured for Cash to stand and he inhaled a breath, willing his legs not to give way.

“Your honor, my name is BJ Alexander. I’m representing Cash Koker. Due to the fact that he has no priors, and that he’s not a flight risk, we’re requesting bail be set at ten thousand dollars.”

A dark chuckle rumbled from the fiftysomething district attorney. “Your honor, Mr. Koker has been arrested for a brutal murder. Although Miss Alexander claims he’s not a flight risk, Mr. Koker has no ties to the community and no family. According to his work history, he’s traveled from town to town, even state to state, working odd jobs on different ranches.”

Cash tapped his boot on the floor. He hadn’t thought his nomadic lifestyle would come back to bite him in the butt.

“For all we know, he may have escape plans in place,” the DA continued, “We are requesting bail be denied, and that Mr. Koker be remanded until trial.”

The judge checked his notes, then removed his reading glasses and studied Cash.

Cash’s breath stalled in his chest. The judge had obviously seen the bloody pictures of Sondra and was going to deny bail.

The door in the back burst open, jarring them. Cash turned to see three men enter, all dressed in Western attire, all big, broad shouldered and tough looking. One wore a sheriff’s uniform.

“Your honor, my name is Sheriff Maddox McCullen of Pistol Whip,” the tallest of the man said in a deep voice. “May I approach the bench?”

The judge arched his brows in question. “If it pertains to this case, yes.”

Sheriff Jasper blustered a protest, but the judge silenced him with a single pound of the gavel. “Approach.”

Sheriff McCullen strode toward the judge’s galley, the other two men flanking him. As they passed Cash, each of them paused a second to scrutinize him.

Cash tightened his jaw. What the hell was going on?

Did this sheriff have some other trumped-up charges to make sure Cash stayed locked up?

* * *

BJ STOOD RAMROD straight in front of the judge beside the McCullens. “Your honor, I’ve spoken with my client and not only does he claim innocence, he’s sincerely worried about the victim’s son. The absence of the boy’s birth father and his identity suggests that he is a possible suspect.”

The judge waved his hand. “We are not trying the case today Miss Alexander. We’re here to establish bail.”

“Judge,” Sheriff McCullen said. “May we speak in chambers?”

The judge rubbed the collar of his robe but nodded. “All right, but you’d better have good reason for this.”

“Yes, sir, I do,” Maddox said.

BJ and Maddox followed him into his private quarters, leaving Cash looking dumbfounded.

“Now someone explain what’s going on?” the judge said as soon as the door was shut.

Maddox cleared his throat. “I realize that you’re concerned about Mr. Koker being a flight risk, but I can assure you that he won’t flee.”

“Just how do you propose to do that?” the judge asked.

“By taking him into my custody,” Sheriff McCullen said.

The judge leaned forward. “May I ask why you would do that? What is your involvement with Cash Koker? Has he committed a crime in your jurisdiction?”

“No.” Maddox spoke in a low voice. “My brothers and I recently learned that we have twin brothers who were kidnapped at birth. We believe Cash Koker is one of those lost brothers.”

The judge raised a brow with interest. “I see. And you plan to blindly take this stranger, who has been accused of murder, into your home? Are you sure that’s a wise idea?”