If It Walks Like A Killer (The Carolina Killer Files #1) by Kiersten Modglin

lunging for him and tugging him into his seat.
    “Mr. Abbott, I don’t allow outburst in my courtroom. If you want your chance to be heard then by all means, step up to the witness stand. Otherwise, one more outburst and I will have you thrown out of this court quicker than you can stand.”
    Caide bowed his head. “I’m sorry, your honor. It won’t happen again.”
    Hampton whispered, “What are you thinking?”
    “She’s lying. Put me on the stand.”
    “You know I can’t do that. Avery would tear you to shreds.”
    “But she’s lying.”
    “Counselor,” the judge warned.
    Hampton turned away from Caide, ending the conversation. The attention fell back to the witness.
    “I’m so sorry about that, Allie. Apparently neither of the Abbotts can control their emotions. Did Blaire tell you when she was going to leave her job?”
    “She called me the morning that she was going to quit, the day she died. She left her car at work and needed a ride. On the way there she told me she was quitting. She said she had to leave town.”
    “Did she tell you why?”
    “She just said she couldn’t do it anymore. She couldn’t keep letting him break her heart. I didn’t blame her.”
    “Did you ever see your best friend again?”
    “No.” She was silent for a moment, dabbing her eyes again. “She called me that night. She asked if I could come pick her up from work.”
    “Did you?”
    “No.” Her voice grew shaky. “I told her I would but before we got off the phone she said never mind. She said she had to do something and she’d call me back if she still needed a ride later. She never called back.”
    “Allie, I know how hard this must be on you. Could you tell us how Blaire sounded when she called you? Was she sad? Scared?”
    “She sounded upset, I guess, shaken up, but more than anything she sounded happy. She sounded really, really happy.”
    Avery patted Allie’s hand. “No more questions, your honor.”
     
    ***
     
    Hampton
     
    Hampton stood up, walking toward the witness stand.
    “Allie, you stated that Blaire was your best friend yet she suddenly started ditching you for her career and Mr. Abbott, correct?”
    “She wasn’t ditching me. She was busy. That didn’t make her any less my best friend.”
    “But how did that make you feel? You must’ve been angry that she wanted to see you less?”
    “I was happy that she was happy. I have a fiancé and a life too. I didn’t just sit around waiting to see her.”
    “How did you feel about her relationship with Mr. Abbott?”
    “Objection, your honor. Where are we going with this?” Avery asked.
    The judge looked to Hampton, eyebrows raised.
    “Withdrawn. You said the victim told you the defendant’s husband was planning to leave her?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did he?”
    “Objection, your honor, my witness is not an expert on the Abbott’s life.”
    “I’ll rephrase. Did Blaire ever tell you that he did leave his wife?”
    “No.”
    “Did you ever see them together?”
    “No.”
    “Did you ever hear him say he would leave his wife?”
    “No.”
    “Did she ever show you any proof that they were anything more than coworkers?”
    “No, but—”
    “You said she was heartbroken over him, correct?”
    “She loved him. She was devastated they couldn’t be together officially.”
    “Had you ever met Mr. Abbott before this trial?”
    “No.”
    “You’d never seen their relationship first hand?”
    “No.”
    “Then isn’t it possible, Miss Olson, that Blaire exaggerated their relationship? Would you say it’s possible that the whole thing could be attributed back to wishful thinking?”
    The witness shook her head. “She wouldn’t lie.”
    “She said he was leaving his wife three years ago and yet their marriage is still legal and binding today. Are you willing to swear under oath that you know Blaire and Caide Abbott were having an affair?”
    She paused. “I only know what Blaire told me.”
    “Yes or no, Miss