Silent Justice by John C. Dalglish Page B

West Texas in July, and the hint of shade by the door was a nice relief.
    On the way over, Vanessa had briefed Jason on what she’d discovered.
    Jeffrey Webster had not remarried , and lived with his two kids. One was a senior and the other a freshman in high school. The City of San Antonio had settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the family after his wife, Sarah was killed by a bullet from Winston’s gun.
    Jason rang the doorbell. It was only a minute before the door opened, Vanessa had told Mr. Webster they would be coming by.
    “Yes?”
    “Mr. Webster, my name is Detective Layne; I talked to you last night.”
    “Oh, yes . Of course.”
    “This is my partner , Detective Strong. May we come in?”
    “Sure.”
    He swung the door wide, and led the way into a small living room. Grabbing the remote, he shut the TV off.
    “Please sit down . Would you like something to drink?”
    Both detectives declined. Jason stayed standing , leaning against the wall by the door. He took his notebook out as Vanessa sat on the couch across Jeffrey Webster, who had chosen a large, brown recliner.
    “You mentioned last night you wanted to speak to me about Sarah. It’s been ten years. Are they investigating it further?”
    “No, Mr. Webster —”
    “Jeffrey, please.”
    “Jeffrey. We’re investigating a different case, but it may be tied to the events of the day your wife died.”
    “ Oh, okay. How can I help?”
    Jason could already sense this mild-mannered man was not their killer. It was only a gut feeling , but he was usually right about these things, and he didn’t sense a mean bone in this man’s body.
    The house was tastefully decorated , and one wall was dedicated to family pictures. Smaller pictures of two boys surrounded a large portrait of a woman. Jason pointed at it.
    “Is that portrait of your wife?”
    Jeffrey Webster looked up at it, and answered without looking back at the detectives.
    “Yes, that’s my Sarah. It’s still hard to believe she’s gone. Did you know that was the first time she ever stopped at that Circle K.”
    Jason shook his head as the man’s focus returned to the detectives.
    “She always went to the one down the street from our home, but she had gone to a yard sale and stopped to use the bathroom. I guess some things are meant to be.”
    “She’s very beautiful ,” Jason said.
    “Thank you. It’s nice of you to say so.”
    Vanessa focused on the man in front of her.
    “You have two boys?”
    “Yes, Luke and Mitch. Luke’s the oldest, a senior this year.”
    “Are you employed?”
    “I’m a writer. As you probably know, the boys and I received a settlement from the city, and the money allowed me to be here for them as they grew up. Writing had been just a hobby of mine, but after Sarah died, I found solace in putting my feelings down on paper.”
    “Have anything published?”
    “Mostly articles, but I did eventually sell a novel. I’m working on the second one now.”
    Vanessa blurted out her next question.
    “Can you tell us where you were last Sunday morning?”
    It clearly caught Jeffrey Webster off guard.
    “Why?”
    Vanessa tried to soften her approach.
    “As I said, we’re inv estigating another case. It’s just background.”
    “I was in church. Trinity Christian on the eastside.”
    Jason made a note as Vanessa continued.
    “And Monday?”
    “I left Monday morning to go to Dallas. I was doing research for the novel I told you about, and got back last night.”
    “Can you provide evidence to support that?”
    “Yes, but I don’t think I like the implication of that request. What exactly is this about?”
    Jason intervened.
    “Mr. Webster, we’re investigating a series of homicides, and we’re just trying to rule out some people, you included, who may be tied to the case.”
    “What murders are you referring to?”
    “You may have seen the stories in the newspaper; the arrow killings?”
    “You think I’m th at crazy hunter!”
    Mr. Webster got