False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [44]
Jude pulled out a chair and sat across the table, Stone next to him. “All right, Vanessa. We’d like to go over what we found.”
“Found? So there was something?”
Stone opened a file and spread out the contents. He picked up two photographs and handed them to her. “Understand, this isn’t something we’re releasing to the media, and it’s important that you keep it between you and your husband for now. We found three distinct shoe prints on the ground underneath Remy’s hanging body. And a fourth in close proximity, which is what the photograph in your right hand shows. The photograph in your left hand shows a shoe print we found at the edge of the woods near the manor house. Notice the distinct shape. It’s a match.”
Vanessa’s pulse raced. “So you’re saying at least one of the people involved in the lynching had also been on the grounds at Langley Manor?”
“Not exactly,” Stone said. “Keep in mind the shoe prints don’t prove any of these four were involved in the hanging. It merely proves they had been at the scene sometime recently—and that one of them had also been on your property. But we did find other evidence that’s disturbing.”
“What?”
Jude locked gazes with her. “The DNA we found on the lemon drop matches a piece of chewed gum we found near the scene. The person is not in our system, but it is a male.”
“Good heavens.” Vanessa glanced over at Carter and lowered her voice to just above a whisper. “You’re saying this man was in the manor house and at the scene of the lynching?”
“No doubt about it.”
“Then you have to take my son’s description of the man seriously.”
“We are,” Jude said. “But a black man with white stubble on his face and a pocket full of candy isn’t a lot to go on. We’re hoping the FBI lab in New Orleans will be able to identify the brand and style of shoe he’s wearing. We’re already questioning some people in the know in the black community, trying to find out if anyone fitting that description stands out. But I have to tell you it’s a long shot.”
Fear seized her as she processed the implications. “But how did this man get in the house?”
“We think we know.” Jude’s hazel eyes widened. “We found a door in the back of the closet. It leads to a wooden staircase that descends below ground level to a tunnel that comes out at the edge of the woods.”
“What do you mean, ‘comes out’?” Vanessa said.
“There’s a door, much like a cellar door, that’s hidden under some brush. The lock was broken. Anyone who knew it was there could come and go at will.”
Vanessa combed her hands through her hair. “Why would the Langleys have built a tunnel? And who would even know it was there? None of the blueprints I saw of the house showed the stairs or the tunnel.”
“I couldn’t tell you that, ma’am,” Jude said. “But we’ve nailed the trapdoor shut from the inside. I promise you no one’s going to get in now.”
“Thank you. That part’s a relief.” Vanessa put her hands around Georgie, a cold chill crawling up her spine. “It’s just so scary to think this alleged murderer was in our home—inches away from my son, who can identify him. And that he’s still out there.”
Zoe sat on the couch in her living room and waited until the hands on the clock showed two o’clock, then keyed in Adele Woodmore’s phone number. What if Adele wasn’t willing to work with her—what then?
“Woodmore residence.”
“Edward? This is Zoe Broussard. May I speak with Mrs. Woodmore, please?”
“Yes, Madame is expecting your call. Hold please.”
Zoe jumped to her feet and paced in front of the window, every second that went by sheer agony. All she needed was a little mercy on Adele’s part. She would gladly pay her back to stop this blackmailer in his tracks.
“Hello, Zoe.”
“Hello, Mrs. Woodmore. Have you had time to have your attorney draw up the papers?”
“He’s agreed to get it done by closing time today, hon.” She sighed. “I don’t mind telling you I’m greatly bothered that we’re leaving your husband out of this. Just seems wrong to me.”
“It’s the lesser of two evils. Pierce just can’t find out about this. It’ll ruin our lives.”
“Are