Trace Evidence in Tarrant County. Delores Fossen

lifted his shoulder. “I wanted to tell the sheriff about Sarah calling me.”

      “Well, you shouldn’t have. You shouldn’t be here at all. Not without an attorney.”

      Stella fanned herself as if she were about to faint. It wouldn’t be a first. Carley rarely saw the woman and yet she could recall two instances where she’d personally witnessed Stella pass out.

      “Are you okay, Mrs. McKinney?” Carley asked.

      “No. I’m not.” Stella turned to face Carley. “I feel horrible, yet I found it necessary to get out of bed and come here when I realized what Jim might be doing. I won’t have you harassing him like this, understand? We’ve been through enough because of you.”

      Sloan stepped closer to his mother. “Mom, he came on his own accord.”

      “Because he knew that Carley would find out about Sarah’s call sooner or later and then she’d have him hauled in here so she—”

      “Speaking of Sarah…” Sloan interrupted. “What exactly did she say the night she called?”

      Stella cast uneasy glances at all three of them. “I can’t remember.”

      “Try, Mom,” Sloan insisted.

      There was more gaze-dodging. Some fidgeting. But finally Stella answered. “She said she wanted to meet with my husband. I told her flat out no. I didn’t want Jim anywhere around that low-rent woman.” She looked at her husband. “We’re leaving now. I can’t breathe in this place. I need to get home so I can take my headache medicine.”