A Wrongful Death (35 page)

His gaze was searching as he examined her. "Are you all right? Not angry that I let Milt in on what you were up to?"

"God, no! Alan would have had to kill her. He had no choice. She was like an enraged giantess. I'm just tired. I want a long hot bath and early bed."

"Leave this stuff. I have all night. We're due at the district attorney's office in the morning. I'll pick you up at a quarter to nine."

"I'll run you over when you're ready" Hoggarth said He looked awkward for a moment, then added to Frank, "Thanks for supper."

Her sleep was troubled that night, inhabited by a giant mad woman chasing her with a knife dripping blood. So much for her New Year's resolution, she thought, making coffee the next morning. Her first day out, and blooey.

Frank picked her up and they arrived early at the district attorney's office. Shelley and Elizabeth were already waiting in the corridor. Elizabeth was radiant, and Shelley could not have smiled wider, or shown more dimples.

"They're coming on Thursday," Elizabeth said. "Mother's bringing Jason on Thursday, to Portland. I'll go up and meet them."

"And she's much too high to drive, so I'll be chauffeur," Shelley added.

Barbara glanced around to make sure no one else was close enough to hear, then said in a low voice, "Elizabeth, do you care what story they put out? What fairy tale they spin as long as you're out of it?"

"I couldn't care less," Elizabeth said. "Why?"

"Something I think will work," Barbara said. Then she spoke in a normal voice. "So how are you going to spend the next couple of days?"

Hoggarth had drawn close.

"Shopping," Elizabeth said. "I want a Christmas tree, and a million presents to go under it."

"You may have to settle for a fake tree, but half price on everything," Barbara said with a smile. "Best time to shop, the week after Christmas. Good morning, Lieutenant. Are we ready?"

"Yeah. I sent a crew to get statements from that bunch at Diedricks's place. You'll get your car back this afternoon. And I called him this morning and gave him the highlights," Hoggarth said, motioning toward the district attorney's door. "He has a lot of questions."

I'm sure he does," Barbara said. "Let's do it."

The district attorney, Ted Lansdown, was a portly man with heavy jowls, handsomely dressed in a good gray flannel jacket and black slacks, and he was not a happy man that morning. He greeted them soberly and motioned toward chairs. Already seated, Lieutenant Janowsky scowled and barely nodded to the entering group. Still wearing tweed, he looked hot, and impatient, as if he had a lot of questions, too.

"You gentlemen have met my client, Elizabeth Kurtz," Frank said smoothly. "In order to expedite things here, I thought I might play a tape that Ms. Kurtz recorded for us, and no doubt afterward there will be a few questions."

Neither the district attorney nor Janowsky showed surprise and Frank put the tape player on the desk and started it. Elizabeth looked at her hands as her voice sounded, and Janowsky leaned in closer. Lansdown maintained a thoughtful expression as if he were listening to a supreme court justice explain a point of law.

Frank played the entire tape, and when it finished and he turned it off, there were questions for Elizabeth. Lansdown was respectful, Janowsky furious.

"You let us conduct that hunt, issue an Amber Alert, and all the time you knew exactly where he was! That's a criminal offense!"

"Gentlemen," Barbara said, "let me be the first to congratulate you all for a stunningly successful sting. Due to the brilliant detective work of Lieutenant Hoggarth, in full cooperation with the district attorney and the state investigator, Lieutenant Janowsky, and also with Ms. Kurtz's aid, you captured one of the most heinous and devious murderers this city has ever seen."

She turned her gaze to Janowsky, who was unappeased, and said, "Lieutenant, Ms. Kurtz tried to reassure you that Jason was safe and being cared for. Mrs. Cortezar said the same thing, and neither of them showed any concern about his well being, but you chose to believe the lies of a homicidal maniac. It's one story or the other, I'm afraid."

He scowled at her, then at Elizabeth, but he had no more questions.

There was a lengthy discussion, and more questions for Elizabeth, then a statement for her to sign, and finally Lansdown said, "Ms. Kurtz, you are free to leave at this time. Thank you for your cooperation." Shelley left with her.

Her mother had not been mentioned, and she had not elaborated on the distant relative said to be caring for Jason.

They kept Barbara for another hour. When she got up to leave, Lansdown said in his thoughtful way, "Ms. Holloway, if I may make a suggestion, I think it would be wise if no one makes a statement to the media until one is issued by this office. I'll have a copy forwarded to you and Mr. Holloway beforehand, of course."

She nodded gravely. "I think that is very wise." She suspected that Hoggarth had bitten his cheek until it was bleeding to keep from smiling.

"Mr. Crais and Kevin Lorenz are coming at noon," Frank said, going to the door with her. "We'll have lunch with Mr. Lansdown and then discuss matters. I may be a while."

She suspected he would be there for the rest of the day.

Her car had been returned. She had checked in at the office and told Shelley what had happened at the Diedricks' house, then had done a little shopping for dinner, and to replace what had gone bad in her refrigerator during the past week. She had taken a long cold walk by the river.

For half an hour she had been gazing at the gaily wrapped book she had bought for Todd and had not delivered. And thinking about the lovely chess table and pieces in the trunk of her car.

She had been thinking of Darren, his magical healing hands, his magical musical voice, his warm body next to hers, their bodies in perfect harmony when they made love.

All the doubts, the uncertainties were still there. She could never be the kind of woman he should have, one who would anticipate his needs and attend to them eagerly, have nothing else in her life as important as he was. He could come to resent it, and her. She had stopped deluding herself about her practice sometime during the past week, and accepted that she would still put her work and her clients first at times, and she would still try to work within the law, but sidestep it when necessary.

She thought of Frank's final answer to her question, why do we do it? "Because we have to." She would make enemies, sometimes dangerous enemies, possibly put Darren and Todd at risk and he might decide nothing was worth risking his son. She heard Darren's words, "It's a gamble for both of us."

Finally she rose, put on her jacket, picked up the book and went out again into the frigid air.

At Darren's door she hesitated briefly, then rang the bell. Todd answered and was surprised and pleased to see her. He stepped aside for her to enter.

"I didn't get a chance to give you your present," she said, handing him the book.

"Thanks," he said. "I have something for you, too."

She saw Darren emerge from the back of the house, walking toward her. Todd glanced over his shoulder and hurried away with his gift. Darren stopped halfway to the door.

"You asked me another question," she said. "I have an answer. Yes."

From somewhere out of sight, Todd let out a whoop, and Darren closed the distance between them.

He grasped her shoulders and examined her face. When she nodded, he closed his eyes, then pulled her close, her cheek pressed against his chest, one hand on her head, the other holding her tight against him. "You're cold," he said softly, his breath warm on her head, as he nuzzled her hair.

No, she thought drawing in a long breath. /Not now/.

/*The Barbara Holloway series*/

Death Qualified: A Mystery of Chaos (1991)

The Best Defense (1994)

For the Defense: or, Malice Prepense (1996)

Defense for the Devil (1999)

No Defense (2000)

Desperate Measures (2001)

The Clear and Convincing Proof (2003)

The Unbidden Truth (2004)

Sleight Of Hand (2006)

A Wrongful Death (2007)