Morgan rubbed her forehead. “Sharp is not going to like that. We have so few leads, and none of them are panning out.”

“I know, but it’s the best I could do under the circumstances. Either we cut deals, or he can end up being charged. He could lose his PI license.” Stella opened the conference room door.

Lance nursed a cup of coffee at the conference table. In the chair next to him, Sharp held an ice pack on his hand. He looked up as Morgan and Stella walked into the room. Stella closed the door behind her. Bruises surrounded one of Sharp’s eyes. Alexander must have gotten a punch in at some point. But it was the bleak look in his eyes that hurt Morgan’s heart.

How could she help him?

She greeted Lance with a quick kiss, then turned a chair to face Sharp and sat down. “Are you all right?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Morgan outlined Stella’s deal. “I think you should agree.”

Sharp nodded. “I fucked up. I know it. Alexander said Olivia was probably dead, and he said it like it didn’t matter. My brain shorted out. I wanted to kill him with my bare hands.” He lifted the ice pack and stared down at his red raw knuckles. They were sore and would hurt even more the next day. “And now we’ve lost one of our only leads.”

“I might have another.” Morgan explained how she discovered Joe Franklin had designed the auto shop’s website.

Sharp rose. “I need to talk to Joe again. Now.”

Stella held up a hand. “No. I’m going to visit Joe as soon as we’re done here, and I can’t take you with me.”

Sharp dropped into the chair, his posture defeated. “I understand.”

Stella gave Sharp a pointed look. “But Morgan can come with me if you promise to stay out of trouble.”

Sharp nodded. “Deal.”

Stella handed Lance a set of keys. “I had your Jeep brought here. One more thing.”

Lance closed his fingers around the keys. “What is it?”

“I questioned Alexander after he was brought in. He has an alibi for the night Olivia disappeared. He was drunk in the same bar he was in today. He’s a regular. The bartender confirmed that he closed the place last Thursday night. He was so hammered, she took his keys and poured him into an Uber at two a.m. She has the confirmation on her app that he was dropped off, and he was far too drunk to have committed any crime, let alone one that required finesse. If the LMS had Olivia kidnapped, Alexander wasn’t the man who did it.”

Lance took the keys. “Let’s get out of here.”

In the hallway, Lance paused. “Sharp and I have to get our personal effects.”

Including their weapons.

Morgan touched Lance’s arm. “In that case, I’ll meet you at the office after Stella and I interview Joe Franklin.”

Morgan followed her sister outside. They crossed the parking lot, and she slid into the passenger seat of her sister’s unmarked police car. “Thanks for taking me with you.”

Stella drove out of the lot. “You know more about the Franklin case than I do. I’m counting on your help. Plus, I don’t want to take a uniform. Might put him on the defensive. He’s already reluctant to talk about the case.”

“Does the chief know you’re questioning Joe about a closed case?”

“No.” Stella turned left. “There are still five missing women. Their cases are still open. I know the chain of evidence was screwed up and the former sheriff was a corrupt bastard, but planting evidence wouldn’t have been easy. The case was big. There were a lot of eyes on it. I have a hard time believing in elaborate conspiracies.”

“Do you think it’s more likely the chain of evidence error was an oversight, nothing deliberate?” The theory made sense to Morgan. “You don’t think it’s possible Cliff went to prison for a crime Joe committed?”

“I don’t know, but that’s what we need to find out. Joe didn’t want his brother to get an appeal. Why not? Most brothers would have lied for their sibling. But not Joe. He also designed the website for the auto shop, so he had access to the customer records. If he couldn’t alibi his brother for the night Brandi Holmes was killed, then he’s in the same boat. Home alone, sleeping, isn’t an alibi.” As the car cruised along the rural highway, Stella drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. “We can’t arrest him for designing a website or for not having an alibi. How would he have met the women? He didn’t work at the shop.”

“Designing the website is a solid connection with the auto shop, and he could have gone there when Cliff was working.”

A short time later, Stella turned into Joe Franklin’s driveway, pulled up to the intercom, and pressed the button.

“Yes,” said a male voice.

“This is Detective Stella Dane from the Scarlet Falls Police. I’d like to speak with you.”

A few heartbeats ticked away before he answered. “All right. Come up to the house.”

Morgan got out of the car and opened the gate. After Stella drove through, Morgan closed it and got back into the car. Stella drove around a curve and parked in front of a tall stone house.

Morgan stared at the house. Ivy climbed three stories of gray stone. Three goats trotted across the front lawn. “It looks medieval.”

Stella used the radio to report her location. They stepped out of the car and walked up to the house. A tall man answered the door before they knocked. He stepped out onto the porch and closed the door behind him. From inside, the deep bark of a large dog echoed. When Joe turned his head, Morgan could see the top of a small flesh-colored hearing aid. He wore jeans, a flannel shirt, and boots.

“Mr. Franklin.” Stella introduced herself and Morgan. “We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

“Go ahead.” He crossed his arms.

“Do you know about the chain of evidence error in your brother’s trial?” Stella began.

Joe met each of their eyes, assessing them, maybe trying to decide if they knew about Sharp and Lance’s visit from the previous evening. “I heard about it last night.”

“Have you spoken with your brother or his attorney?” Stella asked.

“Not yet.” Joe licked his lips.

“You’re not excited to help your brother appeal his conviction?” Stella’s eyebrows and voice rose.

“I just haven’t had a chance, that’s all.” Joe shifted his weight and looked away.

Liar.

Stella rocked on the balls of her feet. “How do you know the owner of Speedy Auto?”

“Who says I know him?” Joe raised his chin.

“You designed his website,” Stella said.

“That was years ago.” Joe uncrossed his arms and shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. His voice sounded as if he were calm, but his inability to stand still or maintain eye contact said otherwise. He needed a push.

Morgan went for a major shock. “Did you know Brandi Holmes?”

His gaze snapped to hers.

“No,” he said, but his eyes were worried. He understood the implication behind Morgan’s question.

Morgan pressed harder. “How about Cassandra Martin, Samantha Knowles, Jessie Mendella, Brenda Chase—”