Read Online C.J. Urban - Julie Townsend 01 - Hidden Intent by C.J. Urban - Free Book Online Page B

clear on the other side of town.”
    Julie frowned, trying to make sense of this. “Then how did you get arrested?”
    Jacob leaned back in his chair. It was obvious he’d told his story many times before. He wasn’t too pleased to go over all of it again, but Julie had told him she might be able to help him. No one had offered that in a long, long time.
    “The night Tara was killed and I was arrested for her murder, I had been wandering around town, pretty drunk. I was just passing time, really, until I was tired enough to find a place to sleep. Then, out of nowhere the cops showed up, threw me to the ground, and arrested me. They said the charge was murder.”
    Jacob was animating along with his speech now, getting a little worked up, but Julie and Skye remained calm.
    “Sure,” he continued, voice sour, “I know I was a bit of a nuisance to the people in town, being homeless and all. But I never killed anyone. Never.” He crossed his arms and legs and narrowed his eyes. “Chief Langley was the one who arrested me. Maybe she just wanted me out of the way, but that’s a pretty bad rap for a harmless guy like me. I think she intentionally wanted to pin the charge on me.”
    Skye remained silent, listening closely. This was Julie’s thing.
    “Why aren’t you in prison?” Julie asked. “Forgive me for saying so, but a psychiatric hospital seems like an odd place to keep a convicted murderer.”
    Jacob looked Julie dead in the eye. “I’m schizophrenic. Probably another reason those idiots figured they could pin the murder on me.” Jacob was angry now. “Don’t get me wrong. Convicted or not, I need this hospital to stay well. But my reputation is ruined now. I’m a leper, even in here.” Jacob looked down at his hands with disdain, wringing them.
    Julie couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man. He seemed harmless enough. But she didn’t want to get pulled in by his words. He could be Tara’s killer, she reminded herself, shivering. She stood in front of Leigh, considering what he’d just told them.
    “Well?” Jacob asked bluntly. “Any more questions?”
    “No, Mr. Leigh. Thank you so much for your time.”
    “You’re welcome,” he said grudgingly. “One more thing, though. There was a boy who used to hang around her house a lot, right before she was killed. Once, I saw him up in a tree, staring. I told the police that, but they just thought I was crazy. I don’t think I imagined it. I don’t know who he was. You might want to look into that.”
    Both Julie and Skye were stunned that Jacob knew about the boy, but they didn’t say anything. They thanked him again for his time and left.
    Back in the truck, Julie looked over at Skye, who was deep in thought. She nudged him to get his attention.
    “What do you think about his story?” Julie asked.
    “I really don’t know what to think,” Skye said running his hands through his hair. “Do you think he’s innocent?”
    “It’s strange, but I do.”
    “I’m not a good judge of whether someone’s lying or not. Things are starting to fit, though. I mean, why would he have murdered Tara? It just doesn’t make sense.”
    “I know. Plus, he seems genuinely upset about the injustice of it all.”
    “Well, we can’t know for sure. Lots of murderers are good liars too.”
    “That’s true. But at least we’ve got Mr. Leigh’s side of the story,” she said.
     
     
     
    Chapter 14
     
     
    Julie was obviously upset on the drive back to Dupont, so Skye let her be. This wasn’t just any mystery; it was about her cousin. Family. He tried to imagine what she was feeling.
    “It was him,” Julie finally said, angry. “It was the boy she called D who murdered her. I just know it.”
    “I’m beginning to think so, too,” Skye agreed. “But we don’t even know who D is, Julie.”
    “Then I have to find out. It’s the only way Tara will get the justice she deserves.”
    With another two hours of driving ahead of them, Skye slipped a CD