A Wrongful Drift (Seagrove 8) (7 page)

“If I want meals and a clean house, I’ll hire a housekeeper. What I want is Sadie Barnett, independent outspoken champion of the downtrodden.”

“Oh good grief,” Sadie gasped.

“We’ve forgotten Justin. He’s rotting away in Steve Ryan’s jail while you’ve got Sylvia’s killer in yours.” She smacked herself on the forehead.

“How could I have forgotten him?” She looked at the food in front of her.

“Here I am stuffing my face. I don’t know how you can call me the champion of the downtrodden when I’ve been thinking of no one but myself.” She began getting up but he stopped her with a hand.

“The few minutes it takes us to finish eating won’t make that much of a difference,” he said.

“You’ve had a tough morning, Justin has been safe and sound – and fed – and the experience probably will make him a better teacher. Eat, or I’ll be as stubborn as you and refuse to drive you there.” He lowered his eyebrows at her, but it only made her laugh.

They took a few minutes to finish eating and then piled back in the jeep – after promising Mr. B a walk later in the day – and drove up to see if they could get Professor Ives out of jail.

Steve Ryan did not appear to be thrilled to see Sadie, although he was polite as he led them to his office. He scowled when he saw her and his face only cleared a little when Zack stepped up behind her. When they both were seated in his office, Steve cocked an eyebrow in their direction, clearly indicating he was waiting for them to tell him why they were there.

"We have proof," Sadie began at the same time Zack said, "I've got a suspect in..."

They looked at each other and Sadie struggled to keep a straight face. Life was just that much better when she was with Zack.

"You first," he said.

"No, you. You know all the legal jargon. I will be reduced to using whatsit, and doohickey if I go first," she said.

"If you insist," Zack said.

"I do," she said.

Steve Ryan sighed. "Any day now," he said.

"I have a woman in custody who has confessed to killing Sylvia Jones," Zack said. "And a team in her dorm room is collecting evidence. We found the remainder of the scarf that was wound around Sylvia's neck in this woman's room and it seems pretty cut and dried."

"I think it's a pretty compelling reason to release Justin Ives," Sadie butted in.

"Oh sorry, I was letting you go first." She waved a hand for him to go on.

"Actually, I think that's all we need to say for now," Zack said. "Steve and I will need to negotiate an exchange of prisoners and evidence, but that can wait."

"At least until we see if the state wants to step in," Steve said. "I'm not sure I'm ready to release Mr. Ives at this point, though. What if they were in it together?"

"Got any proof of that?" Zack asked.

"Not really," Steve admitted.

"Then let us take him home," Sadie exclaimed. Both the men raised their eyebrows at her.

"Please," she added. "Oh, come on. Give the guy a break. He's already totally demoralized."

"If he's a murderer he deserves to be demoralized," Steve said.

"But he's not. I know he's not, Mr. Bradshaw knows he's not," she said, pointing to the dog at her feet. "And Zack knows he's not."

"Zack?" Steve said.

"I am ninety-nine point nine percent sure Justin Ives is not a murderer," Zack said.

Steve took a deep breath and let it out. "Okay, I'll release him, but he's not to leave the state until we tell him he can."

"Done," Sadie said and stuck out her hand for him to shake.

He waved her away. "This isn't a handshake deal," he said. "This is a paperwork deal, you'll need to be patient."

"Why don't we take Mr. Bradshaw for a walk while we wait?" Zack said. "Paperwork is never quick."

"Can I talk to Justin first?" Sadie asked.

"Better let her, Steve," Zack said, "or she'll be sitting on your desk until he's released."

In the end, Steve capitulated and Sadie was able to tell Justin he was being released. He seemed a little like Eeyore, but he perked up when they said he didn't have to go back in his cell while he waited. Sadie told him she'd be back to take him home.

"The lake?" Zack asked as they exited the big double doors.

"Uh, no," Sadie said. "Let's drive over to the coast."

"Your wish is my command," Zack said and opened the jeep’s door for her.

"Listen you, the last time you said that we found a dead body," she said.

"Anything for you," he said.

"Much better," she said, doing her best to keep a straight face and failing miserably. "To the beach, James."

So, of course, he took her there.

F
ind
out what Sadie discovers in book 9 of The Seagrove Mysteries! Coming Soon!

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