William Bernhardt - Capitol Murder

“Given what forensics is telling me, he must’ve run into you only an hour or so after he finished killing Daily.”

Loving pounded his forehead. “I saw blood on his shirt. But he told me he’d scraped himself when he clocked me in the alley.”

“And you believed him?”

“I had no reason not to!” Loving rose out of his chair, frustrated by his own stupidity. “He was totally convincing. His eyes teared up every time he talked about Amber.” He paused, lowering himself back into his seat. “And I led him straight to her. Even left him alone with the poor girl.” Loving pounded his fist into his hand. “Damn! What an idiot I’ve been.”

“You’ll get no argument from me.”

“He could not have known,” Dr. Aljuwani said. “I, too, was convinced that this man was a despondent, loving father.”

“That doesn’t cut it with me,” Albertson shot back. “You’re an experienced private investigator, Loving. You should know better. Give me one reason I shouldn’t yank your license or charge you with aiding and abetting a homicide.”

Loving’s broad, square jaw was firmly set. “Because I’m going to find that man for you.”

“How are you going to do that? You know where he is?”

“No. But I know what he wants.” Loving’s focus seemed to turn inward, his forehead creased by determination. “Now that Amber is gone, there’s only one thing he could want. The same thing I want. The last surviving member of the Goth Girls Party of Four. Beatrice.” He paused. “If he doesn’t have her already.”

A few minutes later, the temperature in the conference room had fallen, because most of the players had left. Only Ben and Glancy remained, not counting the federal marshals outside.

Ben checked his watch. “You’re sure Marie understands I meant tonight?”

Glancy appeared calm and worry-free. “If Marie says she’ll be here, she’ll be here. She’s very dependable.” He smiled a little. “But she’s not opposed to making people wait a little. Just to remind them how much they need her. Women.” He shook his head. “Speaking of which.”

Ben looked up from the directed verdict motion he was revising. “What?”

“Why didn’t you stick up for Christina?”

Ben’s head tilted an inch to the side. “What are you talking about?”

“Just now. When Amanda lit into her.”

Ben waved a hand in the air. “Christina can take care of herself.”

“I’m sure she can. But she shouldn’t have to.”

“I… don’t get you.”

“You’re the senior partner in the firm, right? You should protect your associates.”

“From our clients?”

“Amanda is not your client, and the fact that she works for me hasn’t once stopped you from telling her where she can get off.”

“I’m not the smothering kind of boss. I’m not even really the boss.”

“But there’s more to it than that, Ben. Everyone here knows that you and Christina are involved.”

“You do?”

“We do. And moreover, I have to tell you there’s a general feeling that… well, that you’re not doing right by her.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Glancy kicked his legs up on the table. “Well, as I understand it, Ben, Christina has faithfully put up with your other girlfriends, each of them chosen with immense stupidity, a former fiancée who put you off romance for something like a decade, as well as a host of other neuroses and commitment issues.”

Ben raised his hands. “Where are you getting all this?”

“I’m a senator, Ben. I have sources. And I’m telling you, just because we’re old friends, that it’s time you took the next step. Have you asked her to move in with you?”

Ben fidgeted with his legal pad. “Are you crazy? Do you know how small my place is?”

“Not as small as Christina’s, I’ll wager.”

“My mother would never approve.”

“When did you ever do anything your mother wanted? Besides, Christina told me she gets on with your mom very well. Better than you do, actually.”

“Plus I’m a lousy conversationalist, a poor cook, I work all the time, I’m messy, and… and… my cats would be insanely jealous.”

“Uh-huh.” He gave Ben a long look. “You’re afraid she might say no, aren’t you?”

Ben fell quiet for a moment. “Not really. Actually, she’s suggested it several times. I mean, not in so many words, but-”

“Then for God’s sake, man, what are you waiting for?”

Ben fell silent.

“Are you afraid it might damage your working relationship?”

“There’s nothing I could do that’s worse than the stuff she’s already put up with.”

“Then what is it?”

Ben didn’t answer him. He couldn’t. He didn’t have an answer to give. “There’s no rush.”

“You don’t know that. Hell, look at me. One day I’m being touted as a potential presidential candidate, the next I’m practically on death row. None of us knows what the future holds, or how much future we’ll have. But I know this-you and Christina are a good match. And you’re both well into your thirties. She’s been very patient with you, Ben. But if you mess around much longer, you could lose her.”

Ben’s shoulders sagged. “I couldn’t work if Christina left. I couldn’t function without her.”

“Have you told her that?”

“Told her what?”

“What you just said. Your somewhat neurotic way of admitting that you love her.”

“Have I-?” He stared at Glancy, wide-eyed. “Of course not. That would be… that would be…”

“Honest?”

Ben wrung his hands. “No. It would be… it’s just too… I don’t know. I’m not ready.”

Glancy looked at Ben for a long time, then sighed. “Well, I hope you get over that, Ben. I truly do. And soon. Because Christina is a wonderful woman, and very devoted to you. But she’s ready to move forward. And if you’re not-” He shook his head sadly. “She’s going to move on without you.”

“Thank you for coming,” Ben said as he pulled out a chair at the conference table for Marie Glancy. “I know how stressful this trial has been for you.”

“Do you? I wonder if that’s possible.” Ben thought he detected a grain of sadness in her eyes, but as always she was perfectly coiffed and attired, her makeup unsmudged. “But I’m ready to do whatever you ask. Where is Todd, anyway?”

“I asked him to step out. I wanted to talk to you alone.”

“Why?” Her brow furrowed. “What could you possibly want to say to me that Todd can’t hear?”

“I’m not saying he can’t hear it. He’ll learn soon enough. But it doesn’t have to be now.”

Ben saw her back stiffen, observed the hard lines creasing her face. “Marie, I know your husband has been unfaithful to you.”

Her chin lowered. “Am I supposed to act shocked? I knew about the Cooper affair long before that video broke.”

“But then why, in the courtroom-”

“Did I put on the big teary-eyed dog-and-pony show? Because that’s what people expect, Ben. They want to be entertained. They want drama.”

“But racing out of the courtroom-”

“Do you think I overdid it?”

“I didn’t think you were ‘doing it’ at all. Christina told me how she had to fight to get you back into the courtroom. Why would you want-”

“My people did extensive polling on the subject and everyone concurred that this was the best way to go.”

“So it was all an act? A performance?”

“Ben, my husband may be the senator, but I’m not exactly a silent partner. I visit the Russell Senate Building every day, even when Todd isn’t there. I know what’s going on. People talk to me. I have access. I knew about the hideaway, the underground tunnel system. I’ve got keys to every room in the building. I’m there so often the security guards sometimes don’t even bother to pat me down. Probably afraid I’ll slap them with some sort of harassment suit.” She paused. “What I’m trying to say is, my husband couldn’t have an affair without my knowing. My husband couldn’t pluck a nose hair without my knowing. So this great revelation was not exactly news to me.”