"She's in big trouble, if she showed Reid's statement to the press." Moran frowned. "What in hell is going on? I never had problems like this before with my cases. The sister, the sister, the little bitch is making my life miserable. Go lean on her, Goddard, and lean hard."
"I didn't become a cop to lean on people who aren't breaking the law."
"Well, then go make her break some law and then lean on her. You cops know how to do that stuff. Do you think you can handle that? You've done worse, like breaking and entering."
The chief's eyes went from Moran to Goddard. "What's he talking about?"
The detective stared at Moran harshly but didn't speak. Huress must have seen him enter the Barner house and told Moran.
Moran just shook his head. "And Chief, is it true that Reid is still in city jail? Why? What is he, some celebrity? Why didn't anyone inform me? I want him transferred to the county dungeon today."
"Not my department," the chief answered. "The judge put a hold on the transfer. I thought you knew."
Moran raised his voice, "The judge? Is the judge also a member of the Sandy Reid fan club? Damn it, the whole place is going to hell."
"Can't you let Reid bond out?" the chief said. "That might pacify the sister, and we could get in front of this negative story."
"And replace him in jail with whom?" Moran answered. "We can't say that all at once we realized the evidence we presented at the hearing wasn't any good. I'd look like a fool."
Goddard said, "You got in front of the cameras on day one saying Reid was unquestionably guilty. You left us no wiggle room."
"That's enough, Goddard. You were also strutting around, as I recall. The town demanded a suspect, and we needed someone in jail to keep the heat off."
"You'd keep an innocent man locked up to keep from being uncomfortable?"
"It's called strategy. So, now you believe Reid is innocent?"
"Okay, leave him in jail. I hope they get your name right on CNN."
"No." Moran was firm. "Reid stays on the hook until we find a better suspect. What about the Tampa connection, the Cuban-Americans?"
"They had a muscle guy capable of murder. He's the one who put Sandy Reid in the hospital."
"I like him already. Maybe he'd be willing to do it again." Moran snickered.
"But he was crude," Goddard said, "and the Towson killing required some finesse. Coincidentally, he was murdered last week by Towson's lover."
Moran leaned forward. "What's this?"
"Goddard, stop it," the chief said. "He wasn't murdered. We've no evidence to support that."